Epilogue
Alexia
Six Months Later
T he mansion in Wychmere, which once felt like a gilded cage, is now our sanctuary—a place where I finally feel safe. The indoor pool room is bathed in soft winter sunlight streaming through the glass ceiling, illuminating the water’s surface in shimmering ripples. It’s freezing outside, the garden covered in a delicate layer of frost, but in here, warmth wraps around us like a blanket, cocooning us. The air is thick with the scent of chlorine, mixed with a faint fragrance of the orchids by the far wall. It’s peaceful, a world away from the darkness we escaped.
I settle onto one of the cushioned lounge chairs, my hand instinctively resting on my belly, where a slight curve has started to show. It’s a surreal feeling, knowing that another life is growing inside me. After the pain, the fear, the uncertainty, this feels like the universe is offering me a fresh start.
In the pool, Rose’s laughter echoes off the tiled walls, filling the space with a joy that’s contagious. She’s splashing around with her new best friend, a scruffy rescue puppy that looks so much like her stuffed dog I had to do a double take when Dave brought him home. Rose insisted on naming him “Doggy,” just like her toy, and now the two of them are inseparable. The puppy splashes awkwardly in the shallow end, his fur slick and soaked, while Rose holds him up, her tiny hands gentle but firm as she guides him through the water.
“Come on, Doggy! You can do it!” she cheers, her face lit with pure delight. She glances back at me, her big green eyes sparkling with pride. “Look, Mama! Doggy’s swimming!”
I smile, and a rush of warmth spreads through my chest. “He’s doing great, moy zaychik.”
Dave pops in, carrying a couple of towels draped over his shoulder. His eyes find mine, and he smiles, a grin that crinkles the corners of his eyes, giving him a boyish look. He walks over, his gaze dipping to my belly. Without a word, he kneels beside me, his large hand splaying across my growing bump. His fingers are warm, and a thrill runs through me as he leans in, pressing a tender kiss just below my navel.
“There’s my boy,” he says, his voice a low rumble filled with pride and wonder. He lifts his head, meeting my gaze, his eyes soft and unguarded. “Or maybe my girl,” he adds, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
I laugh, my hand covering his. “You’d love either one just the same,” I say, a statement, not a question. I know this man, every line of his face, every shade of emotion in his eyes. He would move mountains for his family.
He chuckles, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “Damn right I would.” He glances over at the pool and winks at me. Before I can ask him what he’s planning, he jumps to his feet and dives into the pool.
Rose half laughs, half squeals as Dave scoops her up out of the water. He spins her around, her wet curls flying, and she clutches his neck, giggling uncontrollably.
“Daddy!” she shrieks, her tiny arms wrapped around his shoulders. “You scared Doggy!”
Dave looks down at the scruffy little puppy, who’s now paddling toward the edge of the pool with a determined look in his eyes, clearly relieved to be done with his swim. Dave chuckles, setting Rose on the pool deck and ruffling her hair. “Doggy will forgive me. He’s tough, just like you, right, princess?”
Rose nods solemnly.
“Princess,” he says softly, “have you talked to your little brother today?”
Her face lights up and she wiggles free of his grasp and races over to me, her wet little feet leaving damp prints on the tiles. She kneels beside me, placing her small hands on my belly, her face inches from the curve that holds her sibling.
“Hey, me again!” she says in a loud, dramatic whisper, as if she’s sharing a great secret with the baby. “Please come out and play with me soon, okay?”
Dave kneels down beside us, his arm around Rose’s shoulders as he watches her with a look of such tenderness it almost breaks my heart.
Rose looks up at him, her brows knitting together thoughtfully. “But what if she’s a sister, not a brother?”
The innocence of her question makes me smile, and I cup her cheeks, leaning in to kiss the tip of her nose. “That would be amazing too,” I agree, my heart swelling with a love so fierce, so all-encompassing.
Dave chuckles, and before I know it, he’s scooping Rose up again, blowing raspberries on her belly until she’s shrieking with laughter, her little hands smacking his shoulders.
“What if it’s twins?” he teases, grinning up at me.
Rose gasps. “Can I have a brother and a sister?” she asks, her voice filled with genuine wonder, her eyes as round as saucers.
I laugh, reaching out to brush a curl from her cheek. “Mama and Daddy will try very hard to give you both. I promise,” I say, winking at Dave.
He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispers, “Maybe we should aim for three of each. Just to be sure.”
I elbow him playfully, but the thought sends a thrill through me. It’s crazy, wonderful, and exactly the kind of life I never thought I’d have. A life where dreams don’t come true just for other people, where happiness is within my reach.
