“I know you will. I love you too.” I touched his cheek and blinked back tears. “Can we stay here? For a few more months at least. I don’t want to have my baby on the island, but I want some more time.”
“As long as you want.” He kissed my fingers. “I’ll fly a doctor in while we’re here, and when you’re ready to head back to the States, we’ll get on my private plane. Whatever you want. I’m all yours.”
“And I’m all yours, too.” I shook my head and he wiped away the tears. “I love you. I don’t feel like I deserve any of this.”
“You do, Penny. You deserve more than I can give you, but I’ll try anyway.” He hugged me one more time. “God, I’m so happy right now. How do you do it?”
“I really don’t know.”
“You’re a dream. Now come on, you sexy little thing. I want to see if I can get you pregnant again.” He slapped my ass hard then tugged me back to the house.
“Kaspar, you’re insane.”
“And you’re beautiful. I want to rip that bikini off you and I don’t feel like waiting.”
“Let’s at least go inside.”
He pulled me along and I laughed, looking up at his face, at my love, my stalker, my husband, my monster, my future. He gave me life, gave me love, and gave me pleasure, so much pleasure.
The real world lurked on the edges of the island.
But I didn’t care. I had my Kaspar.
And soon, I’d have my baby.
Epilogue: Erin
Six Months Later
Chicago
I shoved my shoulder against a cold iron door. The hinges were rusty and they screeched as they gave way. I smelled dust and ozone. Chika stood silently behind me as I stepped into the room, found a light switch, and turned it on.
“Say what you want about Maeve, but I liked her.” I took a few more steps into the dusty storage space.
Guns were lined up along the walls. Rifles, pistols, shotguns. Body armor was stacked in a corner. Explosives were left nestled along a shelving unit. Each item was meticulously placed and covered with a very thin layer of dust—but in Maeve’s day, likely would’ve been pristine.
“This makes ten,” Chika said. “What do you think she was arming herself for?”
“Exactly what happened.” I turned and beamed at Chika. “Add it to the collection.”
Chika bowed her head, but her eyes were distant.
I’d have to do something about her sooner or later. She was loyal now, but it wouldn’t last. One day I’d find a knife in my back, and Chika’s hand would be at the other end.
For now, she was useful. I patted her shoulder as I walked past, up a sloping staircase, and through a trap door in the kitchen of an Italian food restaurant in a bad neighborhood south of downtown.
My men swarmed the place. I had precious few, but they were fierce and loyal. The money I skimmed from the Servant stockpile would last me a few more months, but if I didn’t find a new cashflow soon, I’d start bleeding talent.
I couldn’t have that.
“Miss Erin.” James stood with his back straight and his eyes shining. He was my most loyal captain. I found him in the gutter and gave him a job when I began building my family, and he’d been my best fighter ever since.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, tilting my head and giving him a stare.
That look never failed to wilt him.
He looked down at the ground. I was half his size and yet he acted like I was a beast ten feet tall.
“There’s a man outside that wants to speak with you.”
My eyebrows raised. I was at a tiny, craphole spot in a worthless neighborhood. Nobody should’ve known I was anywhere near this place.
It was one of Maeve’s spots before she got a bullet in her head. There were lots of them scattered all over Chicago. Since Kaspar wasn’t following through with his promise to fund my rise, I decided to take matters into my own hands and began dismantling and taking over Maeve’s stashes. It was a slow, painstaking process, but I grew with every passing week.
If only they’d kept cash handy, my life would be a lot easier.
“Who is it?”
“He says his name is Redmond.”
I felt a stab in my guts. “Show me.”
James took me outside. Redmond stood alone across the street leaning against a street sign. He smiled and waved when he saw me.
I guessed he had men on the roofs and hidden in nearby houses. There was no way Redmond was dumb enough to come here alone.
“Miss Erin, I don’t think you should go over there. I don’t like this man.”
“If he wanted me dead, I’d be dead.” I strode across the street and stopped on the sidewalk, my arms crossed over my chest.
Redmond looked me up and down. His smile grew bigger.