Epilogue Hellena

EPILOGUE: HELLENA

Half the town shows up for the festivities in the huge memorial park. We stop by, making an appearance.

What a strange place to be in, leading a town.

Having the heads of household openly knowing who we are.

What we did to save them.

Still, it's not discussed in public.

Those are the rules.

Life moves on like a war and a catastrophe didn't rock the foundations of their lives.

I guess people want a sense of normalcy however they can get it.

And I guess a few months of utter hell will get people in the mood to celebrate.

Rebuilding and renewing a majority of Sanctum's structures is still underway, but the housing crisis is nearly over. I'm seeing to it that it never happens again.

That even the lowest common denominator can get by and then some.

Jobs are resuming.

In another month or two, things may even feel some semblance of, dare I say it, true normalcy.

Fucking wild.

As for today, you'd think it was the Fourth of July.

Picnic blankets and football, barbecue and beer. Summer is fast approaching, and any day without rain in the PNW is cause for a party.

Boy, is it a celebration.

Marking six months of hard work and perseverance.

And us?

We're having a shindig of our own at the new place.

Of course it was Evan's idea to turn the Sinner's Ball venue into a house—no, a mansion—for us to call home. And a fortress like nothing I've ever seen before. Never again will we have to worry about the incursions of an outside force. Because we own most of the West Coast criminals, keep them in check.

Not exactly ideal where turning over a new leaf is concerned, but it's also not like we could eliminate the element from Marco's empire. So, we compromised.

Put the right people in place.

Made them all take a deal that deescalates the violence. Baby steps.

Stepping out through the huge glass doors with a glass of champagne in one hand, I catch Ora's eye across the lawn.

She's telling some story, all hands and wide eyes.

And Sing is a captivated audience. More like captive audience. Along with Alaya, leaning right up next to him, the cause of his extra-stiff posture.

The grounds are lush with greenery, blooming into spring in an explosion of blossoms. A perfect display for our own celebration. And a perfect day for another new start.

Friends from all over town are still arriving, bringing gifts. Some as housewarming, some to gain favor with the new town leadership. Others just bring food.

And the whole thing feels like homecoming. Like a family reunion.

With a family I never had.

But the past year has made every person in Sanctum a member of the same family. I've come to know so many of them, put them to work, asked for their help.

Together, we're making the dream a reality.

My dad would be proud.

And my mom is proud. She's not one for big get-togethers. Not yet, anyway.

But we moved her into a new place a lot closer by so that we can reconnect. It's going well. Aside from the fact that she's still getting used to the idea of my three boyfriends.

Music starts as I step down, filling the afternoon with just the right mood.

Thank my old contacts for that. Jake nods at me with a grin as I pass his DJ booth.

"You still know how to throw one hell of a party." Tell sneaks up on me, leaning in close over my shoulder.

"Bringing back memories?"

"I almost wore a backward cap. Might do a keg stand later, bruh." He snickers, kissing my cheek and pulling me around into a casual embrace. He's a little stiffer than usual as we sway.

Easy to miss with those emerald-green eyes locked on mine, making my temperature rise.

"What? You're being awfully quiet today."

"Just so fucking in love with you, that's all."

"You're being weird ."

"I'm always weird."

I narrow my eyes, cocking my head to put the screws to him.

"What?" His shoulders nearly hit his ears.

Innocent, my ass.

Shaking my head, I spin away again, spotting a few well-wishers waving for me to join them. Before I can make it there, I'm intercepted again by a hulking baby blue button-up, topped with a stunning face, massive shoulders, and just the right amount of salt and pepper scruff to ride the line between cool, casual, and tough.

"Shit! Sorry, Lena." Gavin nearly bumps into me. I let him, pinching his ass through his tight-fitting slacks.

Fucking hot.

"Watch where you're going!" I tease, letting him swoop in for a deep, head-spinning kiss.

"Mmm… you look fucking gorgeous," he rumbles, drinking me in at arm's length.

"And you look… nervous?"

"Who, me? Nah. But I need to, um, be right back." He nods with a tight smile and rushes off.

Okay…

I'm back on track to greeting our guests when I look up, catching smoldering, smoky eyes and jet-black hair staring right at me. Fucking devastating.

And staring at me.

"Um… you alright?" I ask cautiously, approaching Evan. I try not to worry about him, but occasionally, he still looks distant. Doctor says it will just take time to get through his ordeal completely.

If ever.

He's so strong, though, and so much calmer than the high-strung man he used to be.

"Fine, minus the fact that the florist delivered the sloppiest arrangements I've ever seen. Two of the table cloths don't match and Genevieve's plane was late…" he snaps, not at me.

Like I said. Less high-strung.

He's still so Evan.

Turning his assessing gaze on me, his eyes soften.

"That dress is…"

"One of the ones you gave me."

"That's why it's perfect."

"Just like the rest of the day…"

"Right. I'll let it go." He raises his hands in defeat.

"And come enjoy the party?"

"Absolutely, but first…" Evan takes my hand, leading me toward the dance floor near the DJ.

"Wait here."

I spot them clustered together off to the side. Tell and Gavin, nervously whispering. Evan trots over, pointing between them.

All three turn toward me at once, a line of masculine perfection in all three of my favorite flavors. Exquisite.

Honey and sun-kissed tan. A smile that could outshine the sun.

Smooth-shaven, jet black, pristine. One gaze could knock me off my feet.

And sandy, trim, stacked and powerful. No one in the world makes me feel safer.

They're halfway to me when the music fades.

All three of them look like they might pass out.

Pressing my lips together, I wait, my hands clasped in front of me.

Our closest friends gather, sensing the moment, the tension. Our world is silent. Breath held. Waiting for…

Evan opens his mouth to speak. "Hellena, you are?—"

And I drop to one knee in front of them.

Slipping out a deep purple, velvet box. Popping it open.

Gavin's the first to look confused. Tell's eyes bug out of his head.

And Evan DeSante is catching flies.

And Ora Clive is whooping and hollering at the back of the crowd, cheering me on.

"I am in love with you." I say it three times, meeting each of their stunned gazes. "And I want to spend the rest of my life this way."

"We feel…" Gavin finds his words first.

"Exactly the same way," Evan finishes.

"Forever." Tell nods.

"Then will you marry me?"

"You bet your sweet ass, we will." Gavin laughs, pulling me to my feet, right into Tell and Evan's waiting arms. Each of them takes one of the rings, placing one, then another, and a third, on my finger, all three delicate bands interlocking.

As they interlock around me.

Kissing me one by one.

Filling my heart to overflowing.

Pure, incomparable joy, with every person I love watching.

Unlike a few hours later, in our new home.

With our unbelievable bed. Luxurious smooth sheets caress my skin beneath, powerful hands caressing everywhere else.

Wine tingles in my brain, warming me.

Not nearly as much as the three chiseled bodies laying around me, celebrating our engagement. Gavin kisses my legs, Tell teases my neck, whispering tantalizing nothings in my ear. Evan's tongue is busy doing things to me that have my brain melting right into his mouth.

Fighting against everything my body is begging me to allow to continue, I sit up.

Looking each of them in the eye, licking my lips as I decide exactly how I am going to treat each of them. In their own special way.

Smiles spread as they catch the look in my eye.

And I wag my eyebrows once, licking my lips.

"Evan. get the blindfolds."