by Finn, Emilia
“Our stars paired, babe.” He drops a kiss on the tip of my nose. “We’re stuck together forever.”
“Good.” I smile and slide out of my side when he pulls away. Walking toward the group of friends at the front doors, I study each of them in turn. The girls are still sheepish, traumatized, no doubt, by watching their friend die right in front of their eyes. But they’re here, and the fire in their eyes makes it clear who’s going to walk with him into that gym today.
And it sure as shit isn’t going to be his overprotective mother.
I nod my permission, standing back when they turn and move inside. The gym is packed to the brim, so the walkways are lined with fighters and family. They each clap my son on the back and silently cheer him toward his destination. The girls stick close, Benny possibly even closer. I accept hugs and kisses from several of the women we pass, and Eric gets sly thumbs up from the men as though our relationship status is still up for discussion.
Eventually, the kids stop at the side of the ring in the very place Eric stood and watched my son fight and fall. They look around as though uncertain, like they’re scared of going in there again.
Like it might be haunted.
A chair has already been placed there, so Mac can easily climb up. Swallowing heavily, he glances around with uncertain eyes until they finally meet mine. The vulnerability in his gaze brings tears to my eyes and wars with my decision to stay back. I’m supposed to let him do this on his own, to let him be a man and face his fears, but my instincts scream at me to run to him.
He’s my baby, and I promised to always hold him up when he needed it.
“He’s fine.” Eric presses a gentle kiss to the side of my head. “He’s scared, but he’s safe.”
“I know.” My voice cracks, but he doesn’t tease me about it. He wraps a secure arm around my torso and pulls me in as one of the fighter girls takes Mac’s shaking hand and pulls him up.
She’s always been brave, too much attitude for her small body, too big for her britches. Whatever you want to call it, she was never afraid to step up to a challenge. So she climbs up first and pulls him up to stand on the chair, then she parts the ropes and holds them while he climbs through on shaking legs.
I press my fist between my teeth before I cry and make a dick of myself.
There must be fifty or more people here, but everyone remains silent.
When Mac and Lucy Kincaid stop in the center of the ring, they turn to face their crowd. Some people smile. Some bow their heads. Some cry.
It’s me.
I cry.
But no one cheers when Lucy lifts Mac’s hand above his head to finish the victory lap he started so long ago. Heads are bowed for a moment of silence. A show of respect for the man whose heart now beats in my son’s chest.
I hated Zeke Douglas with all of my being for deserting us when we needed him the most, but now I love him too. I can’t ever stop loving him. I won’t ever stop loving him. Because his sacrifice saved our son’s life, and the note he left for me says that he knew exactly what he was doing that day he ended up in the same ER as us, with a heart that was still beating, even if the rest of his body was not.
***
The Checkmate Series continues in Spence’s book, coming December 2019.
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Acknowledgments
Thank you for joining me on another crazy ride. I’m up to book… I don’t know… twenty-three or so now. And most of you have been here since book one. Thank you.
My best friends and main cheer squad – Tink and Mac – I love you guys so much. Thank you for being a part of my everyday life.
My betas – Debbie and Siddhi – thank you for always coming through and reading my guys. Your feedback is instrumental in my books coming out as often and as clean as they do. Thank you.
My cover designer – Amy Q – I seriously adore your work! Thank you.
My editor – Krista from Mountain’s Wanted Publishing – thank you for making my babies shine. These acknowledgments were written after you edited, so if I mess the spelling and grammar up – sorry!
My proofreader – Lindsi – you always catch the sneakiest typos. Thank you.
My crew – fuckkkkk. You guys are awesome. Thank you for your unending and super passionate support.
I need to give an extra shout out to Laura P, because she said she reads these notes at the end every single time in hopes to one day see her name. Here you go, boo. <3
#yourewelcomeDan
Melita and Toni – you’re Fockers now. Thank you for all you do to help me.
To my husband and babies – I love you guys. Thank you for your unending support in this crazy venture. You never tell me my ideas are crazy. You simply tell me to do it, and to prove myself right. This is me keeping up my end of the deal. I love you.
You guys ready for Spence?!
Also by Emilia Finn
(in reading order)
The Rollin On Series
Finding Home
Finding Victory
Finding Forever
Finding Peace
Finding Redemption
Finding Hope
The Survivor Series
Because of You
Surviving You
Without You
Rewriting You
Always You
Take A Chance On Me
The Checkmate Series
Pawns In The Bishop’s Game
Till The Sun Dies
Castling The Rook
Playing For Keeps
Rise Of The King
Sacrifice The Knight
Rollin On Novellas
(Do not read before finishing the Rollin On Series)
Begin Again – A Short Story
Written in the Stars – A Short Story
Begin Again – A Short Story
Written in the Stars – A Short Story
Full Circle – A Short Story
Worth Fighting For – A Bobby & Kit Novella
