Epilogue Gabriel
T he party fizzled out, leaving behind a peaceful hush. Duke, the sleepyhead, sprawled out by the door, paws in the air, soaking up the afternoon sun. Someone caught him stealing the last slice of cake, but those puppy eyes melted all the anger away. Lexi, Lena, and Alice escaped to the front garden to soak up some sun and finish the last of the ice cream in the fridge.
We ran out of champagne, so Damien and I had to endure yet another of Dominic’s lectures on taste and refinement over coffee.
“Gabriel, my boy, you’ve done well for yourself.” Dominic only came by my place once, in a rush, to drop off my meds when I had a severe cold a year ago. I’d just moved in back then. After that, Mike, Dean, and Glitch swung by to help with my security system. But that’s pretty much all the visitors this house has had—except for an unfortunate visit from Anita, who crashed in late one night, begging me to keep her hidden. This house had been my hideout from the world until Lexi found me.
“It’s a bit too minimalistic for my taste, but I guess it suits you,” Dominic adds.
“Have you thought about a better security system for this place?” Damien asks, as if reading my mind. When Lexi got kidnapped, the guards I had outside were knocked out with a tranquilizer gun. Vargas went all out to make Anita’s wishes happen. He was involved in all kinds of trafficking at the port, so getting his hands on that weapon was a piece of cake for him.
“Yeah, I talked to Glitch. We’re going to upgrade everything. I want to raise my kids safely in this house.”
Dominic flashes that “I-told-you-so” grin, while Damien just smirks, like he’s half-sold, half-still the forever-single dude. I know that club, I used to be a member.
“You’re building a nest, my boy. Huh? Does Lexi know about your plans? Is she pregnant?”
“No, it’s not that. But I’ve been seriously thinking about us settling down.”
“Does she know about these thoughts? Because honestly, I’m so proud of you.”
Dominic—always acting like a big brother. It’s not age, but wisdom and much better social skills that qualify him for the role. He and Damien were like family to me until Lexi came into my life.
“We’ve started discussing it, but she hasn’t given me a final answer yet. That’s what we were talking about on the beach when you guys showed up.”
“Well, hurry up, then. Damn, I’m good. Remember, I called it. I knew she was a keeper. You really hit the jackpot here, Gabe. You won’t find anyone else as beautiful, smart, or willing to put up with all your crazy. Don’t screw this up.”
I wish I could argue with Dom just to shave off some of his keeper-of-all-wisdom arrogance, but he’s right. Lexi is a keeper. I need to move fast, or I’ll lose her. She deserves the world, and I can be there to fulfill her dreams. But I need to play it cool, not scare her off. These past few months, with her by my side every day, have been amazing. The thought of her talking about a life away from me made my heart sink. I had a mini panic attack, imagining her packing bags and moving out.
“What are you guys up to in here?” Lexi asks, sneaking in beside us.
“Dominic’s lecturing us about life, and we’re pretending to listen,” Damien says, winking.
Lexi slides in beside me, her fingers tracing lazy trails down my back. Her other arm wraps around me, pulling me close until her ear rests against my chest, her warmth like a cozy blanket. The surprise party caused a surge of emotions in her. I notice the sparkle in her eyes, replacing the tears, and I can tell she’s savoring every moment. Her hand playfully pinches my back before venturing lower and finally settling on my waist. When did my girl turn into a fearless temptress?
“Damien, I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” she says. “What happened to Anita and Vargas? Where were they taken? Did they appeal?”
Damien looks at me, waiting for a nod. Lexi notices and catches his gaze.
“What happened? Is there something you don’t want to tell me?” she insists.
Damien breaks his silence to reveal something we initially decided to keep from Lexi. She needs to put this story, which has scarred her for so many years, behind her and look to the future. There’s nothing she can do about it, anyway. It’s time she let this go.
“Peter’s lawyers worked their magic and got Anita the best possible outcome. They appealed and got her transferred to a low-security prison with advanced medical facilities. The other inmates will give her a hard time, but otherwise, she’ll be fine.”
“I don’t know what to think,” Dominic interrupts. “Anita’s a snake. She’ll buy her protection and run that place in no time. She won’t be in as much danger as Vargas, but she’ll still have a rough ride, going from a life of privilege to misery.”
“And Vargas? What happened to him?” Lexi sighs.
“Just as Anita expected, Vargas’s world crumbled faster than a sandcastle in a hurricane. The second he got caught, his shady cronies panicked. He was attacked multiple times and moved from one location to another. Finally, during a transfer, he escaped.”
