Epilogue 2
Max
Five years later
Hammering a nail into the wall of my gym office, I hang up my gloves, my belt—proof of every fight I’ve won.
My dad’s relentless training made me undefeated, but even that isn’t enough to keep me fighting in the ring.
Sure, I could keep fighting for a couple of more years, but for right now, I feel I have fulfilled my dreams and the purpose for which I started fighting in the first place.
I have everything I could have ever hoped for.
A wonderful wife, and five kids—all under five.
My surveillance company now spans three states, and the gym is holding its own.
Sol still has her café, though she handed it over to a manager to help manage it.
Isabella ran it as long as she could, but age eventually caught up with her.
These days, Sol shares an office with two other psychologists, working part-time for now.
She wants to spend as much time as possible with the kids.
I carry the kids with me when possible. I’m not a fan of daycares.
We do have a trusted sitter at home, and Leo and Juliana will start kindergarten soon.
My dad saunters in and drops into a chair like it’s been waiting for him all day, hands laced behind his head. The gray hairs and the mustache he’s had since before I was born—he wears it all easily, like a man who made his peace with time somewhere along the way.
“What a day,” he breathes out. He glances at the wall where I’ve hung my shrine.
“It’s about time you hung your belts up, hijo.
Be proud of yourself, and it also encourages others to follow in your footsteps—a role model.
” Age has made him softer. “I’m proud of you, my son.
You have accomplished so much in your life.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to train you, be by your side at every fight, and have the privilege of working for your company. I don’t deserve it.”
Getting to my feet from behind the desk, I move and lean against it, crossing my ankles.
“Come on, Pops. We are past that. I have forgiven you. If it’s a debt you’re looking for, you’ve paid it.
You have been an outstanding grandfather to my kids.
They treasure you. You help watch them. You spend every second you can with them.
They sleep over at your place. You love my wife as if she were your daughter.
That’s more than I can ask for. You have been sober for six years, Dad.
I’m proud of you. It’s not easy, but you did it.
You’ve earned your spot in my heart. It’s always been there.
I just wanted you to prove it to me, and you have. You’re my rock, Pops.”
We have gotten close after spending so much time together.
He’s the father I longed for. I’m just grateful my kids have him in their lives.
I may have lost years with him, but at least my kids have him.
He’s the only grandparent they have. The second he steps in the doorway, they run to him.
My two youngest twins, Nico and Max Jr. Yes, I had to name one after me.
They’re only four months old, and they baby-talk and coo to my dad.
Gracie is only a year and a half old and runs to him.
Pops swallows and nods. “Thank you. My grandkids are my world, my reason to wake up every day.” He gestures around the gym. “And I have this, you and Sol, training, and a job. What more can I ask for?”
“Exactly, we can’t complain. Life has been good,” I tell him. It’s good to have the Underground behind me now. Daniel only nods when passing each other in public. He’s kept his distance.
A small groan thunders toward the door. “Ugh, fuckin’ shit,” Leo roars, his hair slicked with sweat, struggling to take his gloves off. “I can’t, Dad.” My five-year-old swears like a sailor.
My dad’s lips go into a straight line, hiding his laugh.
“Excuse me. Watch that mouth.” I raise a brow at him and beckon him. “Come here, let me help you. If your mom hears you, she will be upset with you, then me.”
His lips twist, and he gives me a shrug and walks to me. “You say bad words,” he says matter-of-factly. Pulling the gloves off him, my lips turn into a smile. He might be my son, but he has Leo’s name, and he sure is impulsive, like his uncle Leo.
“Yes, but I’m an adult, and you are only five years old.”
“Okay.” He sighs, like he carries the entire world in his hands. Leo does the class warm-up and hits the bags. I don’t have them spar at this age. The Leo scholarship funds kids who want self-defense classes and smaller kids like Leo’s age who need activities to stay active. “I’m hungry.”
I glance through the window, watching Juliana play with her toys on the floor. “Give me five minutes, then we’ll head home. Your mom is making dinner.”
