Epilogue II #3
"It's obviously me," Adrian continued, grinning like a fool.
"I'm the fun one with the best tattoos. These two are gargoyles who learned to smile.
Anyway, I wanted to ask—" He gestured broadly at the room.
"—Daddy Easton here keeps the good alcohol in the cellar.
The fancy stuff he doesn't share. Do you know the code? "
Marie froze against me—completely froze.
She blinked, staring at Adrian with wide, shocked eyes, processing what he’d just said.
I let out a long, suffering sigh, closing my eyes for a brief moment. I contemplated moving to a different island where Adrian didn't exist.
“What?” Adrian looked around, confused by the sudden stillness. "I always call him Daddy Easton. It's funny because he's terrifying. Why is everyone being weird?”
Marie didn't say anything. She just kept staring at him, a slow flush creeping up her cheeks.
Jax made a choked sound into his drink. Jovie had buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Even Connor looked like he was fighting back a cough.
Adrian glanced between us, his expression shifting from confused to concerned. "Seriously, what? It's just a nickname. Everyone has nicknames. Connor's 'Killer,' Jax is 'Lion,' I'm 'Catalyst.' Wade is 'Daddy Easton.' What's the—"
I watched, we all watched, as realization dawned across his face in slow, horrified stages.
"Oh," Adrian whispered. "Oh. Oh god."
"There it is," Jax whispered, barely containing his laughter.
"I need—” Adrian stood abruptly, nearly knocking over his chair. "I need to go wash my brain with bleach.” He headed for the door, then stopped, turning back around. "I didn't mean—I wasn't trying to—it's just a NICKNAME. A RESPECTFUL nickname! It's not—I don't think about—"
“You’re making it worse,” Jax cut in helpfully.
"Significantly worse," Connor agreed.
Adrian pointed at me accusingly. "This is YOUR fault! You could have warned me! You could have given me a heads up that Daddy Easton was now a—a—a THING!"
"A thing?" I asked mildly, even as Marie tried to bury her burning face against my chest.
"A THING! A thing that has CONTEXT now that I can never unknow!" Adrian was backing toward the door. "I'm going to need therapy. Isla! ISLA! I made it weird!"
He fled, and the office exploded into laughter.
Marie was shaking against me, laughing so hard she couldn't speak. Jovie had tears in her eyes, and even Connor was rumbling with laughter.
"He's never," Jax gasped between laughs, "NEVER going to live that down. Ever. We're bringing this up at every family gathering for the rest of our lives.”
"And after," Jovie wheezed.
"Should we tell him it's okay?" Marie asked, finally finding her voice, though her face was beyond adorable.
"Absolutely not," I said, kissing the top of her head. "Let him suffer. It builds character."
Through the window, we could see Adrian gesturing wildly at Isla on the terrace, clearly explaining his trauma. She was laughing while he appeared to be having a full existential crisis.
"Welcome to the family, Marie," Jovie said warmly. "It's going to be chaotic, loud, and occasionally mortifying, but it's never boring."
I kissed the top of Marie's head, feeling lighter than I had in years. “Indeed. Welcome to the family, darling."
The girls had been enjoying the beach, kicking off their shoes to walk in the surf, but Marie had slipped away. I found her in the quiet of the side garden, standing by the stone fountain, trailing her fingers in the water.
The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows across the manicured lawn.
I approached silently, but she knew I was there. Her shoulders relaxed, and she leaned back before I even touched her. I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, pulling her against my chest. My chin settled on top of her head, and I breathed her in.
"Hiding?" I murmured.
"Just catching my breath," she whispered, covering my hands with hers where they rested on her stomach.
"Your family is wonderful, but they have a lot of energy.
Sierra was telling me about Connor's obsession with cooking, Isla was explaining Adrian's piranhas, and Estelle was sharing stories about Leo.”
"They like you," I told her. “My sons don’t let their wives hang out with just anyone.”
She glanced up at me. “Adrian is currently digging a hole in the sand out of embarrassment.”
I chuckled. "He'll recover. They like you, darling. They really like you."
Marie laughed softly. "They're amazing, all of them. Strong and so full of love for each other. I can see why you're proud."
"I am," I pressed a kiss to her temple. "But I'm prouder of you."
She turned in my arms, looking up at me. Her eyes searched mine, open and vulnerable. “Me? Why?"
"Because you walked into this lion's den today," I brushed a stray curl from her forehead. "You met the people who mean everything to me, the people who are walking tornadoes, and you charmed them. You showed them that this is your home.”
I slid my hands down to her hips, pulling her closer until there was no space between us, until I could feel every soft curve against my body.
"You belong here, Marie. You belong in this family. In this home. In my life."
Her breath hitched. "I feel it too. For the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel like I've found my place. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."
"You are," I vowed, my voice dropping to that rough, possessive timbre that made her shiver. "This is it, darling. No more looking over your shoulder. You are safe here, you are loved here, and you are home here."
She rose on her toes, wrapping her arms around my neck, and kissed me. I kissed her back with everything I had—all the promises I intended to keep, all the devotion I'd never thought myself capable of, all the love that had been building since the moment I'd first seen her.
When we finally pulled back, she was breathless, her lips swollen and pink, her eyes glazed with want.
"I love you, my daddy."
“I love you too, my darling. Now," I murmured, swatting her ass lightly. "Go get changed for dinner, and wear something easier to take off. After we feed the animals, I'm taking you to bed."
Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Is that a threat?"
I groaned, dropping my forehead against hers. "You're such trouble sometimes, aren't you?"
“You have no idea," she whispered, pulling my arm and walking back toward the house, hand in hand.
Through the massive windows, I could see the chaos of my life.
Adrian was chasing Avery with a napkin. Connor was setting the table with terrifying precision while Sierra directed him.
Jax was pouring wine for Estelle, whispering something that made her blush.
Jovie was laughing at something Leo said.
The circus of my life, and beside me, the woman who ruled the ringmaster.
Life was chaotic, messy, and loud, but looking at Marie and the family waiting for us, I knew one thing for certain.
This was our paradise.