“No way! Are we going to go through this nightmare again? What if he’ll come back for revenge?” Lexi says.
“But that’s just the official story,” Damien rushes to reassure Lexi. “They’ve got Vargas stashed away somewhere, singing like a canary. Information for a lighter sentence for Anita, a cushy prison stay—a whole package. But don’t lose any sleep over it. Vargas is done. He’ll be in prison, isolated, for a while. I’m sure he’s never coming back here. His information has led to many arrests and helped take down a few trafficking rings. He has a target on his back now, so I don’t think he’ll ever show his face again.”
“I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to get upset,” I explain to Lexi.
“Weirdly, I feel sorry for Anita. I know what it’s like to have a sad childhood,” she says.
“Don’t be. You don’t know the rest of it,” Damien adds.
I glare at him, trying to make him stop. If he says what I think he’s about to, it’ll have a huge impact on Lexi.
“We found the ship. The one they planned to load the container with you and the car onto. The instructions were clear: they were going to sell the car, dump Lucas in some port, and you…”
“Damn it, Damien, do you have to?” I snap.
“Gabriel, I want to know,” Lexi replies, her eyes flashing with determination .
“You wouldn’t have made it out alive,” Damien murmurs, shooting me an apologetic look.
I pull her into my arms and kiss her hair. “It’s over, baby. It’s really over. I don’t want you to think about it anymore. That’s why I didn’t tell you about Peter, either.”
“Is Peter okay?”
“ Okay isn’t the word I would use right now. He put the company up for sale. With Anita locked up and Lucas in rehab, he’s not really in the right headspace for business anymore.”
“A part of me feels sorry for him and for Lucas, too, but I need to put this behind me. Dad was right—seeking revenge isn’t going to make me sleep any better at night. They’ll face the consequences, but that’s no longer my mission. I don’t want to waste any more time or energy on them. It’s over.”
She clutches me tighter, seeking comfort. I lean down and press a quick kiss on her lips, whispering, “Don’t worry, babe. I’m here for you, whatever you need.”
“So, how’s the job search going?” Damien asks, shifting the subject.
“Um, I’ve got a few options, but I’m still exploring. For now, I’m planning to go back to university when school starts again.”
“And could you squeeze in a part-time with my agency? My bosses were super impressed with how you cracked the smuggling ring case in the port. So, they want to offer you a consulting gig. It pays well and leaves you plenty of time for school. Plus, who knows, maybe it’ll spark an interest in law or sociology. We could definitely use someone with your talent on the team.”
“You see? I told you,” I blurt out, flashing Lexi a triumphant smile. “She didn’t believe me when I said we needed her to work with the Protectors. ”
“I’ll think about it, Damien. Thanks. I appreciate it,” Lexi says, leaning in and squeezing me tighter.
With a nod, Damien heads outside to hang with the girls. He seems to light up a little brighter whenever Alice is around.
Dominic levels a stare at Lexi and me, then lets his gaze sweep across the room before meeting mine, with a knowing smirk spread across his face. “You know what’s missing, right?”
Of course, I do. There’s one last chapter I haven’t resolved yet.
“Do you feel like going out?” I nudge Lexi with a smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’m sure these guys can handle the leftovers by themselves.”
“Do you mean out shopping?” she says.
“No. We’re going to see Iris.”
Dominic flashes me a reassuring grin and nods. “We’ll hold down the fort until you two lovebirds get back. And Damien’s on puppy duty,” he says, nudging his head towards the snoozing Duke.
***
Before we left, I called Iris’s grandma to tell her we were coming.
“Iris is reading upstairs in her room. Her mom’s out for the evening,” Stella said on the phone. “I’ve been waiting for you to take this step for a while. Bless you for deciding to do it,” she added. “See you in a bit.”
It’s a quick ride to their house. On this lazy late summer afternoon, there aren’t many tourists around. Lexi, sitting next to me in the car, holds my hand the entire way, letting her fingers trail along mine as I drive. We made a quick stop to pick up a large bouquet for Nana Stella. I didn’t think to get anything else .
I feel awkward showing up like this, out of nowhere, and totally unprepared. When I told Lexi where we were going, she jumped into my arms and wouldn’t let go. Maybe she sensed the frantic thump of my heart echoing through my ribs as she hugged me. This feeling of support and the deep connection we share is uncharted territory for me. It’s scary as hell, but also incredibly comforting. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but with her by my side, I feel a strange sense of security.
