Hurt her and I’ll kill you.
I laugh because that’s so Adrian. In fact, it’s so Rafe, and hell, looking back, I should’ve seen all the similarities I missed. But everything good about Adrian washed away when he went cold on me. And no matter how I felt for him, it was nothing compared to the depth of my love for Rafe.
Rafe sets the paper down and rests his back against the headboard. “Damn. Maybe we’re more alike than I thought. He’s just a little more sophisticated where I’m rough around the edges.”
I laugh then turn to press a kiss to his chest before gazing up at him. “Perhaps. But I’m gladyou’remine.”
Part of me will always miss the Adrian I knew. But it wasn’t enough. Not for me. Not for him. Adrian couldn’t be his whole self, his true self with me. It’s time he finds someone with whom he can. And it seems like that time has come.
I knew that Adrian would make one lucky woman exceedingly happy someday. I always hoped he’d allow it to happen. I couldn’t be more thrilled for him. Though, I’m slightly terrified to mee the woman who brought Adrian Morningstar to his knees.
Theo Morningstar took too much from his sons, and neither of them deserve a life filled with anything but happiness.
And probably not anytime soon, but I hope he and Rafe can find common ground one day. Sure, it might be weird given our history. One thing I’ve learned through this whole debacle is how important family is.
I look up with tears in my eyes. “He called me Brie,” I say, shocked.
Rafe’s smile softens as he places an arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze. “Looks like my brother’s finally moving on.”
Deep down in the bottom of my heart, I hope Rafe’s right. I roll the thought around in my head then smile back at my husband. It doesn’t sting. Not even a little bit.
Because I have Rafe Matthews, and who he was before, who he is now, and who he’ll always be is mine. That’s the only thing that matters.
For the first time in forever, I’m at peace.
And I’m in awe of it.
My mind drifts back to where this story began. Not with my parents’ murder or all my time with Adrian, but when I was on death’s door. When I was drowning. The night I thought it was the beginning of the end. Now, I can look back and realize that, while it was the beginning of the end of the life I knew, it was the renewal I needed. That night was the beginning of the end with Adrian. It was also the end of the beginning with Rafe. My connection permanently severed with one and ultimately bound with another.
I remember everything that went through my mind that night. The way my life flashed before my eyes. Not my past, but for some reason, my future. And I wonder if somewhere in the recesses of my mind, something or someone was telling me to fight. To live. Showing me the life that I’d miss out on if I simply gave in and let Adrian win. Let him take out the final Latham, even if that wasn’t his intention.
Those scenes flash before me just as vividly as they did when the water rose over my head and plunged me into darkness.
I seeRafepressing me up against that kitchen counter for the first time, telling me how much he wants me—how much heneedsme. This time, words of love echo in reverent whispers from that husky voice I’ve become so accustomed—and addicted to.
I see us sitting on the swing on what is now our front porch in the beautiful farmhouse we bought not far from his parents so that they could dote on their first grandchild and also on the son they cherish so much. And I can’t lie and say that they don’t dote on me just as much. They absolutely do, and even though my heart will ache at missing my parents for the rest of my life, Rafe’s given me a family I never thought I’d have again.
We spend countless hours rocking together, sipping iced tea as we listen to the crickets chirp, enjoying the silence as our thighs graze, a slow, easy foreplay for what is soon to come.
Visions of a swaddled baby nestled in my arms, the love of my life gazing down at us with affection all over his face, flash through my mind, and I can’t help but smile as Elijah’s sweet coo comes over the baby monitor and Rafe offers to go check on him.
He places a soft kiss against my forehead, leaving me to my thoughts.
White picket fences. Yellow nurseries. My favorite lilies adorning the kitchen counter just to brighten my day.
Sippy cups. Dirty diapers. Messy hair. Exhaustion that, while trying, is still never too consuming for beautiful lovemaking with my gorgeous future husband. I’m happy. I’m content. I’m loved.
For the rest of my life, I won’t only be imagining it. I’m living it, my perfect future, and I reach my arms out, vowing to hang on for dear life so that all of those moments will continue to come to fruition. Because, just like with everything good in my life, it’s finally in my grasp and I will never let it go.
I can’t believe it all came true. Every single thing I saw that night is now my reality. And I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I wasn’t lying when I told Gabriella I’d met the woman who brought me to my knees. I’ll do anything to make her mine, fight any battle, cross any desert, kill any beasts that stand in my way.
Alessandra Calimerisismy future bride. The only woman who stole my breath from the very first moment I saw her. Who stole my heart from the first time my lips touched hers. The one woman in the world who makes my affection for Gabriella feel like child’s play.
Alessandra is the flame to my chaos.
Unequivocally mine.
She just doesn’t know it yet.
Adrian Morningstar doesn’t want redemption. He doesn’t want absolution. He’s content with a black soul. What he wants is domination with Alessandra.
Little does he know, that’s all she’s after, too.
The End… for Rafe and Brie
