Epilogue II
Wade
The silence of the estate was usually my favorite sound. It was the sound of power, of privacy, of a world curated to my specifications. The ocean against the shore, the wind through the palms, and lately, my darling's laughter echoing through halls that had been empty for far too long.
But today, the silence was the deep breath before a detonator clicked.
"They’re here," Marie whispered, her voice tight with nerves and excitement.
We stood in my office, the massive room bathed in the golden afternoon light of the Caribbean. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the turquoise sea, endless and calm, but we weren't looking at the ocean.
We were looking at the iPad propped up on my desk.
The main driveway was on the other side of the house, hidden from this vantage point. I pulled up the security feed, which showed the massive iron gates of the estate swinging open, revealing a convoy that hardly looked like a family visit.
"Four SUVs?" Marie asked, leaning over the desk, her shoulder brushing against my chest. "Wade, there are only seven adults and two children. Why do they need four massive SUVs?"
I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, pulling her flush against me. I rested my chin on her shoulder, staring at the screen as the blacked-out Escalades rolled up the winding driveway like a funeral procession for my peace and quiet.
“They don't share space well," I murmured, inhaling her coconut scent. “My daughter, Jovie, travels with enough luggage to fill one SUV on her own, and Jax needs room for his ego. It’s substantial.”
"And the fourth car?"
“Snacks,” I sighed. "With Adrian, it's probably snacks. Or a habitat just for Sierra’s cat.”
Marie laughed, the vibration of it running through my chest and settling some of the anticipation coiled there. "They're intimidating even pixelated on a screen."
On the feed, the cars came to a halt in the circular driveway, and the doors opened in unison, like a choreographed strike.
"Watch," I instructed softly, pointing at the screen.
First, the children.
From the third car, a small blonde missile shot out before the vehicle had even fully settled. Avery, my granddaughter, hit the pavement running, her floral dress a blur of pink against the white stone.
"She's fast," Marie noted.
"She's an Easton," I agreed, pressing a kiss to her hair. "Speed is a factory setting. As is chaos, apparently."
From the same car, Leo emerged. He was slower, with darker hair, and looked around cautiously. He took two steps before Avery circled back, grabbed his hand, and pointed frantically toward the side of the house where the path led to the beach.
We switched camera views on the iPad, tapping into the external perimeter feed.
We watched as Avery and Leo burst onto the sand. Avery launched herself at the boy, tackling him straight into the sand. They rolled down the sandy path in a tangle of laughter that I could practically feel.
"Oh my god," Marie gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Is he okay?"
Leo popped up, shaking sand from his hair, then they both took off running toward the deck.
"They're fine," I assured her, tightening my hold on her waist. “Avery’s just feral. Now, look at the adults."
Back on the driveway feed, the monsters were emerging.
Jax stepped out of the lead SUV, shielding his sunglass-clad eyes against the island sun.
Even through the screen, the blonde swagger was undeniable.
He wore a white linen shirt, unbuttoned halfway down his chest, ink on his arms catching the light.
He turned, offering his hand to Estelle with chivalry.
She descended with the regal poise of royalty surveying a new kingdom, light brown eyes already scanning the estate with appreciation. It was her first time here—all of their wives' first time here.
"That's Jax and Estelle," Marie whispered, narrating what she saw. "He looks... cocky."
"He is," I confirmed with a chuckle. "But she keeps him on a leash. He's surprisingly well-behaved when she gives him a look."
Next came Connor from the second SUV—a dark storm cloud in a black t-shirt that strained against his massive frame. He walked around to the trunk and began pulling out suitcases, stacking them like they contained feathers instead of what had to be a hundred pounds each.
Sierra hopped out beside him, small in a sundress. She reached up, said something to him, and the mountain of a man paused, leaned down, and let her kiss his cheek. His expression shifted from intimidating to tender in an instant.
"Is that a person or a tectonic plate?" Marie asked, eyes wide.
"That's Connor and Sierra."
"He's carrying everything, and she's carrying… a purse."
"He wouldn’t have it any other way.”
And finally, Adrian.
He seemed to spill out of the car, energy radiating from him in waves. He was wearing a cap and a cropped shirt that was offensively bright. He spun in a circle, tattooed arms wide, shouting something at the sky.
Isla followed him, laughing, who had long ago accepted she had married a golden retriever inhabiting the body of a tattooed boxer.
