Epilogue
HARLOW
Athin layer of snow blankets the ground, the air cold and crisp with the promise of the harsh winter they’re calling for. Bobbing Santas and snowmen smile cheerily at me from lawns and porches as we drive through the city and head to Severo’s house for Lynx’s family Christmas.
I glance over at the man himself—Mr. Tall, Dark, and Deadly—and take in his profile. His sharp jaw and dark blue eyes. The pointed tip of his nose.
God, he’s handsome.
He must sense me leering because he side-eyes me and grins, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze on the console between us.
“You alright, pretty girl?”
I nod. “Yes. Just thinking.”
He cocks a brow. “About what?”
“You, mostly. But also Sage.”
He lifts our clasped hands and brushes a kiss over my knuckles.
“Have you talked to her since her mother’s funeral?”
A little piece of my heart splinters off at the image of Sage standing over her mother’s casket, tears rolling down her face as she said her final goodbye to the woman who loved her more than anything in this world.
“Yeah,” I croak out, choking back my own tears.
“She texted me this morning saying she’s going back to school.
Apparently, her mother left her an insurance policy that will cover all the debt she had to take on to care for her, as well as pay for her education.
She doesn’t really need to work at the club anymore because it’s enough to carry her through the next few years.
But I guess she needs normalcy, so she’s planning to continue working part time on weekends. ”
Lynx nods, his brows furrowed slightly. “Normalcy is good. And what about you? Have you given much more thought to what you might like to do?”
I chew on the inside of my cheek while I consider my response. “Not really. I have some ideas, but I haven’t really ever had a chance to try new things or figure out what I’m good at or enjoy.”
“You have all the time in the world, Harlow. It’s not something you need to jump into. I was just curious what’s been on your mind.”
I grin at him. “Hard for a girl to focus when you’re around, you know.”
He flashes me one of his devastating smiles, and I practically melt into a puddle in the passenger seat.
“Are you nervous about tonight?” he asks.
I shrug, feigning nonchalance. “A little bit.”
It’s a fib. Inside, I’m an anxious wreck. I haven’t stepped foot inside Severo’s house since the night Connor kidnapped me. Severo has popped by Lynx’s a few times to check in on me. And I’ve been seeing Lily regularly for therapy sessions.
But still …
“You have nothing to worry about. But I understand. If it’s too much for you and we need to leave, you know the drill. Tap me twice and we’ll go home.”
“Okay.”
After a stretch of silence, Lynx says solemnly, “I want you to know that I took care of the bodies this morning.”
My shoulders snap into a tight line.
What to do with the five—because Rhys Anderson’s body was found and buried by his family—dismembered monsters who destroyed me is something we really haven’t discussed.
It’s been somewhat of an elephant in the room that I haven’t had the gumption to address.
And I get the sense Lynx hasn’t wanted to bring it up for fear of derailing all the progress I’ve made on processing and healing from the trauma.
Swallowing, I shift in my seat and give Lynx my full attention.
Before I have a chance to ask him what he did with them, he tells me, “I figured they could rot right alongside your father.” It’s a statement, but he says it like a question.
“The graves.”
His lip twitches. “Yeah, little killer. The graves.”
We ride the rest of the way in silence, Lynx holding my hand the entire time while I replay how the last few months have unraveled.
When we pull up to Severo’s, he parks the truck at the front and turns to face me.
“I have something for you,” he tells me, reaching into his pocket to pull out my mother’s rosary. Dangling it in the space between us, he slowly lowers it into my open palm and wraps both of his big hands around mine as I clutch it tightly.
“Where’d you find it?” I rasp, my voice cracking with emotion.
“You mentioned you lost it in the struggle when Connor took you, so I retraced your steps and found it in the parking lot of the church.”
Warmth spreads in my chest that he’d go through all that trouble just for a piece of jewelry.
“Thank you,” I tell him as I slip the rosary over my head and tuck it inside my coat.
Swiping a teardrop from my cheek with his thumb, he says, “You’re worth more than every beat of my heart, Harlow. I’d move heaven and hell and every creature within them if it means making you happy.”
Planting a chaste kiss on my forehead, he murmurs, “I love you,” then hops out and rounds the hood to open my door.
Offering me a hand, I step down onto the ground, stiffen my wobbling chin, and follow him into the house.
We’re greeted immediately by Severo and Lily.
“Harlow,” Lily chirps, wrapping me in an awkward hug because her belly is just so round and adorable. “How are you, honey? You good?”
“I’m good.”
She pulls back and searches my eyes.
“Is my brother pissing you off yet?” she asks lowly. “Because if he is, I can totally kick his ass. Pregnant or not, I’ve still got it.”
A smile spreads across my face. “Not yet. But if he does, I’ll be sure to give you a call.”
