Epilogue
Dina
Five years later
I used to bite my nails. I used to bite them so much that sometimes they bled. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I stopped, all because a country singer I idolized had nice nails.
While watching her popular reality show, I grew my nails long and started painting them once a week. But at the rate I’m biting them now as I stare at the screen of the laptop propped on my kitchen counter, I’ll soon have no nails left.
My husband, Selnoa’s most dangerous man, paces from our kitchen to the terrace, where he pauses to look out over the city. Since Declan Crossbow reluctantly took over his father’s empire, which was built in my city, he has created more prosperity than the politicians who are in power ever have.
When asked about it, Declan says it’s because he has no gatekeeper.
If he wants the road paved, all he has to do is call a crew, and they do the job.
By the time people get what they asked for from the president or any governing body, they’ve usually left the country altogether and found paved roads elsewhere.
I think Declan has come to love my city.
But if you ask him, he’ll never admit it.
Some wounds never heal. They’re called scars.
We have them to remind us of what we survived.
The scar on my thigh reminds me of the explosion in my hair salon that almost killed Connor and me. It throbs when it rains.
“You’re at twenty thousand steps,” his twin says from next to me.
Declan rests his hands on the counter. “Anything yet?”
I shake my head.
Declan curses. “That power outage is suspicious. Who’s on it?”
Connor rolls his eyes. “Nothing suspicious. I already told you I saw the boys in the panic room playing with my setup.”
“Maybe you should discipline them. That was dangerous. For them and for us.”
Connor snorts. “Bitch, you’re the one who gave them the code to the room.”
Declan’s eyes widen. “Me? You punched it in while I was carrying Paton. How was I supposed to know a toddler could memorize eighteen-digit codes?”
“Because you claimed he’s a boy genius. What do you think genius means?”
“Listen here—”
“Oh my God!” I jump out of the chair and scream, covering my mouth. I will not cry. I will not cry. I WILL NOT.
I’m crying.
Declan rushes over and looks at the screen. He scoops me up and twirls me around.
“You did it,” he says. “Baby, I’m so proud of you.”
“She did it!” Connor shouts. “We have a lawyer in the family.”
Declan puts me down so Connor can hug me. “Congrats,” he says.
“Thank you.” I wipe my tears away. “Third time is the charm, right?” I can’t believe I passed, honestly.
Between the hair salon and the shelter I run for women who need housing, I hardly had any time to study over the last two years.
Had it not been for Declan encouraging me to continue law school, I wouldn’t have gone back or attempted the exam.
“No, really,” I tell Declan. “Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have done it.”
“Sure, you would have.”
“No, Declan. I wouldn’t. If you hadn’t come into my life, I’d probably be either ruined or dead.”
“Well then, I’m happy to be of service and feel I am owed a great debt.” He glances upstairs in the direction of our bedroom. When he slides a hand under my dress and squeezes my bare bottom, I know how he wants to be repaid.
I’m not wearing panties today. Declan picks out my clothing daily. I let him. Why wouldn’t I? One less thing I have to worry about. In fact, Declan is the kind of guy who takes care of me in ways I never imagined a man would take care of a woman.
I can only hope he gets as much from me as I receive from him. Which is why he doesn’t have to ask twice when he’s in the mood.
I walk up the stairs ahead of him, as I know he’ll follow and look up my skirt. He’s such a man. A great man who makes me endlessly happy.
***
Thank you for spending your precious reading time with Dina and Declan.