Epilogue 1

Easton

I stuffed the last of my clothes into my duffel bag.

"Is this everything?" Lucien looked around the small place like he couldn't believe it only took me an hour and three bags to load up all my stuff.

"Sure is. I didn't come to Texas with much and I've been leaving clothes at the house for days. If it wasn't for some of my weapons, we could've made it out of here with just one bag."

"Please don't remind me just how many guns you're bringing into the house." Kati dropped onto the perfectly made bed with a sigh.

The apartment had come completely furnished. I had known even before I moved to Texas that I didn't want to be hauling stuff from place to place. I sure hadn't expected to be moving again after less than a month.

Lucien sat down on the bed next to his mother. "Don't worry, Mom. Easton agreed to teach me how to shoot them all."

I gave the boy a look that would make most men piss their pants, but Lucien just smirked at me. This had been an ongoing discussion since the accident. Lucien wanted to learn how to defend himself better, and Kati wanted to wrap him up in bubble wrap. I had a feeling Lucien would win in the end. Especially with me in his corner.

"And in the meantime, they will all be locked up," I reassured Kati, then turned my attention back to Lucien. "Keep it up and I will put off teaching you."

I really wouldn't, but he didn't need to know that. I was a firm believer that everyone should know how to defend themselves and anyone who had access to guns in a house should know how to use them. I was still working on getting Kati to agree to that last one. It was a process.

"Sorry." I raised my eyebrow and Lucien turned to his mother. "Sorry, Mom. I know it worries you, but I do think it's good for me to learn."

And that was why Kati was going to cave. At the end of the day, Lucien was a great kid. He went out of his way to make his mother's life easier and to keep out of trouble.

Kati sighed. "I know it is, but maybe I'm not ready for you to grow up just yet."

Lucien and I both laughed. He was more grown up than most teenagers his age.

"Whatever, you two." Kati pushed off the bed. "Is there anything else you need to grab?"

I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her waist. I gave her a chaste kiss on the corner of her mouth before stepping back. "Nope. Lex is taking over the rent once he gets to town."

"Is it weird that I'm a little nervous to meet your other teammate? I mean, I get along with the rest of them but I don't know," Kati rambled. "It's weird that there's one more of you that I've never met."

I gave her my most reassuring smile. "Lex is going to love you just like the rest of my team does. He's quiet though, so the chances of him talking to you are pretty slim. He barely speaks to the rest of us.”

Lex was the original silent type. He listened and very rarely gave input, but he was the guy you wanted on your six if things ever went sideways.

"Okay." Kati was abusing her lip again, so I pulled her into my side.

"Enough about my teammates," I whispered in her ear. "The only man I ever want you thinking that hard about is holding you close. I'm the only man allowed to occupy your thoughts." I gave her a wink as she elbowed me in the side.

I did accomplish my mission though. I made her smile and saved her lip from further abuse.

"Let's get out of here. I have a much better place I would rather spend the rest of my life sleeping."

The three of us walked out of the apartment and never looked back. The place had barely been my home since moving to town, and it was a damn good thing I chose the month-to-month option. I may not have known it at the time, but my home was already somewhere else.