Nana Stella is out in the yard, waiting for us. I brought her and Iris here when Iris was thirteen, preparing for high school. I wanted her to have access to a better education and a chance at bigger dreams. So, I found them a nice house near the school. Stella had always lived in the town where my mom left me and where the orphanage took me in. Jake, on the other hand, came from a different small town. We quickly grew close and became brothers—not by blood, but by soul. It was tough leaving him behind when I joined the Navy, but I had no other choice. I was overjoyed when he wrote to say he’d fallen in love and was going to have a baby. I didn’t know he was involved in risky secret car races.
When I finally completed my training and could come home on leave, I found a tombstone with Jake’s name on it, and I met the woman carrying his name and his child. Jake never got to meet his daughter, but I hoped he found, at least for a while, some sense of love and family with Iris’s mom.
“There you are!” Stella beams, pulling me into a hug. She’s outside on the porch, a pitcher of cold lemonade resting on a small table next to her.
“This is Lexi,” I say, pointing to the woman who’s been cheering me on all the way over here, but now looks uneasy standing next to me .
“Welcome,” Stella says, her eyes twinkling as they land on her. She gives Lexi a big hug and invites her to take a seat. “Want some? It’s fresh, I just made it,” she adds, pointing to the lemonade.
“Sure,” Lexi says, taking a big gulp from the glass Stella hands her.
Stella looks at me, pausing for a moment. “Do you want to go to her room, or should I call Iris here?”
“I think it’s better if she comes here. There’s more space, and me going to her room might be overwhelming for her.”
A knot tightens in my chest as Stella goes inside. Iris. I know all about her—her friends, her grades, her teachers, what she likes to eat, and where she likes to hang out. But I haven’t sat next to her since she was five, right before I was drafted into Black Ops, and my life became unpredictable and dangerous. I couldn’t bear to put her through losing another father figure. She only has a vague memory of me from our few meetings, and she was too young to remember much detail.
“It’s going to be fine. She’s going to adore you,” Lexi says. “I already do, and I’m good with people,” she adds.
I rub my hands together and rake my fingers through my hair. My mouth is dry, so I glance down and snatch a quick sip from her glass of lemonade. The tangy taste jolts me awake as I anxiously watch the door, waiting for Iris to come out.
Minutes tick by, agonizingly slow. Then, Iris walks out, barefoot and casual in jeans and a bright T-shirt. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail. Her big, bright eyes meet mine, and a light blush creeps across her face. It’s crazy how much she’s grown in the last few years. In just a few short months, she’ll be eighteen.
“Hi,” she says, reaching out her hand to Lexi, who scrambles to her feet.
“Oh. Hi, I’m Lexi,” she stammers, nervously gesturing towards me .
My jaw drops. I can’t think of a thing to say. Suddenly, I feel like a little kid who got caught ditching class. I really want to give her a big hug, but I’m not sure if that’s weird. I have no idea how teenagers greet each other anymore. But one thing I do know—Stella has done a great job raising her.
“Uncle Gabriel. Hi. Nice to see you.”
“Hi, Iris,” I say, trying to keep my emotions from showing in my voice.
I reach out my hand. She squeezes it tightly, then throws her arms around me in a big hug. Her small frame barely reaches my shoulders. I instinctively run my fingers through her hair, then gently pull back, cupping her head with one hand. “Hi,” I say again, searching her eyes. They’re like Jake’s—grey and deep, but Iris’s eyes sparkle with life.
She breaks away from the hug, walks over to the table, fills a glass with lemonade, and brings it to me before pouring herself one.
“It feels strange that we finally meet. But if it makes it any less awkward… I know you. I’ve seen you many times watching me from the street. I’ve known you, Uncle Gabriel, since you first came to our house.”
I didn’t expect that, but it does make things easier. She knows who I am, and she’s not upset with me.
“And I know who those big guys were, who scooped me up from a few parties and gave me a ride home. They’re not the sons of those church ladies Grandma is friends with, are they? They work for you, right?”
“Yeah, they do. Look, I did it for your own safety. I’m sorry if that caused you any trouble.”
“A bit, nothing major, though. Actually, my girlfriends have a crush on Dean. So, you can send him anytime to drive us around. Besides, your guys are way cooler than my classmates’ parents, who get all hysterical.”
I giggle. Dean is the youngest and most handsome on my team. I know he was his usual professional self around them, yet he has no clue what he unintentionally stirred up.
“So, we’re good, Iris?” I ask in a hopeful voice. I don’t know how to talk to teenage girls. Honestly, that’s what scared me the most about this meeting—that I wouldn’t know how to act around her. I know how to protect a family, not how to be in one.
“We’re good—if you remove the tracking app. I actually wanted to talk to you about it.”
Damn it. How does she know?
