Epilogue

Last Day of the First Semester

Snow

I stand in the foyer of the mansion on campus. Lyrical and I slept over because we had a Christmas party the night before and we didn't want to drive all the way home. So we stayed in my old room, where I tied her to the bedposts and fucked her brains out. We're going to her parents' for winter break, then we're flying out to San Francisco to spend New Year's with my mother. I'm so fucking glad that this semester is over with, and maybe next semester will be better.

I started working as the CEO of the American Billionaire Club, and next semester, I'll be attending night classes to complete my master's degree.

The townspeople of North Haven whispered about my father's death; they don't believe he committed suicide. But the business partners kept their word and had our back. No one but us know what really happened to Bailey, and my family and I want to keep it that way. I don't want people to remember her as this sad, tragic person. Now that I have found out the truth about my sister, I can finally breathe, while she can finally rest.

Lyrical rushes down the stairs, wraps her arms around my shoulders, and kisses my lips as I slide my fingers under her leather dress, squeezing her ass.

"Did I mention how much I love you?" she says, grinning from ear to ear.

I tuck her hair behind her ear. "Yes. You tell me every hour."

"I tried looking everywhere for my Christmas gift at the farmhouse and here. Please give me a hint so I can stop trying to kill myself over it."

"You're never going to find it," I shoot back, holding her hand.

We're going to have our own Christmas dinner at the Billionaire Club, then I'm taking her to the part of the club where the sex club is, where I'm going to fuck her. Her second gift is the building she wants to turn into her art studio and gallery, our first investment. It's the place she's been eyeing for so long, and I saw it on her Pinterest boards.

Keanu walks down the stairs with his bag in his hand and Lyrical meets him at the bottom of the steps, wrapping her arms around him. Setting his bag down, he spins her around like he's some fucking Disney prince and she's his princess. The scene where the girl gets the prince. It takes every ounce of my self-control not to slit his throat, but if I kill Keanu, Lyrical will never forgive me because she considers him her "friend." So he can keep his life—for now. He's supposed to be on my side, but it seems my wife's got him wrapped around her finger. For the last month, they got close, hanging out, going on these so-called friend dates. It makes me sick. A week ago, when I was at the club, she texted him to bring her a bag of gummy bears and they watched a movie together. I watched them through the camera I planted in the farmhouse. I hate their fucking friendship. I'm the only male friend she needs.

I stand between them, bringing Lyrical to my side, and Keanu smirks.

"Where are you going for winter break?" she asks, rocking on her heels.

"My parents'. Though I don't want to because they are going to be hounding me about getting married."

"You're still not in an arranged marriage to anyone?" she asks.

He shakes his head. "I tend to scare the prospective wives off with the shit that I'm into. Plus, marriage is not my thing. I like to be free to stick my dick into anyone I want to. I see how Snow acts with you, and I'll be damned to be pussy-whipped because of a woman. No offense, Snow." He eyes me.

I roll my eyes, folding my arms across my chest.

Lyrical crinkles her nose at him. "Will you be able to become CFO after graduation? I thought you had to be married to inherit your proportion of the business."

"My father is planning on giving it to my brother if I don't." With that, he slaps me on the back. "I'll see your crazy ass next semester. Take care of my bestie ."

"She's not your best friend, K. I am, remember?"

"I replaced you with Lyrical. She's more fun and doesn't have a stick up her ass like you. Maybe you need to peg him a fe—"

"Keanu. Leave before I slit your throat," I growl.

Lyrical opens the door for him, and we both watch Keanu throw his bag straps over his shoulders and hop on his motorcycle before taking off down the driveway.

The smell of the ocean wafts into my nose, inviting a chilly breeze along with it.

Jameson and Irvin head downstairs with their bags and they both eye us. Irvin drops his bag on the floor, walks up to me, and places his hand on the back of my neck, squeezing tight. I can barely breathe when he bangs my head against the wall.

Lyrical tries to reach for me to stop him, but Jameson holds her back. "Stay out of it, Lyrical."

"If you ever try to kill me again, I promise you, you will meet your maker."

I burst out laughing, so he bangs my head against the wall again, causing my head to throb.

"I mean it. And if you ever threaten to harm Lilac again, I'll kill Lyrical and bury her ass in the backyard. We might not like each other but you will respect me."

He lets me go, and I stroke my face. No doubt, I'm going to have a bruise. "Next time I kill you, I'll make sure you're dead for real."

We stand toe to toe, and I place my hand on the gun tucked into the back of my pants.

Jameson stands between us. "Leave, Irvin. We don't need a bloodbath."

He nods, mumbling "Fucking asshole" and then slams the door.

"What is Irvin speaking about?" Lyrical questions, folding her arms and eyeing me suspiciously.

"Snow tried to kill Irvin by drowning him in the pool because you were seeking him out, but you didn't tell him the reasoning."

Her face pales. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get him almost killed. I only told you that to get a rise out of you. I di—"

"It's fine," I cut her off.

"Then Snow threatened to hurt Lilac if he tried to retaliate," Jameson adds, rubbing the back of his head.

Lyrical punches me in the arm. "Snow! You will not hurt my friend. We're not pawns to be used between you and Irvin for your guys' pissing contest."

I shrug. "I had to do what I had to do."

"Well… I'm off. I'll see you after the holidays."

"Wait," Lyrical murmurs.

She wraps her arms around him but pulls back quickly, and awkwardness settles between them. "I'm sorry for your loss as well." He gives her a puzzled look so she goes on. "Bailey. Snow told me you were in love with her. I'm sorry you didn't get the chance to love her the way you wanted to. I understand how you can have feelings for someone, and you couldn't let them know."

He glances at the marble floors, inhales deeply and exhales. In all of the years I've known Jameson, I've never seen him so broken. He was robbed of his happy ending, and if Bailey had survived, he would have gone behind my back and tried to marry her, and I wouldn't blame him because if the roles were reversed, I would have gone behind his back and married Lyrical too if she were his sister. Nothing would have stopped me.

He clears his throat and his gaze drifts to me. "I'll be fine. It hurts like a bitch, but everything will be okay. I'll try my best to cope." He runs his fingers through his hair. "I'll take it one day at a time."

"I'll see you next semester, Jameson."

"You too. Stay out of trouble and don't burn my mansion if Snow pisses you off again," he jokes.

Sighing, he leaves too. We have the entire mansion to ourselves, and I grab her hand and lead her out to the backyard, straight to the forest.

She smiles at the bare trees and the inky sky.

"Run, Blue."

"What's going to happen when you catch me?"

"It's a surprise. Five…" I start.

She kisses my cheek and takes off, running deep into the forest.

"Four… three… two… one."

I chase Lyrical.

The girl I can't ever live without. The girl who has had my heart since I was seventeen. The girl I will kill and die for.