Chapter 35

Cronos

One week later…

Today is the day we can finally transport Kingsley back to the States. King tried to fast track things but even he wouldn't put his own kin's life at risk when Meelz explained the complications. Many tests have been run to check the development of her lungs. We have to fly back with a team of nurses who will keep her stable and make sure she is fine until we arrive at the hospital in New York. I know King was happy that Knight and Rook were still here with us, they will fly back today alongside us as well. Artemis and London refused to leave until we did, it's been great having them both here and I know Amelia has loved it as well. Her and London seem to be getting along better, but Lon still refuses to touch Kingsley.

When she first saw her, she scrunched her face up and looked my brother dead in the eyes and said, "I will never push one of those aliens out of my vagina for you." Needless to say, I don't think London plans to become a mother anytime soon or if ever.

"Okay, we're set," Knight says from the doorway. I nod and move to Meelz, who is standing by Kingsley's travel incubator. I hate that the moment we land and get Kingsley settled that I have to leave. I promised Beth I would be the one to organize everything for Bill and I plan to keep my word. Artemis is flying back to Minnesota with me, the plan to be gone three days tops.

"Angel, it's time to go." She nods and steps aside to allow the nurses to do what they have to do. We follow them out of the room and remain beside our daughter the entire way. We're all nervous about this trip but I would be lying if I said I wasn't happy to get the fuck out of Switzerland and never step foot back in this place again.

Once we get Kingsley sorted on the plane, Meelz and I take our seats while Knight helps Rook board. He looks like shit but I know he is just as eager to get home to his wife. His daughters even flew home from Rome to be there when he arrives. Unlike the others, Rook's daughters are princesses and are spending time overseas with their boyfriends. I hear one of them is wanting to break into the fashion world and make a name for herself that way.

"Kingsley Billie Argyros." I lull my head to the side and frown at my girl.

"Huh?" She smiles up at me. I'll never tire of the sight of her looking at me like I hung the fucking moon.

"Her name. I want that to be her name." My mouth pops open in surprise.

"Y-you want her to have my last name?" I rasp out.

She smirks. "I mean, her daddy better pop the question and make her momma an honest woman soon, or I'll be the odd man out with a different last name?—"

"Marry me?" She throws her head back and laughs. "I'm serious," I grit out.

She shakes her head and pats me on the chest with her good arm. "Nice try, Grizz. If you seriously think I would say yes to that half-assed proposal, then you are out of your fucking mind."

"You best be asking my brother first or you won't live long enough to buy your tux for the big day," Knight calls out, causing Amelia to laugh again and me to huff out my annoyance, game on.

You'll be an Argyros soon enough, angel, just watch.

It was fucking hard saying goodbye to my girls, I hate leaving them. The doctors gave Kingsley the all clear and requested she stay with them for another two weeks to monitor her little lungs. I wanted to argue but refrained, knowing this is the best place for her and the fact her mom is a doctor is also a bonus. Before I left though, I took Meelz to visit her mom. Fuck, Allison looks weak and a wreck. We were informed she died twice while they were operating, she said it wasn't her time and refused to leave King behind to help raise her granddaughter on his own. That broke the tension and had everyone laughing.

Before I left, King promised to have Allison moved upstairs into the NICU unit so he could watch over all three of them, which eased some of my worries. Rook, of course, is being moved there as well, so the whole family will be on the same floor.

"You two really are identical." I lull my head to the side to look at London, who is smiling at me and Artemis. He and I both frown.

"Are not!" we both say in unison, then glare at each other, which makes the evil she-devil laugh.

"You both have slings on and are wearing black," she says.

"But I have a bigger cock," Artemis says with a wink, which has me rolling my eyes.

"The fuck you do, asshole. I can prove we aren't identical," I say cockily, my brother's face falls.

"If you pull your dick out in front of my girl I'll shoot you!" he growls.

"Calm down, bitch face," I snap.

"How can you prove it?" London asks.

I smile wickedly. "He has a scar that I don't."

Art scoffs. "Where is this scar you speak of dumbass?"

I snort. "Your back is covered in them." His face falls again and London looks like she is about to stab me for teasing him about those but I push on. "But, I was referring to the one your darling girl gave you when she ran a knife through your chest." His face turns red with anger but the sound of London's laughter draws his attention to her.

"Something funny to you?" my brother grits out.

She waves him off. "You have to let that go, both of you," she scolds.

"You fucking stabbed me!" he shouts.

She rolls her eyes. "It was barely a prick?—"

"I nearly died, London!"

"But you didn't, did you?" I tune out their bickering, knowing this is their form of foreplay and I refuse to watch that shit unfold.

Seeing Bill again brought feelings back to light that I thought I had overcome—I guess grief hits you in stages and you can't control when it happens. Embalming him wasn't easy, he was someone I cared for deeply and having to pump his body full of chemicals sucked, but I did it. Beth helped me dress him and chose a casket, I refused to allow him to be buried in a standard pine box.

I had a custom one made for him while I was still in Switzerland, it's solid black with silver handles and a mural painted on the front. When Beth saw the lid of the coffin, she broke down in tears. I had it airbrushed with a picture of Bill with angel wings on his back and a portrait of their daughter, with her baby in her arms, and they are both looking down on the portrait of Beth.

