Epilogue Two
Jax
The early sun filtered through the beach house windows, painting the kitchen in early morning gold as I watched Leo carefully sip his sippy cup.
He was careful, each sip measured, his dinosaur pajamas still pristine despite the chocolate milk. Nothing like the tornado that was Avery.
"You sleep okay?" I asked, leaning against the marble counter, coffee mug in hand. I'd been up early like usual, making sure this little dinosaur expert made it to school on time.
He nodded, those sleepy eyes studying me over his plate. "The stars on my ceiling were cool. I counted thirty-seven before I fell asleep."
"Only thirty-seven?" I grinned, refilling his cup. "I'll have to get you the deluxe version. It shows the entire galaxy."
His eyes widened slightly, excitement clear on his little face. He’d gotten less reserved since I started handing him everything he ever glanced at, which was my intention.
His room was a dinosaur sanctuary, filled with toys, books, his dinosaur bed, a dinosaur framed TV, and now his very own little Dino.
I ruffled his hair before opening a cupboard. "Now, what do you want for breakfast? I can manage some pancakes.”
His face lit up. "With chocolate chips?"
“Is there any other kind?” I winked, and the smile I got in return was that of an Easton’s.
He watched with rapt attention as I mixed batter, adding chocolate chips with a very generous hand.
"Elle never put that many," he said, eyes wide with awe.
“Now,” I started with a grin, “you both have me.” I heated the griddle idly. "So if you want the whole bag of chocolate chips in here, we can do that.”
That earned me a giggle, the sound making my chest lighten with satisfaction.
Luckily, pancakes were one of the few things I learned how to cook. I’d been picking up lessons from Estelle and Elsie since my princess moved into her castle.
Leo colored at the counter as I flipped pancakes. Watching him now, bent over a drawing of what appeared to be a pink dinosaur wearing a crown, I made a mental note to buy more art supplies. The best ones, whatever those were.
"Who’s it for?” I asked, sliding the plate of pancakes in front of him, which were 90% chocolate chips.
"It's a T-Rex for Avery," he answered without looking up. "She likes pink."
"That's thoughtful of you." I cut his pancakes into bite-sized pieces, adding an excessive amount of syrup. "Does she scare you?"
Leo shrugged, picking up his fork. "She follows me a lot. And hugs me. A lot."
The long-suffering tone made me cough to cover a laugh. "Girls do that when they like someone."
He gave me a look that was pure skepticism. "Did Elle follow you and hug you a lot? "
I nearly choked on my coffee. "Not exactly. I was the one doing that, actually."
Leo nodded, as if this made perfect sense. "She doesn’t talk to people a lot. It’s a good thing you did."
A few bites later, he looked up—and I knew what was coming. "And now we live here? Forever?"
I crouched down to his level, meeting those solemn green eyes. "That's the plan. You good with that?"
He scanned the opulent space, then nodded. “The ocean is cool. And my dinosaurs have more space.” He gestured with his fork to the plastic T-Rex beside his bowl.
"T-Rex need at least forty acres of hunting ground."
"Is that so?" I bit back a smirk. "Well, we've got about ten acres of beach, but I'll see what I can do about the other thirty.”
That earned me a cute smile. I checked my watch, designer gold reflecting the morning light. "Time to finish up, buddy. School’s in thirty."
After breakfast, getting Leo ready for school was always straightforward. He dressed himself, picked out his shoes, and packed his backpack solo.
The only hiccup came when he couldn't find his favorite dinosaur eraser, which led to a brief but frantic search that ended when I found it under his desk.
I found myself living for moments like these, when this kid who deserved the world would hit me with his next unpredictable dilemma.
He was different from Avery, cause all the little monster ever had were dilemmas.
Before we left, I slipped into the master bedroom. Estelle was still asleep, curled beneath the covers, her hair fanned across my pillow.
I pressed a kiss to her forehead, breathing in the scent of her. "Leo and I are heading out," I whispered, though I knew she was too deeply asleep to hear. "Rest, princess. You're safe."
Ten minutes later, Leo sat in the Bentley, booster seat locked in, dino backpack clutched tight. We headed toward Seaside Academy—a place he wouldn’t be attending for much longer.
I caught his gaze in the rearview. "You know," I said casually, "if anyone gives you trouble at school, you tell me."
I was dying to play the dad role, the Easton dad role. I wanted to waltz in there, all golden pride, and make Leo shine in front of his peers.
He tilted his head, considering. "Like Aiden, who took my crayon yesterday?"
