Epilogue

Stefano

Two and a half weeks later—Christmas day

He shifted the crutches to the side and leaned against the wall near the fireplace in the crowded living room.

Leave it to Giovanni Rossi to arrange a party like no other.

In one week, his man had food, guests, and a present exchange organized to take place in their home. It was mind-boggling, to say the least. Organizing things wasn’t Rossi’s strong suit. At least, Stefano hadn’t thought it so, but apparently, he’d been wrong. Maybe he’d never given Rossi a chance because it was something that Stefano loved to do. He silently vowed then and there to get Rossi’s help with planning their life together.

Planning their life together.

It still seemed surreal, and he gazed down at the ring on his finger.

The ring was platinum with diamonds and blue topaz stones. A man’s engagement ring, or so Rossi had said when he’d presented the box to him that morning.

Beyond words, Stefano had held out his shaking hand to have Rossi slip the ring on. It had fit perfectly.

“How did you do this so fast?” Stefano had croaked.

“I called Wild,” Rossi had whispered and sealed their engagement with a kiss.

Thinking about it, it only made sense that Rossi would call Wild. Of course, Wild had told him later, “I’m ridiculously wealthy. If I can’t use my money for my friends, then what good is it?”

Wild had made a full recovery and was basking in the attention from both Roscoe and Storm.

Rossi appeared at his side, drawing Stefano’s gaze from the ring and to his fiancé’s face.

“Happy?”

“More than words can say,” Stefano said, gazing around their home now filled with both Phoenix and Pegasus operatives.

Over the noise, a knock sounded at the front door, and after grabbing his crutches, both he and Rossi moved to answer it.

Surprise held Stefano mute when they found Dave on the doorstep holding a gift.

“I hear this is where the party is.”

Rossi chuckled and reached for Dave’s hand. The former SecDef stepped inside looking very handsome in a long overcoat with a sharp suit beneath.

Stefano put both crutches in one hand and gave the man a tight one-armed hug.

“I’m so glad you could come,” he whispered, stepping back before gripping the handles on the crutches.

Rossi slipped an arm around Stefano’s waist.

“I wouldn’t miss it. How’s the leg?” Dave asked.

“As you know, arthroscopic surgery was a little over a week ago, so I can get around slowly with the use of these.” He gestured ruefully to the crutches. “But they say about five months give or take for a full recovery.”

“And you two?” Dave gave them both a squinty eyed look. “How’s that going?”

Rather than answer, Stefano held up his ring finger. The platinum, diamonds, and topaz gemstones winked beneath the hallway lighting.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Dave slapped Rossi on the shoulder. “About time.”

“Hey, the eggnog is ready,” Jordan said from the doorway leading back into the living room.

Dave handed the present he was holding to Rossi and stepped forward, shrugging out of his long wool overcoat. “Jordan, it’s nice to see you again.”

“You too, sir.” Jordan reached for their boss’s coat.

“It’s Dave when I’m not in my office,” the man said, handing the dark garment to Jordan.

“Dave.” Jordan smiled.

Dave gazed over Jordan’s shoulder when Owen appeared behind the young man.

“Owen.”

“Dave.”

Okay, that was odd. Stefano glanced from one to the other and back again. Jordan squinted at first at Dave and then at Owen, who pressed his lips flat.

“Creed is here,” Owen told Dave.

“It’ll be fine,” Dave smirked and stepped past them all to advance into the living room.

“Why would you say that?” Jordan spun on Owen.

“It’s nothing. Just a little disagreement between Creed and Dave,” Owen murmured, holding Jordan’s gaze. When the pair seemed to be locked in a silent battle of wills that was causing Jordan’s chest to rise and fall a bit rapidly, Stefano gestured to Rossi and they left the two men alone in the hallway.

“I didn’t think of that,” Rossi whispered when they reached the brightly lit Christmas tree and the warmth of the fire.

“Why would you?” Stefano sighed, placing his crutches against the wall.

“I invited Dave.”

“Oooooh.” Stefano rubbed at his chin.

There was no history between Dave and Creed, but there was between Dave and Stone. Stone was Creed’s cousin.

“Well, it’s a good thing that Stone isn’t here then, isn’t it?”

Rossi suddenly looked away and rubbed a hand at the back of his neck.

“What did you do?” Stefano tried to hold back his laughter but failed.