I may not have been able to express my feelings for him in life but I fucking hope I can show him in death that everything he taught me, gave me and showed me will live inside me until I see him again. I've been here longer than I had planned, it's been nearly a fucking week because the police were notified that Bill was murdered by a random source. I had a lot of red tape to cut through but I managed to line the right pockets and got it all stowed away.

Beth sits beside me in the hearse as we drive to the local cemetery. I have been trying to work up the courage to speak to her since I arrived and I know now might not be the right time but I won't get another chance.

"Beth, I want you to come live with us," I blurt out. She chuckles, I peer at her out of the corner of my eye. "What?"

"I was wondering when you would ask." My face contorts.

"What?"

"Boy, I have had my bags packed since you left, the only thing that was keeping me in this town is in that box behind us. I never got the chance to love on my own grandbaby, so I would love the chance to share some of my love with my adopted granddaughter." Hearing her speak about Kingsley like she is her own means more than she will ever know.

"Thank you."

"Thank you for giving us something to live for. Bill and I were living day to day until you showed up. You saved us both. I hadn't seen my husband smile in a really long time until you came into his life, so it's me who should be thanking you." I don't respond as we pull into the cemetery. Cars line either side of the road. Beth sits up in her seat and looks just as surprised as I do. When we finally clear the vehicles and I see dozens of men in suits, then it hits me.

"Angel," I breathe out just as she comes into view at the edge of the road with our baby tucked close against her chest. I see her sling is gone, much like my own. Her mother and father stand on either side of her with the rest of their family, sans Rook, standing close behind.

"They your in-laws?' Beth asks.

"Soon to be," I rasp out as I park the hearse and climb out, heading straight for my girls. Meelz smiles up at me when I'm close.

"Surprise." I don't respond to her. Instead I grab her face between my hands and kiss her, ignoring the growls coming from her father. I pull back and shoot her wink when I see the lustful look in her eyes.

Yeah, baby, I'm horny as fuck for you too!

I gently stroke the backs of my knuckles along Kingsley's cheek and place a feather light kiss on her forehead.

"Move boy, I want to see that baby!" I bite down on my lip to keep from laughing and step aside so Beth can meet Kingsley. Just the sight of her has the old woman beaming from ear to ear. "She's beautiful." Meelz melts at the compliment.

"Beth, I want you to meet our daughter, Kingsley Billie Argyros," Meelz says quietly, waiting to see Beth's reaction. "We wanted to name her after the hero that saved her other grandma." Beth swallows a few times and looks away as she swipes the tears from her eyes. Everyone around acts like they don't see her crying out of respect.

"T-that's a fine name she has, my Bill would be mighty pleased with that." I release a breath I didn't know I was holding at her acceptance to our baby's name.

"I never got the chance to say thank you, Beth," Allison says, drawing Beth's gaze to her, the two women share a long look and I begin to feel nervous. Bill sacrificed his life saving Allison and I don't know how Beth is going to react to that. I see King subtly shift behind Meelz to be closer to his wife if need be.

"My Bill did the right thing," Beth says, breaking the tense silence.

"My family and I owe you a debt we can never repay for what your husband did for me, it is because of him why I am standing here today."

"You can repay me by allowing me to watch that little one grow until the good Lord calls me home." Allison smiles warmly and places her hand on Beth's shoulder.

"It would be my honor to have you in our lives," she says.

"And mine," Meelz adds. I leave the girls to talk as I move to the back of the hearse to assist Bill on his final walk. Respect flows through me when Royal, Bishop, Chaos, Knight and even King come to help me carry him. Most of the town is here to bid farewell to Bill. We place him on top of the ropes that will lower him to the ground. I've never led a service before. I normally leave this part to the family's priest but Beth asked me to do it, so I will out of respect for her and Bill. I drew the fucking line at holding a Bible though, if I touched one of those things I'd go up in flames.

I clear my throat before I begin and lock eyes with Amelia. "Everybody's talking about heaven like they just can't wait to go, but I can because I have my angel here on earth. Bill found his angel in Beth, the love of his life. Her daddy thought Bill was no good for his little girl." I smirk when King rolls his eyes, unlike Beth's father he knows no matter what he does or tries to do I would never stay away from Amelia. "Bill didn't need to win her daddy's approval though, because he already had hers. They lived a life filled with love that many envied… they faced a horror no family should." Beth lowers her gaze. "Yet, they both pulled through that tragedy because they loved each other enough to remain here on earth and not follow after their own daughter. For that, I am grateful." I turn to Beth next and wait for her to meet my gaze. "I never had a mother, the father I did have wasn't… nice. I found a mother and father figure in the both of you and for that I am eternally grateful. Bill saved me from my own demons and never gave up when I pushed him away."

"He loved you, boy," Beth croaks out. I nod and smile.

"The feeling was mutual, because of Bill I didn't allow my heart to be crippled by the vein that I kept on closing. I let it beat again in the hopes he was right and to my horror… he was." Everyone laughs. "I found my family thanks to him and with that, I want to say to you, old man." I focus on his casket and lay my hand on the portrait of him as I speak. "Thank you for loving me when I didn't think I could ever be loved. Thank you for forcing your way inside my own heart and forcing me to see that love doesn't have to be jaded and dark. I'm going to miss you and our lunch times together. Fly fucking high, Wild Bill, and give them all hell for me."