by Caitlyn Dare
I can’t help but bark a laugh at her words. I’d really like to see her try.
Ace steps up beside her. “We’ll miss you both, bro.” A lump forms in my throat as I stare at my big brother’s concerned eyes. “But I get it. You do you. We’ll be here when you get back.”
He engulfs me into a hug, and we slap each other’s backs a few times before he pulls back and allows Cole and Hadley to have their turn.
“You’re not joking, are you?” Cole confirms.
“No.”
“Fuck.” He runs a hand over his jaw, his eyes clouding with emotion.
“I’m sorry, we just—”
“Don’t. There’s no need to apologize, bro. I’m just gutted we’re not going to do this together.”
“We’ll be there. Just a little later than planned.”
“Fuck,” Cole barks again, roughly pulling me into his arms and holding me so tight I can barely breathe.
I catch sight of Hadley over his shoulder, watching the two of us with tears cascading down her cheeks.
Lifting my arm, I beckon her over, pulling her into our embrace. “We’ll be back before you know it,” I force past the giant lump in my throat. “And you know the invitation is always open.”
Cole nods against me, but he doesn’t say anything.
It takes a lot to rattle my brother, so the fact that he’s struggling right now damn near rips me in two.
Kenny’s hand slips around my back and she joins our group hug.
“I love you guys so much,” I blurt.
“We love you too, Con.” Hadley’s voice trembles with emotion.
Cole sucks in a deep breath before he takes a step back. He glances up at me for a beat, his eyes full of unshed tears. “You should get going,” he says with a nod before spinning on his heels and marching for the house.
I take a step to follow him, but Kenny squeezes my hand and Hadley presses her palm to my chest.
“He’ll be okay, Conner. It’s just a shock.”
“But—”
“If you don’t leave now, then you never will. Cole will be fine, I won’t allow him not to be. You two deserve this. Do not feel guilty about taking the time you need,” she says, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.
“Thank you,” I breathe, pulling her back into my arms. “I don’t know what we’d have done without you, Hads.”
She doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t need to. She gets it, gets us. She always has.
She steps away, and I gather K up in my arms.
“Ready to hit the road, babe?” I ask, my voice cracking with each word.
“I’m just going to…” Hadley trails off as she points toward the house.
“Look after him.”
“Always.” She gives me a watery smile before disappearing.
I nod at Ace and Remi, and, hand in hand, Kenny and I walk toward Betty.
I pull the door open for her and she climbs in. “Let’s get this show on the road, eh?”
“Hell yeah,” she says excitedly, but I see the concern in her eyes. She thinks I’m going to change my mind. I could, easily, but while part of me is hurting for Cole, a bigger part is with Kenny, and this is what we need. Our future together starts right here.
I jump up into the driver’s seat and start the engine. As Betty rumbles to life, excitement shoots through me.
I look to K, who’s smiling up at me.
“Ready, babe?”
“So ready.”
I put her into gear, and, after a few seconds, the gravel crunches beneath the tires and we’re off.
Ace and Remi wave, and when I glance at the house, I find Cole and Hadley standing at a window, watching us.
“Fuck, this is harder than I thought,” I admit.
Kenny’s hand finds my thigh and she squeezes.
“He’ll be fine, Con. This isn’t the end.”
“No, babe. It’s not. It’s only the beginning.”
Extended Epilogue
James
"Drink?" Marcus asks, gesturing to the bottle of whiskey and the empty glass sitting on the coffee table before him.
I nod, popping the button on my jacket, and lower myself to the chair opposite him.
"Congratulations again," he says, pushing the glass toward me. "It was a good day."
I raise a brow at him, wanting to save the niceties. "Why did you bring the kids?"
"Bex," he sighs. "He wanted to make his peace with your boy."
"On our wedding day?" I shake my head, thinking of my sleeping bride upstairs in our suite. "They shouldn't have been there."
He shrugs like it doesn't matter. I wish I felt the fucking same about his attempt to ruin Sarah's day. But what she doesn’t know can’t hurt her, and I’ve worked hard to conceal the truth from her.
"Bex's life is about to change in ways he can't even imagine, thanks to you.” There’s a sharp edge to Marcus’ voice I don’t appreciate. “I thought he deserved the opportunity to right some wrongs."
"You say that like you don't want him there."
"I just find it convenient that you managed to get him there instead of your own heir." His brow arches.
My teeth grind as my already simmering anger begins to grow. "Keep Ace out of this.” I shift forward. “He, nor any of my kids, have any place in Gravestone."
"It's in their blood, James.” He lets out a defeated sigh. “When are you going to accept that it's their right?"
The glass leaves my hand before I've even registered the move and shatters against the wall on the other side of the room. He watches as the remaining whiskey sluices down the wall before turning his narrowed eyes on me. “Warren got too close. If you allow something like that to happen again, you may not have a choice.”
"I've worked my entire life to ensure my kids don't have to step foot inside Gravestone… or even know of its existence."
"Yes, they’re going to get to do what they want with their futures—unlike Bexley, who’s about to be condemned to this life,” he spits bitterly, as if our arrangement doesn’t benefit him and the Easton name. “Do I need to remind you that one of your sons is engaged to a Rexford?"
I bristle. He might be my uncle. Family. But right now, it feels like we’re sitting on different sides of this fight. "Hadley has nothing to do with her family,” I warn. “They made damn sure of that."
"You're right. Harrison Theobald has bigger issues to deal with than his daughter, anyway. His son."
I run a hand over my jaw. Gravestone might have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, but this is where it ends. I'll continue to do anything in my power to ensure my kids stay as far away from this world as possible. And if that means committing Bexley to this life, then so be it.
Better him than Ace.
Are you ready to head to Gravestone?
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Two angsty romance lovers writing dark heroes and the feisty girls who bring them to their knees.
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