“A brand is so much more permanent than traditional marriage. In a regular marriage you can file for divorce.”
“Good, I want it to be more permanent,” Bryson said.
“Me too,” Seth said.
“Me three,” Kaydon said, brushing her hair off her shoulder and kissing her neck.
“You aren’t going to let this go, are you?” she said.
“No,” the three of them said in unison.
“I’ll think about it,” Adria said.
The three of them fell into an easy silence. Kaydon loved the way they all felt in his arms. He started his life as Luca’s Right Hand. And then he became Bryson’s, and Kaydon didn’t think he would ever want anything more.
But after meeting Seth and Adria, he realized he did want more. Wanted to be more than a protector. He wanted a family.
And now here they were.
Ever since the pool, he hadn’t had the urge to hurt himself. His therapist said that a near-death experience can change people, but Kaydon knew the truth.
Those pools resurrected them. Washed them clean and gave the four of them a fresh start. Things weren’t easy, and they had to work on them every day. Bryson still safe-worded when Regan weaseled into his mind, but even that was becoming less and less frequent. And Seth had even visited his mom.
When Kaydon was born, his road had been chosen for him, and he never questioned it. But now, for the first time in his life, in all their lives, they were getting to choose their own road.
CHAPTER 78
NORTH CAROLINA
Bryson stood in the hallway, Kaydon, and Seth right beside him. Before them loomed the mahogany double doors that led to Adria’s father’s office. Now fully hers, Bryson hadn’t recognized it. It seemed that Adria had poured herself into redecorating while they were gone.
She had saved the desk, though. And the four of them had taken turns smashing it in the backyard and burning the pieces.
The door opened, and Eric stepped out. He was wearing a black blazer and dress pants. “We’re ready for you,” he said.
Bryson took a deep breath. He could feel Kaydon and Seth vibrating behind him. Those two had done this before. Bryson didn’t know if that was better—or worse.
He moved into the space, his breath catching as he did. Inside, the office bloomed with red peonies and chamomile—the Winters and Federov family flowers. She also had black roses and pine sprigs, Seth and Kaydon’s favorite.
The fireplace’s light mingled with the orange sunlight cascading into the room.
Adria’s new furniture accented the space and created an inviting atmosphere, and rather than a boy’s den, this space had a functional but inviting feel.
It was light and full of life, just like Adria.
Elena and Sota were standing in the room, beside Cahill and Helen. Eric moved to the fire, placing a metal rod into the flame.
Bryson looked around, but he didn’t see Adria.
As if on cue, she came around the corner.
Her body seemed to float along the floor, in her half-white half-black over-the-shoulder dress.
Bryson’s heart skipped, remembering her in the all-white Elie Saab gown she wore on their wedding day. She was radiant. The three of them stood at the end of the aisle, in their burgundy suits, Seth crying, Kaydon standing rod straight and Bryson trying to concentrate on breathing.
She was a vision that day, but today.
Today she was fire.