As I watch Rose run off to retrieve Doggy, I’m thankful for every moment that brought us here. The terror, the darkness, the heartbreak—they all led us to this. To a life where I’m not just surviving but thriving. I think of the empire my grandfather left me, the business I now run alongside Olivia. It’s ours, a legacy that once felt tainted but now has been transformed into something good. Olivia and I are making sure our business is legit and empowers other women. At the same time, Dave and I are building a life out of the ashes, one filled with purpose, love, and a future that feels boundless.
His arm tightens around me, pulling me close as he kisses my forehead. “I never thought I’d be this lucky,” he grunts.
I lean into him. “Me neither,” I breathe, closing my eyes, letting myself sink into the warmth, the safety of his embrace.
We watch as Rose chases Doggy around the edge of the pool, her laughter echoing off the walls. The sunlight pours through the glass ceiling, bathing everything. And in that light, I see our future, bright and beautiful, a promise of all the good things to come.
At last, I feel truly at peace.
Dave
Three Months Later
I lean against the glass wall of my office, staring down at the streets of Boston. From up here, the city looks like a glittering maze of lights and motion, oblivious to the dark secrets lurking beneath its polished surface. The skyline stretches wide, towering structures casting shadows over narrow streets, each one filled with its own brand of ambition, corruption, and survival. I wonder how many of the people down there know what it means to truly fight for something—or someone.
Alexia has shown me how to fight. I’ve been a warrior all my life, but she taught me what’s worth fighting for. And now, as I run my hand over the inside pocket of my suit jacket where her last ultrasound photo rests, I feel a kind of peace I never thought I’d deserve.
Six to eight weeks. That’s all we have left before our lives change again, this time in a way that doesn’t involve blood or vengeance but love and happiness. The thought makes me smile, a slow warmth spreading through me. I can’t wait to meet our child, to watch Rose grow into the incredible woman she’s destined to be, to build a future with Alexia by my side. I’m not naive to think our lives will ever be free of danger. But I believe we might have a shot at real happiness.
The intercom on my desk crackles, interrupting my thoughts. I press the button. “Yes?”
“Mr. Boyle, your video call with Michael Silvieri.”
I nod to the assistant through the glass, then straighten my suit and settle into the leather chair behind my desk. The screen lights up, and a moment later, Michael’s face fills the display. I meet his dark blue eyes framed by high cheekbones and a jawline as hard as granite. Michael’s seen his share of darkness, like me, yet there’s a controlled ferocity in his eyes—a hunger for justice that I respect. I’ve gotten to know him better since my brother Nick married his sister.
“Dave,” he greets. “It’s been a while.”
“Michael,” I say, leaning back, keeping my tone even. “Thanks for making the time.”
He nods, his gaze steady. Behind him, I get a glimpse of his office. The minimalist space that suits him—no nonsense, no frills, just essentials. “You asked for an update?”
“Only if it’s a good one,” I reply, folding my hands on the desk.
“Better than good,” he says. “After you told me what Alexia uncovered about Igor, I reached out to the Camorra. Turns out, they’re more than interested. Igor made his share of enemies over there. Got reckless enough to go after the Camorra’s leader’s family. Molested his grandson, like Alexia told you.” His voice sharpens, a flicker of disgust crossing his face.
I feel a wave of satisfaction at the news. “I knew he’d left a trail, but that… that’ll make them eager to close ranks with us.”
Michael nods, a grim smile pulling at his mouth. “They were relieved to hear Rose isn’t Igor’s daughter. And, more importantly, that Alexia ended him herself. With him gone, they don’t hold any grudges. The Camorra’s leader wanted me to pass along his thanks to the Boyles.”
I let out a slow breath, letting the relief settle in. “Good. We might have done them a favor they didn’t even know they needed.”
I wonder how deep Igor’s reach went—how many others like him still walk free, preying on the innocent, protected by money and silence. I know the world won’t change overnight, but it’s a start.
Michael’s gaze softens. “Congratulations! Angie told me you and Alexia are about to welcome another baby.”
I nod, pride puffing my chest. “Thank you. We couldn’t be happier.”
His voice drops to a rumble. “Seems like it’s catching. First, Angie and Nick. Now, you and Alexia. I’m starting to wonder if I’m next.”
We chuckle and say goodbye, ending the call.
A knock on the office door makes me glance up to see Tommy standing there, his face pale, his eyes wide with excitement and a hint of dread.
“Tommy,” I say, raising an eyebrow. “What’s got you all riled up?”
He crosses the room, a stack of papers clutched in his hand.
Dropping the papers on my desk, he whispers, “Remember that codename you saw in Sergei’s files? Dracul?”
