by KC Kean
“They’re happy tears, I swear,” I mumble, taking a deep breath as Aiden brushes away my tears. Forcing my eyes open, I find my dad wiping away his own tears quickly. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Dad.”
“Me too, Jessie. I’m so sorry you have had to deal with all of this. Juliana has been updating me on what you’ve been through, and I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.”
“It’s not your fault,” I whisper, leaning back into Aiden, needing his warm embrace right now.
“We have so much to catch up on, pumpkin. It’s just going to take me a minute to be back on my feet,” he grumbles, trying to sit up in bed. I watch as his face scrunches in pain as a hiss passes his lips, and Juliana is suddenly on the screen.
“Neil, for goodness sake, will you stop moving? You’re going to make your injuries worse,” she scolds, but there is a softness to her touch as she brushes his wild red hair from his face.
“I’m a grown-ass man—”
“An injured grown-ass man, who is probably the worst patient I have ever tended to,” Juliana throws back, fluffing up his pillows so he can indeed sit up a little more.
“You’ve played nurse to other people?” My father asks with a grin and his eyebrow raised, and Juliana doesn’t respond as she turns to look at the phone.
“Hey, honey. Your father is annoying,” she pouts, making me smile as Aiden pulls me towards the house as raindrops begin to fall.
“Hey, Ju-Ju. Thank you,” I respond wholeheartedly. I owe her so much.
“Don’t even think about it.” Her response is instant as she perches herself beside my father on the bed.
Shaking the rain drops from my hair while Aiden shuts the patio door behind me, I smile at the phone. Seeing my father and Juliana is the final piece to the puzzle. I can be happy and feel elated without the guilt, knowing everyone is safe.
“I love you guys.”
“I love you too,” they respond back instantly in sync, making me smile more. My dad stifles a yawn, clearly ready to nap again, and I don’t want to get in the way of his healing.
“How about you sleep, Dad, and I’ll speak with you again in a little while?”
“Okay, pumpkin. But you better know I want to be properly introduced to these men that have all been on the phone, telling me how much they love you,” he says with a quirk of his eyebrow at me, and I blush.
“Deal,” I answer, before he blows me a kiss through the phone and ends the call.
As soon as the call ends, Aiden wraps me up tight in his arms. “How is it even possible for you to look brighter?” He murmurs in my ear, making me frown.
“What does that even mean?”
“He’s right. Calling you sunshine even seems too tame right now. You’re practically glowing,” West adds as I feel his hands on my waist from behind.
I blush under their inspection. Not even my nightmares could tear me down right now.
“Jessikins, I have a game for us, come and sit down,” Oscar calls out from the sofa, and the guys reluctantly release me.
Lacing my fingers with West, I loop my arm through Aiden’s as I lean my head against his arm, wanting to touch them at every opportunity.
All these stars and you, by Camylio, plays through the speakers. I love this song so much, and it couldn’t be more perfect.
Looking over to the sofas, Luna, Roman, and Kai relax together, with Parker and Oscar sitting on the sofa beside them, and Maverick relaxes on his own.
He smiles as he catches me staring, and when I release my hold on my Aiden and West, to hand Maverick his phone back, he pulls me down into his lap. West and Aiden sit on either side of him, like they knew it would happen as I squeeze him back.
“I can’t stop staring at my ring,” I whisper in his ear, and his hold on me tightens.
“I love you, petal.” Kissing my jaw, he sends a shiver down my spine. We need some group time, but I know there is no chance of that just yet.
“Maverick, I think it’s time,” Oscar calls out, interrupting my kisses.
“It’s not,” Maverick responds, instantly dismissing him, and I frown in confusion.
“Time for what?” I ask, turning to face Oscar, who grins like a Cheshire cat at me.
“For Maverick to tell me how old he is.” He nods eagerly, trying to encourage Maverick to answer, and I shake my head at him.
“Is this actually a thing?”
“It’s been a thing since they started fucking brawling in the hallway,” Roman groans, clearly having heard this conversation more than once.
“And someone doesn’t want me to know he’s old enough to have grey pubes, isn’t that right, Maverick?” Oscar goads, and I can’t stop the laughter that bursts from my lips. I quickly cover my mouth, but not before Maverick gives me the side-eye.
I hear a few others chuckle around us as I answer Oscar. “He definitely does not. I can attest to that.”
“Me too,” Aiden chimes in, making everyone laugh even more as Oscar finds his usual pout.
“That’s fine, be that way. But just know, I have done things in that exact spot you’re sitting in. Things that involve my jizz,” Oscar shouts, wiggling his eyebrows.
“You did not just say jizz,” Parker cringes beside him, and it only makes me giggle at their antics.
“Do I get to tell him what we did in Combat? Cos, you know I’m going to send him to that exact mat when we get back,” Maverick teases with a grin. I love it when his fun, playful side comes out to play as much as I love his alpha tendencies.
“Eww, don’t be fucking gross, man,” Oscar groans as I blush, and everyone else laughs.