“If you’re wondering how I know, I have a friend at school who’s good with tech. He checked my phone when I got suspicious about Dean and his buddies showing up at every party I went to. I left the app so you wouldn’t freak out. I wanted us to talk things through first.”
Welcome to parenthood, Gabriel. The anxiety has worn off. Negotiation and surveillance are what I do best. I’ve handled similar situations with other teenagers, like my clients’ kids.
Lexi gives me an encouraging smile. I wink back, giving her the I got this look.
“Sure, we can negotiate, but the tracking app stays.”
“Fine. But if I let you know in advance where I’m going and when, your guys need to wait a block away.”
“Okay, seems reasonable.”
“And I can go out with whoever I want.”
“Whoever you want and pre-approved by me.”
“I can’t fall in love with whom you want me to.”
“God, who said anything about falling in love? I thought you were going to a party.”
Iris bursts out laughing. I raise an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation, as Lexi chuckles quietly, covering her mouth.
“Okay, Uncle Gabriel, you’ve handled this like a pro. You passed the test.”
What? Am I really that out of touch that I didn’t notice what Iris was up to? Huh, this is going to be harder than I thought. She’ll definitely keep me on my toes.
“Actually,” she goes on, “I’ll be a senior soon, preparing for college. I won’t have much time for parties. I really want a scholarship, and there’s a lot of studying to do.”
For the first time since we got here, I see Iris almost daydreaming. She has great grades and can go wherever she wants. Getting into college will be easy for her, and I’ll cover the costs.
“Uncle Gabriel, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you.”
“If I can answer, sure.”
“What was my dad like?”
“Your father? Hmm. He had a big heart. He was just like a big kid. You couldn’t help but love him. Jake didn’t let others bully him and stayed strong. He believed he had a purpose in this world, and nothing could stand in his way.”
“Unfortunately, he never got to fulfill it,” Iris says.
“He did, but he just didn’t get to see it. He didn’t get to see you, Iris, his greatest achievement. Trust me, he would’ve been so proud of you. A gifted, intelligent young woman, brought into the world by a father who never knew a parent’s love… He would’ve talked about you to everyone. Jake had no filter. He loved to talk and brag, a big leader in a small, unfortunately, sickly body. But he made up for it tenfold with his courage and his love for people.”
“I learned that about him, too,” she says, a wistful smile playing on her lips. “Hold on a sec. I want to show you something.” Iris excuses herself and disappears into the house. Soon after, she returns with a book and opens it in front of us. From it, she pulls out a piece of paper with writing on both sides and noticeable creases from being folded over and over again.
“It’s a letter from him. I got it from Grandma. He wrote it for me before I was born, but never got around to giving it to me.” She whispers the last words, swallowing hard as she fights back tears and gathers the courage to read it.
My dear princess , she begins,
I’m writing this because I want you to know everything I feel as I wait for you to be born. I’m worried I’ll forget most of it once we start stressing over how to raise you. I figured I’d write letters for different stages of your life so you can read them when I’m too tired or too old to remember. But I’m certain, princess, that you’ll always be in my thoughts and in my heart.
I was over the moon when I found out you’d be born to bring joy to our hearts and our lives—your mom’s and mine. As you probably know by now, I had no family. So, the only thing I want to be the best at in this world is being a father. Your father. We’re getting ready for your arrival, and we’re a bit of a mess. Your mom and I don’t know much about raising a child, but we know how to love. And I’ll make sure you don’t miss a thing. You should’ve seen how scared I was when we went to buy your first clothes and crib. It felt like a giant in a dwarves’ world.
As you read this letter, you’re all grown up, and we’ve shared so many wonderful times together. You’ve learned to read and write, you know how to ride a bike, and you certainly drove your mother crazy with your fashion demands. I know you’re incredibly beautiful and have big plans for your future.
I’ll leave you a piece of advice in each letter for you to remember during moments of need or when you face important decisions. Your mother and I will be there, too, but your life should be shaped by your own desires. If you’re ever unsure about what to do, remember that there are two ways to decide, which never fail. I know this because I’ve relied on them during my darkest moments, have always found my way, and met people who’ve helped me.
First, always follow your heart. It might sound cliché, but the best decisions often come from trusting your instincts.
Second, trust in yourself. You have the strength, intelligence, and resilience to handle whatever life throws at you.
I have to wrap this up now because your mom’s calling. Apparently, both of you are picky and want strawberries, so I need to go out and get some.
Until the next letter,
Your loving father, who’s eagerly waiting for your arrival
Iris takes her time folding the worn-out paper, which she’s likely read countless times by the looks of it. Lexi sobs, hiding her tears.
