Epilogue One

Epilogue One

Lili, one year later

W e've tried to get pregnant nearly every night for the last year. It hasn't happened yet, but I know it will. I've been stressed over finishing law school so that has to be playing havoc with my system.

And frankly, Daddy has been just as stressed. He's dealing with a lot of restructuring inside his criminal empire, as I like to call it. And my mother? Though he divorced her long before we became romantic, she's back to create chaos for both of us. If it's not drug money she's after, she needs bailed out of jail. I don't know where she went wrong in life, but I hope she can find peace at some point. Like I've told Bastian, it's no surprise she's disgusted by our relationship, but it hurts all the same. I've come to terms with not having her in my life a long time ago. It was her choice and not mine, but we keep trying to get her help. It's all we can do.

When I finally do become a mother, I'll pass on the many wonderful life lessons she taught me. Before the drug habit kicked in. Everything else will be the truths I have to teach.

Life doesn't give you love. Fight for it and take it with both hands. And once you have it, fight for it every day after that. I never saw myself engaged to a kingpin, yet here I am.

And to fight for yourself because no one else will. At first anyway.

But tonight, we both get to put all that aside. For a few hours anyway. I stare at the new jewelry I picked out for Daddy a couple of days ago. Gold catches on the light and so do the pretty heart-shaped diamonds.

I smile. He's going to love them.

I graduated from law school yesterday and he's taking me out to Club Genesis to meet all his partners. And then afterward we're hitting up Club Sin for a show. That's when I get to reveal his gift.

Okay, so it's for me. But I know he'll like it just as much.

I fix my strapless dress over my breasts to where my cleavage will tease him all night until the big reveal comes.

"Are you almost ready, love?"

Bastian's voice carries throughout the penthouse. We finally got all the ruined carpet and furniture out and the new stuff in. It took months. This time we opted for hardwood flooring in case there's ever another fire. Up here is where we entertain guests, deal with the day-to-day life, and cook for our massive Irons crew family. But floor twenty-nine is all ours. It is our secret hideaway when we want time alone.

I grab my clutch off the end of the bed and saunter out of the bedroom to find Bastian standing at the windows. He's wearing a tuxedo tonight and looks every bit the powerful kingpin he is.

Our eyes meet through the reflection of the glass. The sun is setting and the fading rays of light catch on the diamonds in my ears. Light bounces off everything. Especially the dangerous look in his eyes when he turns the full force of his gaze on me.

"Fuck no. Go change. You're not wearing that out."

I lift a foot to go to him, but his cold words make me stop in my tracks. Lasers shoot out of my eyes with murderous intent. "What did you just say to me?"

"You're going to put me into an early grave, woman. I won't be able to talk business with you wearing that, Lili Irons."

I look down at myself and laugh a little. He might be right. Red silk clings to all my curves and there's no hiding the gift I have for him.

"But, Daddy. Don't you like me in red?" I tease playfully knowing I'm about to get my ass spanked.

There's a burning in his eyes I've grown to recognize when I lift my gaze back to his. He wants to get me alone and take things from calm to hot and heavy between the sheets like right this second.

He crosses the room, bringing with him a wave of his toe-curling scent. I inhale and let everything about him wash over me. Heat flashes through me and that one little reaction makes my nipples turn rock-hard.

He crushes me to him and groans at what he finds when his hand comes over my bare back.

"Oh, I should turn for you."

I step out of his arms and do a one-eighty to the sound of animalistic growls.

"You're mine, woman," he growls hungrily.

Rough hands find the open edges of the back of my dress.

I hear the tear before I feel the cool air conditioning on my back.

"Fuck me, woman. I don't know if you were sexier with or without the dress."

Tatters of red silk fall to the floor and I force the grin off my face. I love it when my plans work out. He'll never know I wanted him to ravish me senseless instead of taking me out.

I have on a red garter belt, no panties, and matching stilettos. I slowly turn to face him and move the long curls of my hair aside.

"If you wanted me undressed, all you had to do was ask, Daddy."

"I do better at taking," he says as he visually drinks in his glittering gift.

I see his throat work. "Are those for me, baby?"

I nod and gently wrap my fingers around my breasts and offer myself up to my daddy.

"Do you like them?" I mentioned how pretty my nipples would look pierced a few months back. I bet he thought I forgot.

Warm lips wrap around one diamond-studded nipple and then the other. My head drops back, and I sigh as he takes all my weight in his arms. Leaning over me he devours my pierced tips until my core drips.

It takes a powerful man to admit he is wrong and an even stronger one to fight until near death to correct that wrong. I will never regret standing up for myself and I will never regret letting Daddy ruin me for every other man out there. I'm his and he's mine.

"Daddy, I don't think you've ruined me enough." I wrap my fingers around his tie and fall into his loving arms.

It turns out that we never ended up going out that night. Meetings got postponed and Club Sin had their show without us. That's fine. I have all I need right here in Bastian's arms.