She rests a hand on her bump. “Good. Us girls gotta stick together, ya know. We’re on an even playing field right now with two against two. But once this baby is born, we’ll be outnumbered again. And we can’t let them win.”
“And that’s my cue,” Severo cuts in with a chuckle, grabbing my hand and planting a quick kiss on the top of it. “Hi, dear. How are you?”
He stares at me with soft gray eyes, and I nearly burst into tears at how kind and understanding he’s been through all of this.
The man just lost a grandson for Christ’s sake. Sure, Connor was a horrible human being and deserved what he got. But that doesn’t lessen the blow when you lose someone you love.
“I’m okay, thank you. Lynx has been taking good care of me.”
Severo turns his attention to the hitman standing protectively beside me and nods in approval at him. “I’m glad to hear that, dear. Come on inside. You and I are going to have a little chat.”
I don’t have a chance to protest before he’s linking his arm in mine and pulling me along.
I glance over my shoulder at Lynx to find him smirking at me.
He mouths, “Good girl,” just as we disappear around a corner.
We stroll into Severo’s office, and the tightness in my chest returns.
“Have a seat, Harlow.” He gestures at the two chairs facing the fireplace, then heads to the drink cart against the wall and pours us each a whiskey.
I lower myself into one of the wingback chairs and smooth my hands down my dress, my posture straight and senses all heightened with anxiety. It’s not nearly as consuming as it once was, but it’s still there. Just simmering on low rather than a raging boil.
“Lily said you’re alright to have a couple drinks now that the medication has taken effect and you’re feeling better. I hope that’s true. That you’re feeling better.”
His expression is genuine and caring as he hands me a glass and takes a seat across from me.
“I still have the odd bad day or nightmare, but I’m much better. I have Lynx and Lily to thank for that.”
“They may have helped you, dear. But don’t discount how much strength it took on your part to see it through. Quite frankly, I’m impressed. And happy to see you doing well.”
I force a small smile. “Thank you, sir. Listen.” I shift in my seat and drag my sweaty palm down my thigh. “I want to say I’m sorry for everything. For Connor—“
Severo holds a hand in the air. “Don’t apologize, Harlow.
You did nothing wrong.” My shoulders slump.
“I loved Connor. He was family. But there was always something off about him. Something … dark that lived inside him. I gave him many opportunities to prove that he was trustworthy. That he was good. Sent him to all the best schools because that’s what he wanted.
But in the end, it wasn’t enough. I failed him and the people he hurt.
” He leans forward and stares me in the eyes.
“And for that, my dear, I am sorry. I hope you can forgive me for not seeing the evil in him sooner.”
Swallowing the painful lump in my throat, I exhale a relieved breath that he doesn’t resent me for how everything unfolded and rasp out, “Connor was a grown man who made those decisions himself. That’s not on you. That’s on him.”
We sit there in silence for a moment before Severo strokes his cheek with the back of his knuckles and says out of the blue, “I’ve always considered Lynx a son, dear.
And Lily as my daughter. Never really thought of them as anything else once I made the decision to raise them as my own.
But you are Lynx’s life now. Which means by default, you are my daughter.
I know your trust has been broken and what’s left of it is fragile, so I don’t expect you to lower your walls and let me in.
But I promise you, dear, that when you do, I won’t take it for granted. ”
I blink, not really sure how to respond to that because he’s right. I don’t trust easily. It takes time to prove to me that someone is worthy of that.
But there’s something to be said about a man who’s willing to wait as long as it takes for that to happen.
And for that, I respond with, “Lynx has taught me a lot, Mr. Archer. And proven that not all men are the same. It may take me a while to open up, but I’m working on that. I appreciate your kind words and patience. It means more than you know.”
Severo nods in understanding before rising and offering me his arm.
“So then it’s settled. Come on, now. I’m sure Lynx will begin to worry if I keep you away from him much longer. Lord knows how protective he is of what’s his. Like a dog with a bone, that boy.”
With a soft laugh, I accept his offer and let him lead me back to the living room where Lynx and Lily are.
It comes as no surprise that Lynx seals me to his side immediately and murmurs in my ear, “All good, pretty girl?”
I peer up at him and nod. “Better than ever.”
“Good,” he growls hotly. “Because when I get you out of here, I’m going to rip that silly dress off your body with my teeth.”
Heat creeps up my neck and into my cheeks as I glance around in search of Lily and Severo, who thankfully have vacated the living room and are now seated at the dining table.
Smirking because no matter how much trauma I endure, that defiant streak in me still flares hot, I respond, “Try it, Lynx. But just remember … I have teeth too. And I’m not afraid to bite back.”
A wicked grin splits his stupidly handsome face in two. He swats my ass playfully, eliciting a little yelp from me.
Mr. Tall, Dark, and Deadly.
Still overbearing. Still possessive.
And forever mine.
The End.