Epilogue
Dylan
Ibuilt them their own private gym. I constructed the frame from scratch and had my brothers help me raise the roof, using the otherwise empty corner of land behind our house to give Cash and Red a dedicated place to train.
It wasn’t fancy and was on the smaller side, but it had everything they needed. Two punching bags, a square ring, and a massive rack of free-weights. If they wanted to go for a run, they’d do laps outside. I was pretty sure the fresh mountain air gave them an advantage over the competition.
Their championship belts were on display on the wall. Red had three to his name and Cash had two.
“It’s going to be a whole wall of belts,” Cash had said. “It’s going to glimmer gold from floor to ceiling.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit gaudy?” Red had asked.
“Gaudy?” He’d snorted. “You know what your problem is? You have no taste.”
I shrugged. “I have no problem nailing them up there. You just focus on winning them.”
Cash had given me a mock salute. “That’s the plan, coach.”
* * *
I enjoyed winters in Sunville. Seeing the valley blanketed in a layer of white, pristine snow felt so serene. The fireplace was always going, soft flames dancing as wood crackled and burned.
I was seated on the couch in the living room, my laptop balanced on my knees. The TV was turned on to the local news channel, but I was only half paying attention to whatever the anchors were saying. I was too preoccupied with the article I was reading about the massive sponsorship deal Cash and Red both signed with Reebok. Adidas apparently wanted exclusivity, but Reebok paid more.
That’s what happens when you’re both five-time UFC champions.
Julia paced back and forth behind me, her phone pressed to her ear. “I understand. No, that’s precisely the kind of information I need. Can I get that on record?” She rubbed her big belly, a totally unconscious move on her part, as she interviewed her source. Something big was going down in the world of politics, and the story Julia was working on was —according to her— going to blow things out of the water.
“And you haveproofthe senator said this? You have copies of his emails? That’s wonderful. Can you forward them to me by tonight? Excellent, thank you.”
I reached a hand out and gingerly grazed her wrist as she walked by. “Sweetheart, take a seat. You’ve been complaining all day about how your feet have been killing you.”
Julia nodded, rounding the couch to join me. She was still thoroughly engaged with her call. “I’m not a lawyer,” she said, “but my suggestion would be to seek legal counsel as soon as possible. It’s going to be chaotic once I release this exposé. No, Bethany, don’t back out. I know it’s scary, but the world deserves to know the truth. If the senator’s really been blackmailing you to keep his drug habit under wraps, the people need to know. It’s the fastest way to make sure he’s removed from office.”
I liked listening to her speak. When Julia was in her element, there was no getting through to her until she was finished. I kissed her shoulder and reached over, rubbing her belly. She was eight months pregnant with our second child. Asher, now four, always seemed a little jealous of his cousins who had siblings to play with. Now that we were all secure in our careers, this was as good a time as any to expand our little family.
Some new footage on the television screen caught my attention. The volume was off so Julia could take her call, but I knew exactly what was going on. It was a video taken earlier today of Leo Holistic Lifestyle’s CEO and CFO being escorted out of their building in cuffs. After years of complaints and formal investigations, they were finally being brought to justice.
It may have been true that LHL as a brand promoted balanced, healthy living, but the truth of the matter was that the company was rotten to its very core. Abuse, fraud, employee endangerment. Leaked internal documents showed how those at the top tried to cover everything up, which now served to dig a deeper grave.
Pride bloomed in my chest. They were getting what they deserved, and it was all because of Julia.
Our beautiful, beautiful Julia.
“You’re doing the right thing, trust me… Okay, Bethany. We’ll talk soon.”
After she hung up, I said, “So, that’s one hell of a story you’ve got on your hands.”
Julia grinned. “I know. I’m really excited. And, of course, there’s the added bonus of helping the girl out and getting a grade A villain out of office.”
“You’re sexy when you’re in reporter mode.”
“Oh, am I?”
“I think it’s your tone. Very professional. Such a turn-on.”
Julia giggled, planting a sweet kiss on my lips. “I can’t tell if you’re joking or not.”