“Hey, buddy,” I manage to get out, desperate to hold him, but knowing this is a fucked-up situation. “Get in the truck with him, Willa. I have one last thing to take care of.”
I head back inside, coat the place in liquor, light a match, and watch it burn the fuck down with Milo’s dead body inside—a fitting end for the asshole.
Epilogue
Willa
Jameson kicks the ball for James, who chases it across the gravel with some of the other brothers’ kids. It took him three weeks to heal and get back on his bike. Gabe says he has nine lives like a cat. I think he just has a lucky charm. His woman met us halfway from the burned-down bar and rushed to fix him. She’s his guardian angel. I tried to explain everything that happened to Gabe, but he just told me enough time has been wasted on Milo and he didn’t want to lose another second. It’s strange being apart for so long but never losing the intense passion, the fairytale, epic love so many only dream or read about. Gabe is my prince, and although we had to go through immense pain, we ended up right where we belonged. Together.
Ink, one of Gabe’s brothers, had the police report corrected with the death of Wesley’s girlfriend, Kendra and mine removed. Her family doesn’t need to know she suffered for god knows how long before she was murdered, so they were informed about the accident. At least they have some closure.
Gabe told me about Gracie, who kept him company and met a tragic fate at the hands of a serial killer. I thought my story was crazy. I know she will haunt Gabe until his dying day and always have a part of him. I can’t change that, and part of me doesn’t want to. It helps a little knowing he had someone in the more challenging times. For me, it’s always only been him. His memory alone kept me from fading into the darkness. Milo had some perverse possession over me, which turned into an obsession. He never touched me in ways he wanted to, but I’d often see him watching me with a longing that should never exist in your sibling. Just having me with him seemed to appease him enough not to try anything else. When he went to prison for disturbing the peace, I thought it might lead to him being discovered for who he was, but luck wasn’t on my side. He got ten months and was out in five. I had nothing. Milo didn’t let me work and made us move all over the place every few months. When he went to prison, he warned me he would find me when he got out and to remember my promise. He took a knife to James’ throat while he slept to prove his point, putting me in my place.
I turned to Mr. Right for a handout. It was a miracle he still owned that apartment. He gave me cash and told me I could work at a bar he was waiting to sell.
All the pieces were put in place to lead me back home to Gabe. People who don’t believe in fate should know our story.
We’re soulmates—the happily ever after.
Epilogue
GABE
James. She named our son after my best friend because she knew Milo would never allow her to use my name. It was her way of being close to me, and I love it. I watch our son race around playing football, my chest expanding with pride and love. Willa’s guilt is something we’re going to have to work on. She still apologizes to me every damn day.
“Just hold on. The pain will fade, I promise. Then all there will be is new memories, new feelings.” She told me before I took her lips to shut her the hell up. She cried happy tears when I entered her body for the first time in a decade. Then cried with pleasure for the rest of the night. Discovering her body again, the old memories of every beauty spot and curve. Devouring new things, like the tiger strips flaring up from her pelvis up like fireworks in honor of our son she grew there. I want to fill her belly with more babies and her head with happiness and peace. “Dad, come play,” James calls out, and I beam with fucking pride. It took him a week to settle into the new house I bought, paying an extra fifty thousand to get the keys the same week. It needs a little work, but Willa wanted to be able to put her stamp on the place. Drew’s trying to convince her to renew our vows, but I don’t think we need to. Willa has always been my wife, even in death. She lived, bloomed in my fucking chest like she never left. We’re just picking up where we left off. I kick the ball, racing up toward the makeshift goal Jameson made using Idiot’s and Pretty Boy’s bikes. “Goal!” James calls out, running up to me with his arms raised in the air. I scoop him up and do a victory lap. “You going to be a soccer player when you grow up?” I ask him coming to a stop so Jameson can give him a bottle of water.