All dead.
I sit with him for a while. Mourning, I suppose. It was the same for my mother. Even though they were terrible people who didn’t truly care about me and my best interests, I can’t find it in myself not to grieve their passing.
After some time passes, footsteps grind the gravel behind me, and a warm hand lowers to my shoulder.
“We need to go,” she whispers sweetly in my ear.
All the sadness sheds from my heavy shoulders, and a dream that I thought was unattainable seeps into me like sunlight breaking through a dreary storm, because I know I’m going home.
I look at Emery, holding her soft gaze.I’m finally home.
45
EMERY
One year later—Madrid,Spain
Reed sets down two pitchers of beer at the table and smacks Wraith’s hand away when he reaches for one.
I laugh and toss a french fry at Wraith to wipe the grimace from his face. It bounces off his dark beard and lands on the table. “You’ve already had three, can’t you be patient?” I tease.
Wraith picks up the fry and pops it in his mouth, rolling his eyes at me.
Cameron wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in close to his chest. “Throwing food in pubs is frowned upon, love.” He kisses my temple, right over my scar.
I lift a shoulder and drop it. “Iownthis pub, darling,” I whisper in his ear. A growl rumbles through his chest. The sound sends excitement to my core and makes me squirm in his hold. His hand spreads across my thighs, making me clench them together before he gets too many ideas. “Not again, Cam. Wait until tonight.” I giggle, thinking of the time he fingered me under the table at an important business dinner with the Henderson Family.
We got away with it.Barely.
He chuckles darkly, pressing his half-drunken lips to the side of my head. Cam inhales sharply before murmuring, “I think you meanourpub.” He relents, moving his hand over my side and pulling me closer.
I smile and he chases the happiness on my lips, kissing me in front of the entire table.
“God save us,” Gage mutters as he crosses his arms. He’s dressed in a navy blue suit, not unlike the ones my father used to wear. A gold chain links his chest pocket to his vest, a gilded watch somewhere in the mix.
“Let them have their fun. You know they don’t get out often,” Damian drawls as he tosses back another gulp from his mug.
He’s right. We don’t get out often, not with how busy we’ve been running the fallen empire, but it’s already been one year since the day we left the Dark Forces behind us. One year since my father died in the forgotten city, Finis. I shift my gaze back to Cameron, his eyes are heavy with grief. One year since we cut out all the traitors in our lives and built our real family.
A family of criminals, murderers, and master manipulators. But family nonetheless.
I only wish Cameron’s leg healed better. He has a bit of a limp now since his tendon healed a little off, but I find that the stolen cane only makes him sexier, an expression of our power, especially in his expensive suits, black and gold rings, and his weekly mid-fade haircut that keeps his MORI tattoo visible.
I lean on my elbow against the table and stare at Reed who’s pouring another round of beer for everyone. His dark eyes flick up to me briefly with a small smile.
I return it but can’t help but wonder what ticks behind that deceiving facade of his. His secrets and lies have landed us in a good place, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to trust my dear friend completely.
Not after his revelation in Finis that day.
Reed waved his guards off. “Keep heading east, we have a transport plane on the ground waiting for everyone. I need to speak to these two in private.”
Gage and Damian hesitated, sharing a concerned look before I nodded for them to listen. Wraith didn’t bother being concerned, he was too tired and delirious to care.
After they moved out of earshot, Reed blew out a long breath and regarded me and Cameron with a long frown. His expression felt genuine for the first time in years. It matched his cynical gaze, the cold demeanor that set a winter’s chill deep inside my chest.
I knew he was going to finally tell us what he’d been planning. That his secrets were going to spill like rain from a spout.
“You know now how dangerous this underground operation is,” he said carefully, studying my expression with each word. I nodded, brows furrowed. “You had to see it for yourself, didn’t you? To understand how corrupt it is and how far into the world their hands can reach.”