The name sends a chill down my spine. That part of our lives rears its ugly head again. “Yeah, I do. There was also that mention of Mom and her work? What about it?”
Tommy’s eyes are intense. He splays his hands on the papers. “They’re connected.”
I look at the signature he’s pointing to. “This is some kind of contract? Is it signed in blood?”
My stomach sinks as dread fills my soul. In our world, there are few kinds of contracts that require a signature in blood.
Tommy nods. “This Dracul guy—he wanted Mom assassinated.”
His words confirm my fear. That was the contract between Dracul and an assassin.
My heart stops. I stare at him, barely able to process what he’s saying. “That can’t be right, Tommy. Mom had cancer.”
“Yes,” he says, his voice grim. “But was cancer the actual cause of her death?”
His question lingers in the air, thick and suffocating, filling the room with an unease that’s almost tangible. The revelation presses down on my chest like a vise. Mom’s death changed Dad, changed everything. In a way, it set me on the path I am now. Was it a lie? Does Dad know?
“If someone orchestrated her death, targeting our family, everything we thought we knew is shattered. And the man responsible, this Dracul…whoever he is, he just became the next name on my list.”
“Exactly,” Tommy murmurs.
I clench my jaw, blinding rage simmers within me. “We find him, Tommy. We find him, and we make him pay.”
Tommy nods, his face set with the same determination. “Already on it, Dave. Nikolai and Shelby are following the leads, digging up everything they can. And when they find this Dracul…” He doesn’t need to finish the sentence. We both know what comes next.
“You take care of this, then. Report back as you progress,” I order.
“You bet, brother. You’ve got too much to handle right now—and too much to lose. I’ve got this.”
After Tommy leaves, I fish the ultrasound photo out of my pocket. I trace the tiny human form with the tip of my finger. Dread and determination burn my chest. This future I’ve been so close to claiming—it’s still within reach. But now, there’s another enemy lurking in the shadows, someone who had a hand in the loss that has haunted me for years.
I close my eyes, breathing in, focusing on the life waiting for me at home, on Alexia, Rose, and our unborn baby boy. They’re my light, the reason I keep going, the reason I’ll stop at nothing to protect what’s mine.
For now, the darkness calls, and I have unfinished business to attend to. Thankfully, I’ve got Tommy and Shelby to help me.
Continue reading Tommy and Maeve’s love story in the next book of the Muse of Darkness Series.
Get it here Saving a Merciless Heart .
Tommy Boyle, the cold strategist of his family’s empire, is sent to broker a fragile alliance with the fiery Maeve O’Connor, daughter of a rival mafia boss. But the pact comes with a twist—they must marry to seal the deal. Maeve, defiant and unwilling to be a pawn in her father’s schemes, has her own plans to rewrite her role in the brutal world she’s inherited. Thrown together, Tommy and Maeve uncover a deadly conspiracy threatening both families, forcing them into a dangerous partnership that blurs the line between duty and desire. In a world of betrayal and blood, will their passion be enough to save them—or destroy everything they’ve fought for?
One-click here ( Saving a Merciless Heart ) today for a guaranteed happily-ever-after.
Want to know more about Nick and Angela’s love story.
Read it in the fourth book of the Muse of Darkness Series.
Available now here Nick .
I ’m a sheltered mafia princess yearning for freedom.
Nick’s a billionaire superstar who would never trade his supermodel arm-candies for someone like me.
I know! My mom used to be one and I look nothing like her.
My dad would punish and disown me if he found out about my dark fantasies .
Yet I can’t stop dreaming about all the dirty things I want Nick to make me feel when he takes my V-card .
So I craft the perfect plan to meet the man of my dreams at a fundraiser and seduce him.
But when I get caught in the crossfire of a years-long feud, Nick rescues me .
Putting his career and life on the line , he goes into hiding to make sure I’m safe.
And that’s when I find out he hides dark secrets of his own.
Can I put my life in the hands of a man who’s been lying to everyone for years?
Can I afford not to give him my heart when he makes me feel all the things I fantasized about and so much more?
One-click here ( Nick ) today for a guaranteed happily-ever-after.
Ray Flanagan finds his happily-ever-after when he least expects it.
Read his story here Home for Xmas .
W hen Sophia Masters returns to her hometown for a family wedding, she never expects to face her past—or Ray Flanagan, the childhood friend now transformed into a hardened mafia enforcer. Haunted by his own losses, Ray is raising his son in their quiet town, hiding the dark, dangerous life he leads. As Christmas draws near, Sophia finds herself irresistibly drawn to the man Ray has become, despite the risks that come with his world. But as their rekindled bond ignites, old wounds and new dangers collide, forcing them to decide if love is worth risking everything, even in the shadows of their pasts.