My jaw clenched, voice low. "Aiden took your crayon?"
"The green one. But I got it back." He shrugged, unconcerned. "Avery bit his arm."
I choked back a startled laugh. That was Avery, all sugar and violence, just like her uncle.
“Yeah, uh, Avery’s not supposed to bite. But if anyone bothers you, come to me. Or Estelle. Or Avery, I guess, though tell her to use her words first."
Leo nodded firmly. “Elle says violence isn't the answer."
Damon's blood flashed through my mind, pooling on Adrian's warehouse floor, and the satisfaction I'd felt pulling the trigger.
Then Owen flashed by, and the lesson I taught him that my princess seemed intent on drilling out of Leo’s mind.
“She’s right,” I told him lightly. "But especially not for crayons."
The rest of the drive passed with the little guy giving me a detailed outline of his evening and how he wanted to check the tide pools again.
The kid was smart, scary smart. I was actually interested, asking questions that made his eyes light up with enthusiasm.
“Ready?" I asked once we arrived, helping him out of the car.
He nodded, adjusting his backpack straps. "Jax?"
“Yeah, buddy?”
"Will you be here when school's over? Or Elle?”
I bent down to look at him properly. "We will always be here to pick you up. Always. You don't have to worry about that. "
The relief in his small face was heartbreaking. He'd been abandoned by his father and by his mother's death. What else had he worried about that no five-year-old should?
I had a good childhood growing up, treated like royalty and fawned over by everyone. I couldn’t understand Leo’s fear, but I’d ensure he never felt it again.
"Okay," he said with a nod, then surprised me by wrapping his arms around my legs before darting toward the entrance where Avery was already waving frantically.
I watched until he disappeared inside, that unfamiliar tightness back in my chest. This was new territory for me, responsibility for someone so small. I'd protected people before, my brothers, Jovie, and the girls.
But this was different. This was a child who needed more than just physical safety. He needed stability, a family, just like his aunt.
And somehow, that role had fallen to me, Jax Easton, notorious reformed playboy, Easton heir, and occasional murderer.
I slid back behind the wheel and studied the school with new eyes. Seaside Academy was the best in the state. Exclusive, expensive, with a student-teacher ratio that ensured individual attention.
College tuitions on wheels glinted beside me, driven by harried-looking fathers who probably thought it made up for missing breakfast. I fit right in, another wealthy parent at an elite school.
The only difference was, this would all be changing.
Seaside was a far cry from the neighborhood where Estelle had grown up, where kids like Leo might never get the chance to learn about dinosaurs in state-of-the-art classrooms with 3D printers and interactive labs.
Estelle loved teaching but never fit among the trophy wives and trust-fund parents. She’d taken the job for Leo, for the scholarship, not for the perks it offered her.
She deserved more. Kids who needed her, kids who would benefit from the opportunity if someone gave them the chance.
I sent my princess a text before driving off:
Jax
Meet me at the attached address. Wear comfortable clothes for me.
A few minutes passed before she responded, probably just waking up. I could have checked the cams, but I didn’t feel like getting hard in the academy parking lot.
Estelle
Why?
Jax
You’ll see.
Estelle
I don’t want to.
Jax
It’s worth it, princess.
It was just cryptic enough to make her complain, and just irresistible enough to get her up and out the door.
She beat me there, of course.
I saw her dark green Bentley first, washed in pearled sunlight beside the curb, wheels turned out like it knew it was the most beautiful thing on this tired street.
She sat behind the wheel, sipping something from a fancy coffee shop—her city treat, probably the iced coffee she’d fallen in love with.
My princess was thoroughly spoiled rotten.
And I couldn’t stop grinning. This car was her armor now, built for legends, but the woman inside was all sleepy lips and honey eyes, her hair tucked behind one ear as she scrolled through her phone.
A princess passing the time before her audience.
I’d taught her how to drive myself. Obviously, she was the only person on this Earth allowed to scratch my Bentley—but she didn’t. Estelle was meticulous with everything she tried, and she passed the driving test with flying colors.
The car was waiting for her at home when she got her license. She’d acted surprised, but there was no way my princess truly didn’t anticipate this simple of a gift for passing her driver’s exam.
I parked behind her, stepping out with the calm of a man who owned the block, which, after last week, I most certainly did.
I slowed, letting my shadow fall over her window, watching her gaze flicker up and soften. She lowered the cup, her mouth quirking in that perfect, patronizing princess curl.