The words hung there in my mind, glowing brightly.
“And if anyone knows a team its us,” smiled Austin.
“Be with us,” said Maddox. “Forget everything, forget everyone else. Be ours, and we’ll give you the world. And in return you get us.”
My heart soared. I felt it open… and the warmth poured in.
“And we’d have a Winters on our team again,” said Kane solemnly. “Just as we always did.” I could see his face contorting, trying to choke back powerful emotions. “Just like before.”
I sat there stunned. Elated. Jubilant.
You complete them, Dallas.
Excited. Thrilled beyond belief.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Slowly I stood. I crossed the kitchen halfway, grabbed the wall clock, and smashed it against the floor. The moment was almost apocalyptic: it exploded into a thousand plastic shards.
“We can move, right?” I ventured. “Get the hell out of here?”
All three of them were dumbstruck, staring back at me in awe. Kane let out a short, barking laugh.
“You mean leave Vegas?”
I nodded.
“Fuck yes,” they all said at once.
I was holding back the mother of all smiles. Now I let it go. It broke across my face, splitting me from ear to ear.
“Then I’m all in,” I said, spreading out my arms.
Less than three seconds later, I was being crushed in a triple bear-hug.
Epilogue
DALLAS
“One…”
I stood helplessly sightless, my pulse racing with the anticipation of being able to see again.
“Two…”
My whole body felt charged and alive. Burning hot. Sizzling.
“Three!”
The blindfold dropped, and for a moment everything was fuzzy. Then I blinked three times in rapid succession, and clapped both hands over my mouth.
“Oh my GOD…”
The room was breathtakingly beautiful. Decorated in perfect feminine style, but with a distinctive, man’s touch.
Or should I say men’s touch.
“Holy shit! It’s… it’s…”