Epilogue
LIGHTNING CRASHES - THROWING COPPER
The medal sits heavily against my chest, sparkling faux gold with the word CHAMPION inscribed in bold text. I smile like a complete and total dork while fingering the raised letters. I’ve lost count of how many fights I’ve won, but this is the first time I’ve fought for pleasure.
Hell, it feels good.
I did this for me.
We raised almost a quarter of a million pounds for the non-profit organisation of my choice: Life Beyond Trafficking.
It’s a small, grassroots initiative based out of London but already growing in size due to regular donations.
They were all too happy for Sabre to arrange a fundraiser and allow me to participate in a charity fight.
“I’m going to hang this on my bedroom wall.” I grin goofily.
“It’s being framed and put on the damn fridge.” Hyland smiles despite staring at the road unfurling ahead. “I want to see it every day.”
“Okay, that might be taking it a bit too far.”
“I disagree.” Tom nudges my shoulder. “If you don’t frame it, I will.”
“You too?”
“Absolutely. I’m so proud I could burst.”
“See?” Hyland flashes me a smug look.
To my relief, Blaine, Angela and Axel are riding in the car behind us, unable to chime in. When I climbed out of the ring, I was engulfed in so much praise, I hardly knew what to do with it. Perhaps I should just surrender the medal and let them all run riot.
“Did you let Warner know we’re on our way home?” I tuck the medal under my neckline.
Grunting, Hyland clicks on the turn indicator to enter our quiet, tree-lined street. “Like he isn’t tracking our phones.”
“I’d be mad if he wasn’t,” Tom mutters.
“You know the over-protective big brother act is going to get old one day, right? I’m thirty-two years old.”
“You could be ninety-two, and I’d still be concerned, trouble. It’s kinda my job.”
“Worry about yourself and that fiancé of yours, big bro.”
He rolls his eyes. “Jamie’s fine now that he has a ring, thanks.”
“Better get started on the wedding planning then.”
“Nope, that’s all his domain. I’m only signing off the cheques.”
“Smart man.” Hyland’s blonde ponytail bobs when he nods.
“Hey!” I glare at him.
“What? Sounds like the best policy to me. It’s what I would do.”
“You’re not engaged, Hy.”
“Not yet.” He shoots me a filthy wink. “I’ve still got time.”
“None of that.” Unclipping his seatbelt, Tom pulls a sour face. “I’ve barely wrapped my head around four men dating my baby sister. I’m not about to walk her down the aisle too.”
“Nah.” I wave my hand. “You’ve gotta go first.”
When Tom hops from the SUV and slams the door harder than necessary, we burst into laughter. As Hyland rubs a hand over his face, I crane over the centre console to push it aside so I can peck his open lips.
Seeing them in the crowd while I fought my opponent felt like a full circle moment. They were beaming and proud. Not watching 768. Not a captive. But me—Ember Lawson. Girlfriend. Survivor. Soon-to-be ex-agent.
That’s right.
With Nolan Madden’s life-long conviction looming, I’ve handed in my notice at Sabre Security. It was a lengthy conversation with the directors, but ultimately, the decision feels right. The company saved my life. It gave me purpose when I had nothing after I came home.
Now I have everything.
And I want to enjoy every minute of it.
We split apart when my passenger door opens, unveiling Axel’s maniacal grin. In messy spikes, his newly redyed amethyst hair casts shadows over his face, while his latest selection of graphic tees is bordering on the sociopathic.
Today’s multicoloured choice is no exception. I can’t go to hell, Satan has a restraining order against me. I’m sure that raised some eyebrows among the rich and powerful donating to our cause today. No doubt he enjoyed causing some chaos.
“We have a surprise for you!”
“What is it?” I eye him suspiciously.
“Come inside and see, dimples.”
“Hyland?”
“Nope.” He climbs from the driver’s seat. “You’re not getting it out of me either.”
“Ugh, I hate surprises.”
“Not possible.” Axel yanks me from the car, only narrowly avoiding dislocating my arms. “Hurry up!”
“Jesus, Ax. Calm down.”
“He’s been bouncing up and down the whole drive home.” Blaine locks up his own Sabre-donated vehicle, offering his mother a helping hand.
