Epilogue Hollis
Epilogue
Hollis
Two months later; December
The first notes of “Not Mine to Keep” from Callie Costa’s hit single drifted through the speakers, the melody soft at first, then swelling like a promise you could feel in your bones.
Earlier, she’d debuted and personally sung her new hit with Audrey at the piano—you’d never guess she’d just had a baby.
They hadn’t gone with my suggestion for a song name, but I had to admit “Into the Deep” had a nice ring to it.
Jason’s palm was currently warm against my waist as we danced beneath a canopy of white lights strung under the tent. Lanterns glowed on every table, softening the edges of the night. Our friends helped pull the entire thing together for us because party-planning was not my strong suit.
He spun me, then caught me in his arms, a grin tugging at his lips. I knew exactly what was on my husband’s mind: baby-making. After holding Audrey and Alex’s newborn daughter in our arms at the hospital three weeks ago, we were even more ready to have our own children.
Jason drew me closer and set his mouth to my ear. “I know what’s on your mind.”
I smirked. “Only because I read yours first.”
He arched into me, letting me feel the weight of his erection pressing against his dress pants. “We’re on a crowded dance floor, and I’m hard as a rock.”
“Maybe we can ditch our party for a few minutes and—”
“Mind if I cut in?” Mum interrupted.
Seriously?
Jason tried to protest, but with his current problem, he shut his eyes, probably conjuring up the most unsexy thoughts possible before surrendering to her.
“Traitor,” he mouthed with a smile before I disappeared into the packed crowd of mostly operators and their wives.
Almost everyone had shown up to our delayed reception. From Secretary Chandler and his SEAL teams to the Costas and Falcon Falls. Even Kylo and Rowan were there, but no longer as our protectors.
Heck, Jason’s parents were in attendance, too. He’d forgiven them a couple of weeks ago. That hadn’t been an easy decision to make, but I respected his choice. Didn’t change the fact I still wanted to plant a heel in his father’s ass for hurting him in the first place.
The only notably absent people tonight: Easton and Lyra. One had an invitation and declined, the other never received one.
While I may have forgiven her, I wasn’t ready for her to leave the center she was at and be here with us. My brothers and I were still sorting out how to pick up the pieces of the mess she’d left behind with Cassian and the others.
Everything will be okay, I told myself. One day. It had to be.
I stole a look at Julian on the dance floor with Gwen. He had to use an alias to even be here since the world believed he was dead. Thankfully, the majority of our guests were covert operatives and knew the truth, so he was mostly safe from scrutiny.
As for Gwen, months of recovery and PT had given back her glow.
She was a living miracle on two feet. She tossed her head back, laughing at something my brother whispered in her ear.
Part of me wondered whether they might become something more.
Another part believed she belonged with the man who hadn’t shown up.
But it wasn’t my business. I just wanted everyone to be as happy as Jason and me.
I started for the bar, where Tristan was sitting alone, when a tug at my dress stopped me.
“Dance with me, Auntie Hollis?” Chase stood there in his tiny tux, absolutely adorable. How could I say no?
“So,” I asked while taking hold of his little hands, “how does it feel to be a big brother?”
“Baby Katiya makes stinky diapers”—he scrunched his nose—“but nothing I can’t handle.” He shrugged.
“You’re a real trouper.” I winked, then twirled him around, which had him giggling.
After the dance and the song ended, Chase bowed like a perfect gentleman, just before Gideon stole me away next.
“Hey you.” Gideon’s lopsided smile wasn’t his usual one. “We’ve missed you. Heard you just operated with Delta. Almost late to your own party.”
Yeah, about that. I shrugged, glancing at Trevor dancing with a dark-haired guest I didn’t recognize. “They haven’t hired two more recruits for Trevor’s unit yet, so they needed help, and I couldn’t resist.”
“Rumor has it, you went up against a drug lord and—”
“Like that isn’t just another Tuesday for you?”
He shook his head, unamused. “If you have the itch to operate, why not run missions with us again?”
