I mean, technically, we do, but…
“Fiiiine,” I cave. “I’ll accept whatever you’re about to give me.”
“No questions asked?”
“No questions asked,” I grumble.
With a sly smile, he shows me what he’s hiding. “Here.” In his hand is a wad of cash. And not just any wad of cash.Mywad of cash. As in, the cash my dad stole from me and handed over to Jagger. God, it feels like a lifetime ago, but I’d recognize those bills anywhere. My lips part as I stare at the money before my attention flickers to his handsome face. It’s been a coupleof weeks since he fought Ethan. And even though the bruises are turning from black and purple to yellow and green, he looks handsome as ever. “How did you…? Why did you…?” I fight the urge to cry. “Jag…”
“It’s yours,” he counters.
“Jagger—”
“You promised you’d accept it,” he reminds me.
“Well, yeah, but?—”
“No take-backs, Vi.”
I want to. Boy, do I want to.
I run my thumb along the outer bill, my eyes welling with tears. He knows me too well. Knows I would’ve backtracked. Would’ve told him he earned it after everything I’ve put him through and everything he’s done for me. Yet here it is. The thing that brought us together. The thing I thought would literally make or break my future. My teeth dig into the edge of my bottom lip as I peek up at him. “What about your rules? All bets are final, remember?”
“Made an exception.” He sits next to me on the bed and wraps his arm around me. Like that’s that, and he didn’t just rock my world.
“I thought you didn’t make exceptions,” I whisper, unable to tear my attention from the money and the future it promised until my father stole it from me.
“You’ll always be the exception, Little Thief.” Tugging me into him, Jagger kisses me gently, and I melt.
Man, do I melt.
I never thought karma liked me. Never thought I’d experience good luck or kismet. Nope. I thought I was destined to a life filled with heartache and despair. But if I had to go through everything in this life, all in order to end up here. In Jagger’s bed. With someone who loves me so fully. I’d do it in a heartbeat. Over and over again.
Looking down at the worn bills in my hands once more, I whisper, “I thought this money ruined me. But it was you.”
“Me?”
“You’ve ruined me, Jagger Harden.” I kiss him again, unable to help myself. Hell, I’m brimming with happiness and gratitude and absolute awe that Jagger Harden is mine to kiss in the first place.
When he pulls away, I don’t miss the gentle tilt of his lips as he tosses my words back at me. “I’ve ruined you, huh?”
“Mm-hmm.” I give him a watery smile of my own. “But only in the best way possible.”
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
SECOND EPILOGUE
VIOLET
Twisting my hands in my lap, I stare at the adorable red brick house with a sunflower wreath and a white rocking chair on the front porch. Okay, it’s official. I’m nervous. I mean, I knew I would be nervous, but this is like, a whole new level of nervous. My knee bounces up and down when Jagger reaches over and touches my thigh.
“You good?” he asks.
I lift my shoulder. “I’m not sure.” My teeth dig into my bottom lip as I tear my attention from the picture perfect house and peek at Jagger. “Should we have called first?”
“They know we’re coming,” Jagger answers dryly.
“I meant before we parked.”