“I can verify that.” Angela lightly grasps his forearm.
“And you didn’t kick him out on the motorway?” A laugh rattles through me.
“Trust me, I was tempted.” Blaine scowls.
“Yeah, yeah. Big, scary Phantom.” Axel blows a dramatic raspberry in his direction, earning himself a glare. “Love you too, dude. Now let’s go in!”
I’m roughly manhandled towards the gorgeous, red brick townhouse tucked behind blooming cherry trees and brightly painted picket fences. Warner had a hell of a time sanding and refinishing those to his militarily precise standards when we moved in about a month ago.
Our new home is a slice of blissful paradise beyond London’s chaotic energy. Like Brooklyn and her family, we opted to escape the city, retiring to a nearby suburb to lay down roots for our version of forever. Personally, I adore the quintessential countryside aesthetic of our house.
August heat warms my face as I’m steered up the front path and around to the side, bypassing the front door. There’s a gate leading to our back garden hidden out of sight. Also protected by the best security system money can buy, of course.
“Cover her eyes!” Hyland barks from behind us.
“Oh, crap.” In an instant, Axel’s palms cover my sight. “Keep walking, babe. I’ve got you.”
“If I hit a plant pot, you’re fucking dead.”
“I’ll kill him for you,” Blaine volunteers.
“Your criminal days are over. I can do the killing myself.”
“Damn, way to spoil all my fun.”
“You elected to retire. Deal with it.”
When Blaine announced his intention to hand the reigns of his remaining empire over to a fully healed Spyder, I honestly felt relieved. He’d been treading a fine line in shades of grey for a long time. If he continued, his plea agreement would have looked shaky at best.
But rather than forcing his hand, I resigned to accept whatever decision he made. In the aftermath of his father’s arrest and the subsequent dismantling of his operation, Blaine decided to walk away himself. Not just from his whole world, but from Sabre too.
“Did you hear that, unemployed bum?” Axel chuckles lightheartedly. “Only she gets to kill me.”
“I’m temporarily without a job.” Blaine’s retort cracks like a whip. “Not unemployed.”
“Semantics.”
“Shut the fuck up, pup.”
“Language!” Angela swats Blaine’s arm.
“Sorry, Mother.”
My lip aches from biting down to hold in my laughter. She’s a force of nature, that one. I think having Angela around is good for Blaine. Maybe even good for all of us. It’s nice to have some maternal energy in our lives.
Stumbling blindly, I’m steered onto what feels like grass. We must be in the garden. There’s a low hum of whispers, indicating several others nearby. As I’m about to chew Axel out, his hands vanish, allowing the sun to nearly blind me.
“Surprise!”
“Happy leaving party, Ember!”
“Surprise, Em!”
The happy shouts wash over me all at once. With so many bright, friendly faces gathered to shower me with love, I don’t know where to look first. Brooklyn stands with Hudson and Eli, bouncing baby Charlie on her hip. Jude and Phoenix stand farther back with Logan hanging off them.
On my left, I recognise Ripley first. She’s standing next to Warner, grinning ear-to-ear. Her guys hover a few feet back but shout just as enthusiastically. In the last couple of months, we’ve been hanging out more. They’re fast becoming good friends.
With Gunnar lingering far from the crowd, Willow kindly keeps him company, clapping hard to join in the festivities. She has Luke at her side, though he soon makes a dash for his dad, quickly swept up into Hyland’s brawny arms.
All my family.
The entire motley bunch.
To think I once thought I had no one. In the depths of the cartel’s evil, I wondered if Tom even thought about me still. Never did I imagine that one day, I’d have an entire house full of people to love and cherish. It’s something I’ll never take for granted.
“What is this?” I gawp in shock.
“You’re leaving us.” Hudson shrugs. “Figured we should mark the occasion.”
“I still have a few more weeks of work!”
“Let us celebrate you, Ember.” Warner strides towards me to wrap his arms around my waist. “I heard you kicked the hell out of your opponent today.”
“I won.” I twist to accept his kiss. “Shame you couldn’t be there.”
“Someone had to keep this rabble in line.”
“I don’t envy you that task.”
“Well, surprise. This is all for you, love.”
