"Next, I'm fucking your ass."
I came then, as he picked up the pace, slamming into me repeatedly as he grunted and groaned.
"Anything you want."
"Good girl."
Epilogue
GRETCHEN
"Did you ever think Alice would get married?" I murmured to Cal as he sipped his whiskey, his arm firmly around me.
He looked stupidly handsome in his grey suit, his intense green eyes meeting mine.
"No, but then I also thought Zane was gay.” Cal pointed out with a chuckle as I rolled my eyes.
"That's it now, they've all flown the nest.” I swallowed my emotion down as I watched Alice twirl around the dance floor with her husband, her cream gown hugging her curves as she threw back her head, laughing at something Lucas said in her ear.
To our left sat Zane and Layla, who were deep in a private conversation, their eyes only for one another. To our right sat Summer and Gabe, and beside them Caleb and Jade. I was filled with pride, delighted that our children had grown into such beautiful, honest people. I was becoming rather broody and had hoped one of them would give me a grandchild soon, but I suppose it was early days.
I was happy with what we had created together, Cal and I.
I hoped they were as happy as we were for as long as they lived.
CAL
Gretchen looked beautiful. Her eyes shone with happy tears as she gazed at our children, a proud smile on her face.
We were getting older, but it didn't matter. Everything was happening just as it should, and I could finally relax.
Well, as much as you could knowing your daughter was marrying into the mob. But Alice was different from any of the others; headstrong and stubborn in a way I hadn't seen before. In some ways, it was terrifying, but when I saw how Lucas looked at her, it only frightened me more.
That man would kill for her. But he also wouldn't let her leave him, and that's what worried me. I hoped the time never came where she changed her mind. Because men like Lucas aren't always forgiving, and men like me didn't live forever.
I could only hope she knew what she was doing.
CALEB
He may have saved her that time, but there was something about Lucas Deacon that didn't sit well with me.
Trust Alice to marry a fucking mobster.
The place was crawling with criminals, all eyeballing each other as they smoked their fat cigars.
All of them here, under one roof.
Hands were shaken; acquaintances made. I kept my head down and avoided eye contact, if only for my family's sake.
Jade was pregnant, but it was early days, and we needed to get to the critical mark before announcing it to anyone.
I loved Zane and Summer, always had. But Alice had always been a fucking nightmare, and this was the final nail in the coffin that was our relationship. We were now officially on the opposite sides of the law, and I had to keep my distance from her and her husband's affairs. I knew it, though; trafficking women and prostitution; drugs.
Lucas was an evil fucker, but Alice thought she could change him.
It wasn't my problem anymore.
I just hope the time didn't come where I had to choose my career or my sister.
