Epilogue 1
A lot can happen in a month.
The explosion at the Steele estate was ruled as a gas leak. According to the report, Jack caused it himself in a desperate attempt to destroy evidence tied to the federal investigation.
The fire marshal signed off on it within forty-eight hours. Nick made sure of that.
The media ran the story for a week before moving on to the next scandal. Jack Steele died a disgraced man. Melissa, David and Andy with him. The empire they built collapsed exactly the way it deserved to–loud, ugly, and impossible to ignore.
Cole and Elias managed to pull everything out of Jack’s office before the house went up. Boxes of records the feds somehow never found. Financial trails. Names. Deals.
Secrets.
The kind that don’t stay buried forever.
But today isn’t about the past.
It’s about the future.
I whip into the courthouse parking and slide my brand new Q8 into the first open spot I see. Karson bought it for me two weeks ago. He knew how much I loved the other one, but this time, it’s in my name.
“Jesus Christ, Ash,” Parker says from the passenger seat, grabbing the door handle as the car jerks to a stop. “You drive like you’re trying to kill us.”
“We’re late,” I shoot back, already climbing out.
I smooth my hands down the ivory silk of my dress after shutting the door. It’s simple. Thin straps over my shoulders and a soft drape of the neckline. No lace, no beads, no train. It’s gorgeous.
“You’re the one who insisted on stopping for coffee,” she calls after me.
“Worth it.”
We hurry across the parking lot, Parker struggling to keep up in her heels while I juggle my purse and the coffee cup in my hand.
The courthouse doors swing open just as we reach them.
Karson and Maverick both look up.
Karson goes completely still.
His gray eyes drag slowly over me, like he’s committing every inch to memory. For a second he doesn't say anything at all. Then crosses the hall in three long strides.
“Holy shit, doll,” he breathes when he reaches me. “You look incredible.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks.
His hand settles at the small of my back and I blink up at him. His hurricane eyes glitter with excitement, and a crooked smirk spreads across his lips.
He looks devastating. Pressed black slacks and white button up with a black tie. Sleeves rolled up to his elbows showing off his heavily inked, veiny arms.
Maverick clears his throat behind him.
“Nice of you two to finally show up,” he mutters.
I glance at the clock on the wall and wince.
“Technically we’re only five minutes late.”
Karson huffs a quiet laugh.
“Your punctuality continues to impress me.”
Rolling my eyes, I step into him.
“You’re marrying me anyway.”
His smirk returns, softer this time.
“Yeah,” he says quietly, his fingers tracing the bare skin on my shoulders. “I am.”
A woman in a black robe steps out of a door to our right and clears her throat.
“Whenever the bride is ready,” she says with a welcoming smile.
“I’m ready,” I rush out and look up at Karson. “I’m ready.” It’s softer the second time, and he smiles softly at me.
The four of us enter the room behind her, and I place my purse and coffee cup on a chair next to the door. The officiant takes her place at the front of the room.
“Gentlemen, if you could stand right here.” She gestures to her left, then to her right. “Ladies on this side please.”
Everyone takes their designated places, and Karson wraps his large, warm hands around mine.
The officiant smiles politely before opening the folder in front of her.
“Before we begin,” she says, glancing between us, “do either of you have vows you’d like to share?”
Karson looks down at me first, his thumbs brushing softly over my knuckles.
“I do.”
The room goes quiet and I take a deep, steadying breath.
“For most of my life,” I begin softly, “I didn’t get to choose anything. Where I lived. Who I belonged to. What my future looked like.”
My fingers tighten around his.
“But this?”
I lift my chin.
“This is my choice.”
His storm-gray eyes never leave mine.
“I choose you, Karson. Today, tomorrow, and every day after. I belong to you.”
Parker sniffles behind me, and a small smile pulls at the corners of his lips.
“My turn?”
I nod, and swallow past the lump that’s forming in my throat.
Karson shifts a little closer, his voice low and steady.
“The world has tried to take you from me more than once,” he says softly, “but it didn’t.”
His thumb brushes over my hand.
“It tried to break you and instead you burned it to the ground. I’m in awe of your strength. I can’t promise an easy life, but I can promise that for the rest of it,” he pauses, then adds simply, “You’re mine. And I’m yours.”
The officiant clears her throat gently.
“Do you have the rings?”
Maverick steps forward, dropping them into Karon’s hand with a quiet chuckle. Glancing over my shoulder, Parker smiles with tears slipping down her cheeks. She tips her head to the side, and nods gently at me.
Karson hands me his band then takes my left hand, and slides the band onto my finger on top of my engagement ring. It matches perfectly with the half carat solitaire diamond, and the small diamonds on the band.
“With this ring,” he says softly, “I’m never letting you go.”
I slide his simple, tungsten band onto his finger.
“Good,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes. “Because I’m not letting you go either.”
The officiant smiles warmly.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Oregon, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Karson Tate.”
Karson doesn’t wait for the rest.
He tugs me gently by the hand into him, and his other hand cups my cheek. He leans down, pressing his lips to mine for a slow, deep kiss that makes my head spin.
And just like that, it’s done.
After some paperwork, and filing for my name change, we leave the courthouse and head back to Perdition.
Dinner is loud, even in the reserved section of the restaurant.
Parker and Layla insist on champagne. Slater slaps Cole’s hand when he tries to steal more appetizers. Maverick and Nick laugh at something Jeremy says. Elias toasts to me and Karson and everyone’s glasses clink.
For the first time in a long time, nothing feels heavy.
By the time we leave the restaurant, the night life in the casino is in full swing. Slots sing, bright lights flash, and strangers who stumble over their steps congratulate us as we walk by.
The penthouse is quiet when we step inside.
I’m halfway across the living room when music fills the space. I turn to see Karson standing near the speakers by the television, his phone hanging loosely in his hand.
“Really?” I ask, lifting a brow.
He smirks.
“You didn’t think you were getting away without a first dance, did you?”
I shake my head as he walks slowly toward me, taking me by the hand. His hand settles at the small of my back as he pulls me against him.
The lights from the building spill through the windows, painting the room in silver and gold.
We move in slow circles to Fall For Me by Sleeptoken, and I inhale deeply against him.
“You okay?” he murmurs softly.
I nod against his chest.
“More than okay.”
He takes a half step back and I tip my head up to look at him as we sway.
“Good,” he smiles. “You know what the best part of all of this is?”
“What?” I whisper
“Now we get to build whatever the hell we want.”
I smile and he leans down to kiss me. Our lips lock, our steps pause, and his arms tighten around me.
The world outside the windows keeps moving–but here in his arms, everything finally feels safe and quiet.
And for the first time in my life, I know, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.