Leo glances over his shoulder. “Grandpa.” He jumps on his lap as if he just didn’t see him ten minutes ago in the gym. “Are you coming to…the house?”
Dad wraps him in his arms and places a kiss on his forehead. “Not tonight. I’m closing for your dad so he can get you two home.”
Leo frowns. “Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow.”
Juliana walks in with her long-braided hair and purple dress. Sol always says Juliana looks just like me. She does, her green eyes sparkling when she peers at me. Her smile grows, and she holds onto her doll. “Dad?”
My heart melts every time my girls peer at me. I do with all my kids, but with my daughters, it hits differently. They have their fingers wrapped around mine so damn tight I don’t have the heart to say no. “?Sí, mi princesa?”
She puffs her cheeks. “Can we stop at T-Target and buy shoes and clothes for my dolls?”
“Of course.”
“And a car for them,” she adds.
“Yes, anything you want.”
She grins. “Libstick too for me.” She definitely knows how spoiled she is. She’s been taking Sol’s lipsticks. Sol finds them broken and smeared everywhere.
Running my hand over my beard, I tell her, “Maybe you should ask your mom about that.” Let Sol tell her no.
She sighs, then hugs my legs. “Thank you, Dadda. I lube you.”
I bend to her height and hug her. “I love you too, princesa.” Fuck it. “I’ll get you lipstick. Any color you want.”
My dad cackles in the back.
After a quick trip to the store for toys, I make one last stop before heading home to the cemetery.
Our shoes crunch through the grass, and around us, only birds break the silence.
The kids walk beside me, holding their toys.
A fresh bouquet of colorful flowers is placed in the vase.
Sol. She always drops off fresh flowers for Leo.
Leaning against the vase is a bag of chocolates.
That would be Xander. He took it just as hard as we did when Leo passed.
Not a day goes by that my heart doesn’t ache.
You just learn to live with it. I crouch down and rub his name on the stone with the pad of my thumb.
“Hey, brother. It’s been five years since you left us.
I think about you every day. We miss you.
” My voice chokes in a soft whisper. I glance at Leo and Juliana sitting on a concrete bench near me, unpacking their toys.
“The kids are doing good and getting big. Leo reminds me so much of you.” I laugh weakly.
“He’s kind, funny, and very blunt. He gets his sharp mouth from me, of course.
Juliana is a ray of sunshine. She might look just like me but is just like her mother in every way.
Beautiful, smart, kind, funny, and sassy.
Gracie is getting into her terrible twos.
You would love her. She’s beautiful and loving, just perfect.
Nico and Max already scowl, and they are only four months old.
” I take the mini gloves from my pocket and place them on the stone.
“It took me a year and a half to fill your position. I couldn’t see anyone sitting there but you.
I hope you’re happy where you are and see your mom every day.
If you see mine, tell her I love her, and Dad’s good.
He’s sober. Tell her I’m happy. Talk to her about Sol.
Tell her she has the kindest heart and how wonderful she is.
If Mom had anything to do with tying us together, tell her thank you.
” The kids start fidgeting, so I stand up. “Until I see you again. Love you, man.”
I wave to the kids, and they run to me. They stop, and they both say, “Bye, Uncle Leo.”
My heart is always heavy when I walk away.
The gates swing open when I click the clicker—wrought iron, tall enough that you’d need a running start to even think about scaling them.
We moved here three years ago when the fan base got big enough to bring the other kind of attention with it.
The house sits at the end of a long driveway, wide and white, just large enough to feel like something without swallowing you.
Six bedrooms. Enough for now, though not forever.
That’s if Sol wants more kids. I’m always up for whatever she wants.
Unlocking the door, I’m greeted by squealing babies excited to see me.
It’s the best feeling in the world to come home to this.
My wife stands with a radiant smile on her gorgeous face.
I may have a million dollars in the bank and expensive cars, but I don’t need it to be happy.
Having her and my kids is all I need. We may both be humble people, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like seeing my wife drive expensive cars or be draped in the finest jewelry and clothing.
It’s me who wants her to have the best of everything for our family.
She would be happy with anything. We have both worked our asses off and deserve the life we built.