“I kind of sort of offered Stone a job?”

“With whom?”

“Phoenix or Pegasus, he can take his pick.”

“Hmmm,” Stefano said and a chuckle welled up. His laughter grew and rang loudly through the room, causing several people to glance over.

“Well, Stone’s not here yet,” Stefano amended after regaining his composure.

“But Creed looks so much like Stone,” Rossi said with a grimace.

It was true. Although Stone and Creed were not the same age, the cousins could have passed as twins.

“I love you.” Smiling, Stefano wrapped both arms around Rossi’s neck and leaned in for a kiss. Rossi didn’t hesitate in returning the kiss and pulled him snugly against his chest.

This spot right here was his favorite place in the world, and he melted in closer.

Rossi

Thoughts of Dave, Stone, and the rest of the people left his head when his mouth closed over Stefano’s. He drank in the whispered words of love and vowed right then and there that he’d never again give Stefano cause to doubt their love.

“Break it up. Don’t you want ham?” Kellum, the newest Pegasus member, said from behind them.

Rossi slowly lifted his head, his eyes locked on Stefano’s mouth. He adored this man’s lips. Thick lashes swept upward, revealing warm brown eyes.

“Hungry?” he whispered, and a sexy light filled Stefano’s gaze. “For food?” Rossi hurriedly added.

Kellum giggled and turned away only to crash into Creed. With a gasp, the slighter man stumbled back and started to topple.

“Crap!” Rossi tried to reach Kellum before he tripped back into the blazing fireplace, but he didn’t have a chance.

Creed reached out and fisted the front of Kellum’s shirt in one hand and with a curl of his powerful bicep, he brought the young man back upright.

Shock swept through Kellum’s face.

“Watch your step,” Creed growled and released the man before spinning away and stalking across the living room.

Kellum brushed at the wrinkles down the front of his shirt from Creed’s rough grip, but his eyes were locked on Creed’s broad back.

“You okay?” Stefano asked Kellum, who shot them a dreamy smile.

“Yeah,” the young man said breathlessly and left them near the fire.

“That’s another one.”

“Huh?” Rossi frowned at Stefano.

“Kellum and Creed.”

Rossi snorted out a laugh. “You’re seeing things that aren’t there.”

“Sure, then why out of all these people was Creed here?”

“Because he was invited,” Rossi responded.

“I know that, but since the moment he arrived, he’s been enclosed on the back porch with several others who don’t like to mingle.” Stefano arched one dark eyebrow.

“So?” Rossi frowned.

“Think about it… Kellum arrived ten minutes ago and Creed is suddenly in the living room hovering?”

“Ah, crap.” He groaned and rubbed a hand on the back of his neck.

Stefano laughed.

With a mocking growl, Rossi caught Stefano gently around the waist and pulled him closer, bringing their hips together.

Stefano gasped, his lips parting.

Delectable lips.

“Babe?”

“Hmm?” Stefano whispered.

“I love you more.”

When his mouth took Stefano’s in a long kiss, a round of cheers filled the room.

“Let’s have a toast!” someone, he thought it might be Jagger, shouted.

Rossi lifted his head and turned to find most of Phoenix and Pegasus filling their living room and spilling back into the hallway and kitchen when all of them didn’t quite fit.

From the fireplace mantel, he lifted the two crystal glasses he and Stefano had been sipping on all evening and handed one to his husband-to-be.

Turning to the room, Rossi paused to gaze over the faces of their family and friends.

“You all have been a lifesaver, and not just over the past few weeks, but ever since we’ve known you. I couldn’t think of a better group of people to call family. I want those of you who don’t know yet, I have proposed to Stefano and he said yes.” Rossi paused and swept his eyes to hold Stefano’s gaze.

“I’m the luckiest man alive that he is in my life. I’m equally as lucky that all of us are safely home thanks to all of you,” Rossi ended, and then held up his glass before pulling his eyes from Stefano and back to the room. “So, drink up, eat, and love those closest to you as hard as you possibly can. There are no guarantees in life, but as long as we have each other… every day is brighter.”

Silence filled the room beneath the soft holiday music.

“Hell yeah,” Holden, the quietest of them all, said.

Rossi laughed and the rest of those gathered broke out with laughter and hoots.

The hollering grew louder when he turned back to kiss Stefano once again.

THE END