“Well, if you’re not going to tell me, we can play fuck, marry, kill,” Oscar states, and I roll my eyes. “And let’s make it more interesting, the girls aren’t included, and you have to choose guys from the other group,” he adds, circling his hands to indicate what he means.
“That’s ridi—”
“Kill Oscar,” Maverick starts, making everyone laugh, and Oscar gapes at him.
“How dare you,” he whines, glancing at Luna, who only laughs louder. “Fine, carry on.”
Calming his chuckle, Maverick glances at the others. “Okay, I’m gonna marry Kai because his tech skills are next level, and… Fuck Parker, just cos I can see you want to fuck him, Oscar,” Maverick goads, squeezing me tight as Parker whispers something in Oscar’s ear, making him blush.
Kai throws his fists in the air like he just won a trophy as Oscar stands.
“What about me?” Roman grunts, making Luna smother him in kisses for being left out.
“My turn!” Oscar shouts, standing from the sofa, and staring down at my men.
“I’m marrying Aiden because he has my level of jokes,” he starts, and I don’t need to look at Aiden to know he thinks he’s extra awesome right now. “I’m sorry, West, I’m going to have to kill you so I can fuck Maverick extra hard,” he finishes with a wink, and the room bursts into another round of laughter.
I’ve not laughed this hard, and for this long, in what feels like forever. I love the feeling of friendship and family that ties us all together as we create a safe haven amongst ourselves.
West laces his fingers through mine as Aiden squeezes my thigh, making me squirm in Maverick’s lap.
Together. All of us. This is the truest form of myself, here with everyone. This is the life I could have only dreamed of.
I don’t truly know where anything goes from here, but I do know I won’t be alone. I’ll be surrounded by love and not a cage, trapping me in place.
I am Red.
I am Jess.
I am free to be me.
Luna
“Now everyone has been allocated and has accepted their roles. We need to get to the first order of business, and we need to be quick about it.”
Great. Why do I get the fucking sense we’re being tossed into the damn deep end right now?
I feel Roman squeeze my thigh under the table, and I want to lean
into him, but not with these fuckers watching. I can already tell they’re trying to tear each of us apart to find our weaknesses.
And it’s definitely no secret that my men are my kryptonite.
“You’ve all heard the hints and rumors about the Russians, but what we haven’t been prepared for is the Italians. It seems they were involved in Totem’s power play, and no, they’re not happy they haven’t gained the control he promised them. So, they’re making moves to attempt to break us down.”
Clasping my hands together on the table, I let him continue to drone on, my mind already flitting around on how to squash whatever attacks they plan to throw at us. But to do that, I need to know what their power play with Totem was, and I know exactly where to find the answers.
It’s about time I finally made that trip. I have questions of my own that require answering.
Afterword
Oh my goshhhhh!!! I feel so emotional right now. How have we made it this far?
It always feels weird not dropping a cliffy and running like I usually do, but the ending of Freedom speaks straight to my soul. They deserve a happy moment, even if it is just for a moment. LOL.
But we have to take this time to have a real talk. Have I left the world of Featherstone open for future adventures? Yes. But will my next book be based in Featherstone? No.
It’s okay, take a minute, bitch me out, you know I love it when you do.
I am always obsessive with saying I never want to over do a series. So, seeds have been planted a few times of what my next adventures are. BUT there is a high chance we may have a Luna novella before Christmas <3 Which will end where the epilogue starts because I’m a bitch like that! Then there is the fact that Trudy, Mia, and even Wren have been screaming at me, and we will get there, I swear, just not in 2021.
If the cat isn’t out of the bag already for my next series, I’ll give a clear note here: JESS HAS READ IT!
It’s time.
Bully Romance anyone?
Much Love <3
Thank You
You know my partner and children deal with me, and they always deserve the biggest thanks <3 We are living through some crazy times right now, and homeschooling isn’t easy when I’m writing too, but they are awesomesauce!
Valerie is my queen bee, and I’m from Manchester, UK, and we take our bees very seriously! Thank you for always being my friend, soundboard, creative bestie, and the best damn reader in existence LOL you make my life a million times easier.
My fabulous Beta reader’s <3 Hope, Monica, Emma, Amy, and Jessi <3 I love you all so much. I appreciate how you offer your time to make my books extra awesome, and the input you give is always next level. Thank you for being the coolest of cool. I also want to note that it was Monica’s BETA notes that made me add a little extra that made Valerie cry! Haha! So technically it was not my fault!
Catherine Wilson - you cum-guzzling gutter whore <3 I love you for this! You are next level amazing and I appreciate the hell out of your mind LOL
Xenia, I shall forever find a way to slip your name in haha! Thank you for my release day gift, you really are so freaking cool!
About the Author
KC Kean is the sassy half of a match made in heaven. Mummy to two beautiful children, Pokemon Master and Apex Legend world saving gamer.
Starting her adventure in the RH romance world after falling in love with it as a reader, who knows where this crazy train is heading. As long as there is plenty of steam she’ll be there.
Also by KC Kean
Featherstone Academy
My Bloodline
Your Bloodline
Our Bloodline
Red
Freedom
The Allstars Series
Toxic Creek (Coming May 7, 2021)