Gracie waves at me. “Dadda…dadda.”
“I’m coming, baby girl.” She’s sitting in her highchair, eating.
I shower her with kisses, and she giggles as my beard tickles her soft skin.
“What’s my little princesa eating? I missed you.
” From the first day we met her at the hospital, we knew she was ours.
There was no way in hell I’d let this beautiful girl go from home to home.
She belonged with us. I open my mouth to eat the slice of cheese she’s stuffing in my mouth. “Good,” I tell her.
Gracie nods. “Good. Dadda.” She continues eating and dancing to the cartoon music playing.
Next, I walk to Nico and Max in their swing, and they greet me with smiles, kicking excitedly.
As of right now, everyone says they look like me.
They might have Sol’s light-complexioned skin, but I agree with them.
“You look more like Dadda every day.” I unbuckle Nico, then Max.
They are my chunky babies. Holding them both in my arms, I kiss them each, and they do the same every time, giggling at the tickles of my beard.
I inhale the scent of milk and baby lotion.
“I missed you guys.” Nico runs his small hand over the prickle of my beard.
Frustrated that he can’t pull, he smacks me, while Max fights to find my nipple.
They are teething and have been trying to bite and suckle on anything.
“I’m going to go greet your mama, then I’ll be back.
” Buckling them back in the swing, I hand them their teething toys and walk to my wife, who’s grinning at me.
“What is it?”
“You always look hot holding the kids in your arms.”
She always eyes me with heat in her stare. I always wonder if there will be a day when she will stop looking at me that way. I do what I can to keep the spark alive, and I know she does the same. I notice.
Bringing my hands to each side of her face, I slant my lips on hers.
The kiss is pure torture and pleasure all at the same time.
Torture because I want to spend countless hours locked in the bedroom painting pictures with my tongue on her body.
Every day I walk through this door, I kiss her until she melts in my hold, and the heat between us seeps into our skin.
My dad once said, “Date your wife every day.” I’ve taken his advice to heart since the day I said, “I do.” Once a week, he watches the kids so I can take Sol out.
We bought a condo so we could have a couple of hours to ourselves.
Which is not long. We don’t leave my dad long with the kids, although he doesn’t complain.
I know they are a handful for him alone.
“Max,” she says breathlessly as I hoist her.
She wraps her arms around my neck, balancing.
Her legs are around my middle. Leo and Juliana sing in the living room, playing with Nico and Max.
I keep kissing her, tasting the familiarity of her cherry lips.
I never understood what a “quickie” was until we had kids.
Quickies were never a thing for us in the past. Now, it’s every chance we get.
And now would be a good time for one in the washroom. We are desperate for one…now.
“Daddd,” Leo shouts.
Fuck.
“Yeah?” I say, pulling away. He marches into the kitchen. “Leo, where are your pants?”
He raises both brows. “In the bathroom.” Leo does not like pants. “I’m hungry, Momma.”
Sol brushes her bruised lips. “Well, go wash up and then come sit at the table.”
“I did. See. Smell it.”
“Okay, honey, go tell your sister dinner is ready,” Sol says, her hands on my chest.
He takes off running in his Spider-Man chonies.
“It’s like I had no part in birthing him.” She laughs.
“How was your day, beautiful?”
Her cheeks turn pink. “Good, now that you’re home.”
“I’ll always come home to you.”
“Good, and you better. Now tell me. Are you okay with your decision? I’ve seen on social media everyone talking about you stepping back from the ring.”
Sol has always supported me. She’s never asked me to stop. Every time she cleans and heals my wounds, I see the pain in her eyes. It guts me to see it. That’s not just it. I want to spend time with my family. Overall, I don’t need the money.
“I made my decision. I may love boxing, but being in the spotlight is not what I love. I love you and the kids more than anything. It was taking too much of my time. All I need is your love.”
She wraps her hands around my nape. “You got it, champ…always. Forever.”
Memories of Sol come over me all at once—the beginning, the middle, all of it. Some people spend a lifetime searching for the right person. The one…I found mine. I didn’t have to search; she was right in front of me the entire time.
The End