EPILOGUE
DAMON
Finally, we arrived in Beijing. We took the time to act like tourists, checking out the sites, and learning some of the city’s history. We enjoyed some amazing food and even learned a little bit of the language. Although I really sucked at speaking it.
I knew that if things didn’t get cleaned up back home, we might be here a while.
I’d already started doing my research, discovering what it would take to live and work here.
Athena didn’t say much about it, but I knew she wanted to go home.
It killed me that I couldn’t be more hands-on with that process.
Right now I had to trust Noah and the Kings to get it done.
“Happy birthday to you.” Several voices streamed from the tablet propped on the hotel bed in front of us. Our friends back home were celebrating Stray’s birthday. They’d thoughtfully started a live stream so we could be part of it.
Even though it was ten in the morning in Beijing due to the time change, Athena and I still popped open a bottle of champagne.
We sat cuddled together on the bed, watching our friends carry out a giant cake.
They were all gathered at Stray and Codie’s house.
Fuck, I actually found myself missing those people.
Athena raised her glass when everyone reached the end of the song and Stray blew out his candles. “Happy birthday, Stray. I hope you’ve had the best day ever.”
Stray pulled Codie into his arms, hugging her close. “I already have the best gift I could ever get.”
Once Codie had been released from his grasp, she leaned in close to the screen. “A party just isn’t the same without you, Athena. I really hope you can come home soon. We fucking miss you.”
“I know. I miss you guys too. But there are some perks to all this. I’m seeing parts of the world I never thought I would visit. It’s so amazing here.”
I patiently waited while she gushed to her friends about some of the things we’d seen and done. My gaze dropped down to her left hand, which she had been purposely keeping out of frame. A diamond ring sparkled on her finger.
When I got the opportunity, I leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Are you going to tell them?”
She glanced down at her finger and smiled. “Not yet. I’m not ready to share. I kind of want this to be just for us right now. I’ll tell them soon.”
Athena and I had gotten married before leaving Thailand. A process that was a bit of a pain in the ass but not impossible. Thanks to some of the best fake identities I’d ever used, we were able to pull it off without a hitch.
One night we had returned to our hotel after an evening out and I just knew I needed her to be mine forever. So much that I wanted to make it official. I pulled out the ring I’d purchased before we left home. I’d been carrying it around for so long and couldn’t contain myself anymore.
As soon as we arrived back at our hotel, I dropped down to one knee and pulled out the ring box. Athena had done a double and then triple take. I would never forget the shock on her face.
Now we were married. She was all mine, and I was never letting her go. Once we made it back home, we would make it official with our authentic legal names.
We drank our champagne, doing our best to celebrate with everyone on the other side of the screen. Athena was overjoyed to connect with them all. We’d been unable to make much contact until we’d arrived here and I knew we were safe.
When the rest of the girls began to tell Athena how much they missed her, especially Storm, Athena’s face began to crumble. She tried to blink back tears that fell down her cheeks anyway. Seeing her cry was like a punch in the gut. I never wanted anything to ever bring her pain.
I pulled her into my arms, kissing her temple. “I’m sorry, muffin. We’ll find a way to go home soon.”
Even though I selfishly wanted to keep her by my side always, part of me wondered if I should send her home without me. The police weren’t looking for her. She hadn’t even been involved. She could go back and live her life.
Studying my expression, she shook her head. “No way. Don’t even think about it. I’m not going anywhere without you.”
Storm completely melted. “Aww, you two are so freaking cute. Try not to worry too much, girl. The guys are working on it. Noah and Dom aren’t even here. They got a lead on that gang member they’ve been trying to find. Hey, wait a minute. Is that a diamond ring I see?”
Athena’s cheeks turned pink. “What were you saying about Noah and Dom? Sounds like it might be good news.”
“Girl, don’t even try to deflect from my question. Let me see that ring. Hold it closer.” Storm leaned in close to the camera, as if that would help her see better.
Glancing nervously to me and then back at the camera, Athena held up her hand. “We may have kind of gotten married in Thailand. It was a spur of the moment thing. I was planning to tell you.”
Storm let out a squeal that had me shrinking away from the tablet. She shouted at the other girls in the background to gather around. “You guys have got to see this ring. Our girl fucking eloped.”
That was my cue to pour another glass of champagne.
I leaned against the headboard, sipping my drink while the girls went crazy.
So much for keeping it a secret a while longer.
Athena lit up while telling her friends about our impulsive wedding.
It was nice to see the light sparkling in her eyes. I was happy to sit back and admire her.
There was a rise of voices in the background as Noah came into view. I perked up then, leaning toward the tablet, hoping for some good news. Storm glanced over her shoulder, assessing the situation.
“We fucking got him,” Noah said, helping himself to a slice of birthday cake.
That’s when he noticed me on the screen behind Storm.
Stuffing a bite of chocolate cake in his mouth, he approached.
Storm moved aside to give him space. “Damon, buddy, you’re not gonna believe this.
We got that motherfucker. We found him, and we got our confession. ”
“Really?” Athena jerked up ramrod straight. “What happened?”
“Well, once we learned that his sick mother had been placed into a care home, it was all too easy to reel him in. We put out the word that if he didn’t show within twenty-four hours, we would be paying his mother a visit.
All we had to do was show him a picture of Dom sitting at her bedside for him to break.
They really do need better security in those places.
” Noah laughed, a wicked sound that filled me with delight.
“Anyway, we escorted him to the police station where he made his confession. You can come home, dude.”
The weight of the world had just been lifted off my shoulders. There were no words to describe what it meant to have a friend like Noah. Next to me Athena collapsed into tears of relief and happiness.
“I fucking owe you big time, bro. I can’t thank you enough for having my back like this.”
Noah stuffed another bite of cake in his mouth, waving away my gratitude. “It’s all good. It’s what we do, right?”
Athena flung her arms around my neck, hugging me tight. “Is this for real? I’m not dreaming, am I?”
I smoothed back her hair, breathing in her delicious scent. Kissing her with a deep drowning love. “It’s definitely real, cream puff. We’re going home.”
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