I had felt that coming a mile away. “Because I want to get pregnant and have kids, and only scratch that itch when I’m, well, feeling itchy,” I said with a laugh.
“And it should be you running things. You were always going to take over regardless of a ring and tradition, and we both know that. You were born for this. Me?” Worried how that may have sounded, I quickly amended, “That doesn’t mean you can’t have a family, too. ”
“I don’t think I’m the commitment type.”
“I wasn’t, either, before Jason, so never say never,” I reminded him.
He tilted his head toward Gwen and Julian. “Don’t think a family is in the cards for him, either. Don’t get your hopes up about Gwen—that’s not happening. They’re way too alike for it to work out.”
“So the idea of them together crossed your mind, too?”
A dark laugh sat between us. “Hell no. That’s just what Julian told me last week after a few too many drinks.”
“Which means he’s actually into her, and . . .” My words trailed off when I spotted a man at the edge of the tent.
Easton Holloway in a dark suit, and his crutches were clearly a distant memory. His eyes were fixed on Gwen and Julian dancing.
I let go of my brother when Easton turned and went back outside. I started to chase after him, only to have Gwen catch my wrist mid-pursuit.
She looked back and forth between where she’d left my brother on the dance floor and the direction Easton had gone. “Let me,” she whispered, then let go of me and took off.
“Was that Easton?” Jason asked on approach, pulling me close to him.
“It was.” I swallowed. “How was the dance with Mum?”
“She apologized for some things she said,” he casually tossed out, and I knew he really didn’t give a damn about my mum’s opinion of him, but I cared about her treating him right, so. “How was the dance with your brother? He trying to win you back to the dark side?”
“I think he accepts I’m where I belong.” He hadn’t said that, but I believed it.
“I’m still worried about Tristan, though.
” I looked around for him, and found him still at the bar, alone, a drink in hand.
“Not sure yet what he plans to do with the knowledge about his father. I mean, maybe his dad’s not even alive. ”
“He’s not.” Jason stopped dancing, letting a curse settle between us as he winced. “I don’t think so, at least.”
I arched my brow. “You have something to tell me?”
“You know how I know too much about a lot of random things?”
I nodded.
“Well, I remembered something. An event that happened in 1992. Did some digging.”
Mum burned down the vault that year, right.
“Do you actually want to know who I think it is? It’s felt like a lie to keep this from you, but . . .”
“I’m not ready to carry that burden. Your instincts are spot on.” I gulped. “Mind holding that secret for me a little longer?”
“Of course.”
I rose on my toes and kissed him, hard enough to silence every lingering thought. He tasted like bourbon and a bright future.
When the kiss ended, the world faded back in. “Can we please ditch the party and steal a few minutes for ourselves?”
He laced our fingers together and led me toward the edge of the tent past the swirl of our family and friends. Kylo, no longer my shadow, caught my eye and offered me a small smile. Maybe now he could have that family he’d always wanted, too.
Jason and I slipped outside into the crisp night air. We wandered through the gardens, about to stop and kiss, when voices reached us. Easton and Gwen?
I gave Jason’s backside a slap, signaling to duck away unseen and find another spot.
Within minutes, he had me tangled in his arms inside a gazebo at the back of the property my father had rented. Whatever secrets still haunted us, and whatever truths still ran deep in my family, none of it mattered right now.
His grin was dangerous and familiar as he pulled out his phone. While we technically didn’t need photo folders as happy reminders now that we had each other, we kept them anyway and added new memories all the time.
“Come here before I give you what you need.” His rough order made my already damp panties wetter.
He patted his leg, and I sat on his lap, hooking my arm around his back.
“Look at you, being the selfie king now,” I teased.
He rolled his eyes. “Such a pain in my ass.” He bucked his hips, letting me feel him hard beneath me. Stretching out his arm, he angled the camera at us, a handsome smile stealing across his lips as he demanded in a husky voice, “Now, be a good girl and act like you like me.”