With everyone here to eat, drink and celebrate, our garden is nearly packed to bursting. I can’t help smiling at the sight of Axel and Gunnar tending to the barbecue, trading jokes over beers. Seeing them hang out more and more is an incredible thing.
After another kiss, I wriggle free from Warner’s embrace to mingle. Ripley is the first to hug me while Raine gives a little wave and Lennox grants me a fist bump. I share a nod with Xander who slyly grins back. I love that psychopath so dang much.
“How was the match?” Jude asks, depositing Logan on his feet to run off.
“It was really great.”
“Any problems?”
“No, I kept in control. Not even a flash of her.”
“Well done, Em.” He claps my shoulder. “You’ve come so far.”
“Not without your help. Well, you and Doctor Richards. Just don’t tell him that.”
“Hah, I wouldn’t dare. At his age, he doesn’t need any more incentive to continue working.”
After hugging him tightly, I move to Willow next. She left the kids at home in Briar Valley with her guys, and it’s been so nice to have her here. I know Hyland’s enjoyed having her around for a while too.
“You kept this quiet.” I kiss the side of her head.
She shakes with a laugh. “It was all Tom’s idea.”
“Really? He couldn’t plan a party to save his life.”
“I think his partner had something to do with it, Warner too. Truthfully, all I did was make a salad.”
“Thank you for being here, Willow. It means a lot.”
She leans back to look into my eyes. “I’m so proud of you, Ember. Seeing you here, your home… this wonderful family… I wish I could go back in time to tell the person I met where she’d end up.”
“I’m glad you can’t.” A dull ache twists behind my breastbone.
“How so?”
After a pause to think, I find the right words.
“I needed to be 768 to survive. Just like you had to be Mrs Sanchez and Gracie played her own part. Everyone did. To endure, we all kept ourselves small enough to slide through the cracks and unfurl on the other side of the fight.”
“That’s a nice way of looking at it.” She smiles softly.
“I’m glad I get to know you now, after everything we’ve overcome. It’s a privilege.”
“Oh, Em. Don’t make me cry.”
“Sorry, I’ll stop with the mushy crap now.”
“Come here, you madwoman.”
She bundles me into another hug, wiping under her eyes when she withdraws. We might be living different lives on opposite sides of the country, but I’m thankful for her friendship. And relieved she finally has complete closure at last.
Bouncing from person to person, the outpouring of love is almost too much to handle. I take a break and snag Axel’s beer, distracting him with a kiss. Gunnar pretends to shudder at the sight. Yeah, right. He can act all day long like he doesn’t enjoy seeing his twin happy.
“Congrats on the big win.” He tips his bottle towards me.
“Thanks, Gunnar. Don’t burn the burgers.”
“He wouldn’t dare.” Axel yanks me into his arms.
“You’re the one flipping them.” Gunnar glowers at him. “Focus, idiot.”
“Hey! Feelings!”
“Ugh, not this shit again. I’m playing nice, alright?”
“We need to revisit your definition of nice, Gun.” Axel heaves out a long, theatrical sigh. “Add it to the list.”
Beer in hand, I leave the twins to bicker and head for where Brooklyn sits at the bottom of the garden under our billowing acorn tree. She’s bouncing a sleeping Charlie, but I can tell her attention is elsewhere.
“Hey, Brooke. Everything okay?”
“Oh.” She visibly startles. “Ember, sorry. Yes, fine. Congrats.”
“Thank you. Where’s Kade? I noticed he’s missing.”
Her ash-blonde head lowers, setting off alarm bells. “He’s preoccupied.”
“Is something wrong?”
Stooping to sit next to her on the grass, I press a kiss to Charlie’s fuzz-covered head. By the time Brooklyn looks up at me, there are tears sparkling in the sooty-grey clouds of her irises.
“What is it?”
She nibbles her bottom lip, looking more tired than usual. “Kade. He’s been looking for someone, an old enemy.”
“Who?”
“Someone from the past, from our time in Blackwood. We found something, and… Well, now he’s worried. I don’t know if we’re safe here anymore.”
Behind my ribcage, my heart jackhammers. “What are you talking about?”
Brooklyn peers up at me, snuggling her baby extra tight.
“We’re in trouble, Em. I think we may need help.”
THE END