"Why is he running backward?" Marie asked, tilting her head.
On the screen, Adrian was indeed jogging backward toward the house, gesturing wildly at Jovie, who was ignoring him completely as she dusted sand off the children.
"That's Adrian," I sighed, though the fondness in my voice betrayed me. "He defies physics, social norms, and occasionally common sense, but he's got the biggest heart of all of them."
Marie leaned back into me, seeking my warmth. "They're... a lot. They're like a weird pack of apex predators."
"They are," I agreed, pressing another kiss to her temple. "But to you? They'll be house cats. Large, loud, potentially destructive house cats who might break some furniture. But harmless." I turned her in my arms, making her look at me. "I threatened to disown anyone who scares you."
She laughed, eyes sparkling. "You did not."
"I absolutely did." I brushed a stray curl from her forehead. "You look beautiful, by the way. Have I told you that in the last five minutes?"
I let my gaze drag down the soft pink sundress she wore. It was innocent enough, with eyelet lace and spaghetti straps, but the way it hugged her curves and left her back entirely bare was doing things to my composure.
"If we didn't have guests," I lowered my voice to a rough whisper, "I would have this off you in three seconds."
A flush rose on her cheeks, warm and pretty. "Daddy, behave. Your grandchildren are terrorizing the crabs outside."
"I'm behaving," I promised, nipping at her lower lip. "For now. Let's go before they break down the door."
We walked down the grand staircase just as the heavy double doors of the estate swung open. The noise hit us like a wave—arguments, laughter, the thud of luggage hitting marble, and the sheer displacement of air caused by that many large personalities entering a room.
"—I'm telling you, I am GLISTENING!” Adrian’s voice echoed off the high vaulted ceilings of the foyer. “Angel, look at me. The humidity? It’s activating my natural glow. I look like a glazed donut. A sexy glazed donut."
"You look sweaty," Isla’s voice drifted in, warm and amused.
“GLISTENING!” Adrian insisted. "Connor, back me up. Am I bioluminescent or what?”
"You're blocking the air conditioning," Connor rumbled, his voice a deep bass that vibrated off the marble. "Move."
“Lord, give me strength," Jax sighed, stepping into the foyer and running a hand through his blonde hair. "Dad! Please tell me the bar is stocked. I sat next to Adrian for four hours, and he tried to play 'I Spy' on a plane over the ocean. It was all blue, Dad. Everything was blue."
The foyer was suddenly, catastrophically full. It was a massive space, designed for grandeur, but the Easton presence filled every corner. Testosterone, energy, laughter, and the crackling charge of three heavyweight champions in one room.
I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, Marie’s hand tucked firmly in mine. I felt her fingers tighten around my palm, but she stood tall beside me, shoulders back and chin up.
My brave darling.
"Welcome to paradise," I announced, my voice cutting through the chaos.
The noise stopped on a dime.
Seven heads snapped up, and the silence that followed was heavy, weighted with shock.
They looked at me—their father, their mentor, the man who had taught them that affection was a weakness and emotions weren’t part of my life. They saw the tan on my skin, the lack of tension in my shoulders, and how I was holding Marie's hand with no intention of ever letting go.
Then they looked at Marie.
She stood beside me, radiating a quiet, nervous strength. Her curls were loose, framing a face that was flushed but held high. She didn't shrink behind me. She stood with me.
"Holy shit," Adrian whispered, breaking the silence. He lowered his sunglasses, his green eyes widening. "He actually did it. He found a queen. Look at her—she's GLOWING. Wade, she's literally glowing. Like me.”
"Adrian," Isla murmured, elbowing him.
"What? I'm being honest! Look at Wade—he looks like he sleeps. When's the last time we saw him look rested?"
"Dad," Jovie pushed past her brothers roughly. Her eyes darted between us. "You look rested. Suspiciously rested, and you’re wearing linen. Who are you and what have you done with my father?”
"Island air," I replied smoothly, not letting go of Marie's hand. I pulled her slightly closer, a subtle signal to the wolves in the room to quiet down. "Everyone, this is my Marie."
For a heartbeat, no one moved. They were watching her, the woman I’d chosen as the Easton head.
Jax’s calculating blue gaze swept over her. Connor went still, his dark eyes analyzing her posture, her grip on my hand.