“As you can see from the letter, he was preparing to stand by your side no matter what you set out to accomplish,” I say.
“He’s gone now.”
“But I’m not. I’m here. And now you know how to reach me whenever you need me.”
“How? By running off to parties and setting off notifications on your tracker?”
“That too, if you want. But it’d be easier if you called me, came to visit, and told me about yourself and your plans,” I say, reaching out to squeeze her hand.
“How about lunch on Sunday?”
“Sure. I’ll be here every time you want me to.”
“And parent-teacher conferences? Man, you’re going to blow the principal away when she sees you. ”
“Whenever you want. That’s my promise to you.”
“Then I’ll see you on Sunday. Are you coming too, Lexi?”
“If you’ll have me, I’ll be there,” Lexi says, wrapping her in a hug.
We walk out while Iris watches, and Nana Stella sees us off to the gate.
“It’s great that you came. She needs you—someone younger than me and more responsible than her mother. And she needs a father figure, Gabriel. God bless you for everything you’re doing for this girl.”
She hugs me, closes the gate behind us, and we quietly get into the car.
As we drive home, Lexi seems deeply lost in her thoughts. A weight has been lifted from my chest, and I surprise myself by making plans to include Iris in our lives. I keep saying our , even though Lexi hasn’t given me a final answer about her plans. A grumpy, introverted bodyguard playing father to a teenage girl probably isn’t a twenty-four-year-old woman’s dream.
“How did Iris get the letter?”
“From Stella. Didn’t you hear when she said that?”
“Maybe I missed it,” she replies, looking straight into my eyes. “But I didn’t miss the handwriting in that letter. It’s yours, Gabriel. I’ve seen it so many times on the fridge Post-its and on the documents in your study.”
“I didn’t know you’ve been snooping around in my study.”
“Don’t change the subject. You wrote the letter, didn’t you?”
I nod. She can know. She’s on my side, and she’s not going to tell anyone.
“Did someone help you? I never imagined you writing letters. You’re one of the most technical people I’ve ever met,” she says .
“A letter is more personal. It was also the only way to send her a message from her dad that she’d actually believe. You’ve seen how suspicious she is.”
“Still, those words you wrote, Gabriel… so powerful.”
“I wrote it as I’d write to my own child. She needed to connect with her father somehow. That’s all I could give her. It’s how I think Jake would’ve written it if he had thought of it.”
“I pictured you when you wrote about feeling like a giant in a world of dwarves. Jake was shorter and more fragile, as you said.”
“With your eagle eyes and that memory like a steel trap, I’ll never get away with anything, will I?”
“Don’t worry,” she whispers. “If your love is anything like mine, these little things won’t bother you.”
“Did you say, love ?” I ask, struck by her words.
“Gabriel,” she murmurs, her voice thick with emotion. “You’re not just father material; you’re everything I’ve ever wanted, and I’m…” She hesitates, then leans in, her eyes sparkling with love, “…utterly, head-over-heels in love with you.”
I can’t even focus on driving with her words echoing in my head—she loves me. Lexi. She still hasn’t told me if she’ll stay with me. I’ve been avoiding talking about it for months to give her time to figure things out. I wanted her to be more than the Lexi consumed by revenge that had no other purpose, but now… the thought of empty days without her laugh, her warmth next to me at night, is unbearable. This could be it, Gabriel. This could be your chance to win her heart, to keep her forever.
I pull the car over in a parking lot as Lexi looks at me, confused. “Aren’t we going home? Why did you stop?”
God, I love the sound of the word home when she says it .
I know that sitting here in the car isn’t the ideal place to ask her, but I can’t wait any longer. I take off my seatbelt, turn to her, and hold her left hand in mine. She gives my hand a gentle squeeze.
“Lexi, I wanted to ask if you’d like to move in with me permanently. I want us to spend every night together and wake up in each other’s arms every morning. Whatever you decide about work or school, I’m behind you. I just want to be there for all the incredible things you deserve. I love you, Lexi, and I can’t imagine my life without you anymore.”
She leans back and pauses, a gentle blush blooming on her cheeks. It reminds me of the first time I touched her face, when the surprise sparked something sweet between us.
After a few minutes of me going through a whirlwind of emotions, she whispers, “I tried to find better words to give you the answer you deserved, but everything feels too complicated, too long, or too cheesy. I need you in my life, and the thought of you being a part of it makes me incredibly happy. My love, I’m so lucky to have found you.”
I press my lips to hers, a kiss as desperate and vital as the need for air, for life itself.
THE END