53. Epilogue Abby

Five Years Later

“Twenty-five…twenty-six…twenty-seven…twenty-eight…”

I heard giggles, little footsteps running around our home.

"Twenty-nine, thirty! Ready or not, here I come!"

I opened my eyes.

Evan was nowhere to be seen.

“Evan? Oh my gosh—you’re so good at hiding!” My voice echoed through the spacious halls of our home tucked away in the hills outside San Francisco. The place was perfect for us, far from prying eyes and with enough room for Evan to run around to his heart's content.

And it was a virtual jungle, thanks to Nathan’s plant obsession.

Which made it a very fun place to hide.

I rounded the corner, my feet sinking into the plush carpet as I scanned the living room. "Evan," I called out, trying to keep my tone light and playful. This kid could find corners to hide in that I didn't even know existed. It was a skill that both amused and amazed me.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," I teased, peeking behind the heavy drapes that framed the large windows overlooking our secluded backyard. Only silence greeted me. I paused, listening for any tell-tale signs of my little hider.

"Mommy's coming to find you," I announced, adding a touch of mock warning to my voice. I pressed my hand against the small mound under my shirt, a smile tugging at my lips as I wandered through the spacious kitchen. “Where the heck is he, Violet?”

A giggle echoed from somewhere down the hall. I froze, listening, then followed the sound. "You think you're slick, huh?" I called out, chuckling.

Another giggle, this time from Nathan’s office.

Got him .

It was his favorite hiding place.

I poked my head into Nathan's office through the crack in the door, the sound of his voice winding down from a call with Alex. He was all clean lines and focus, the phone held close as he spoke in hushed tones that meant money was on the move again. He glanced up at me as he wrapped up the call, saying something about a laundering op in South Beach.

“Okay, Alex,” he was saying. “Yeah…yeah, I’ll see you in a bit. It’s fine if you’re late, I’ll fill Abby in.” I walked in, crossed my arms. “Love you.”

He hung up and clasped his hands on the desk after putting his phone down. “Can I help you?” he asked.

Ah…Evan had an accomplice.

"Seen a little guy about yay high, runs like lightning, laughs like a madman?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe. My hand rested on my rounded belly, feeling the life inside kick up a fuss, probably wondering where her brother had gone off to.

"Nope, haven't seen him. Just me and these numbers." He gestured to the papers scattered across his desk, but his eyes betrayed him, a hint of mischief there.

"Really? Because I could've sworn this was the hideout of the world's sneakiest munchkin," I said, raising an eyebrow. Nathan just gave me that look, the one that said he was innocent. Or at least pretending to be. I crossed my arms and watched Nathan pretend to be absorbed in his work.

But then that giggle—soft and mischievous—bubbled up from under his desk.

"Did you hear that?" Nathan asked without looking up, a small smirk playing on his lips.

"Think I might have," I responded dryly, glancing down at the large oak desk. "Sounds like someone's not very good at hide and seek."

Under the desk, Nathan's hand disappeared—and a second later, he hauled out a wriggling bundle of giggles. Evan emerged, his face lit up in a victorious grin as if he'd won some grand prize for his stealth. He had his dad’s big brown eyes, and they glittered with just a touch of villainy.

"Gotcha!" Nathan declared, his voice booming with mock sternness, but his eyes crinkled at the corners.

Evan squealed, all flailing limbs and pure joy as Nathan scooped him into his arms. They were both laughing now, their mirth echoing off the high ceilings of the office like some kind of music you couldn't buy. As Nathan stood and turned toward me, Evan perched on his hip like a little king surveying his land, I couldn’t help but join in the laughter.

"Ma, Ba found me!" Evan announced, as if it was the greatest news ever told.

"Sure did, champ," Nathan said, and then leaned over to plant a quick kiss on my cheek. His lips were warm, a brief touch that still sent a ripple of something sweet through me.

I looked at Nathan, this man who had somehow untangled himself from a past darker than a moonless night and became someone Evan could look up to without question. The transformation wasn't lost on me. He was a dad first, Triad leader second—maybe even third or fourth by then.

He was living proof that people weren't just the sum of their histories.

"Best dad ever," I whispered, more to myself than to them, watching the easy way he held Evan, the natural fit of our son in his life-worn hands. Nathan gave me a lopsided smile, the sort that knew exactly what I was thinking without words needing to pass between us.

"Only because I got you two," he said.

Yeah…unlikely.

At this point, I was a little darker than him.

We made our way down the hall to the kitchen, Nathan putting Evan down carefully so he could check on tonight’s meal. The aroma hit me first, a mix of garlic and ginger that took me straight back to Sunday dinners. He was standing over the stove, wooden spoon in hand, stirring a simmering pot that smelled like love and tradition.

"Smells amazing," I said, leaving Evan to toddle over to his box of trucks by the fridge.

"Learned from the best," Nathan replied without turning, focused on his mother's recipe as if it were a sacred text.

The table was already set for ten. Every Sunday, without fail, we'd come together—a ragtag family bound not just by blood but by everything we'd been through. Tonight, it would be Justin and Derek with their little one; Lily with some new boyfriend; Knuckles, who was now running things full-time in the city; and Dad, who'd warmed up to Nathan more than I'd ever imagined he would.

It was an odd thing, having a bunch of gangsters and a cop at our table every week.

But somehow, we made it work.

"Everyone's coming over, huh?" Nathan asked, checking the rice. His casual tone couldn't hide the anticipation he felt for these dinners. It was more than food; it was our statement to the world that we'd survived, thrived even, despite the odds.

"Wouldn't miss it," I confirmed, leaning against the counter. "Dad even said he's bringing dessert this time."

Nathan chuckled. "Hope it's not his fruitcake again."

"Hey, he tries."

"Try telling that to the garbage disposal." Nathan winked at me before tasting the sauce again.

"Be nice. It's the thought that counts." I watched Nathan stir something in a big pot, steam fogging up the window above the stove. "Need a hand?"

He glanced over his shoulder, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Got it covered, but stick around."

"Wouldn't dream of leaving you to fend for yourself."

"Good," Nathan said. "Because your company makes this taste better."

"Flatterer," I teased, but couldn't help grinning. I reached out and brushed my hand against Nathan's as he sprinkled salt into the broth. "You know I'm proud of you, right?"

He paused mid-stir, his brow creasing slightly. "Yeah," he replied, though he sounded hesitant.

"Hey." I cupped his face with both hands, making him look at me. The lines of worry etched into his forehead softened under my touch. "I love you. You're an amazing dad. Evan adores you. And Violet will too. No doubts, okay?"

Nathan's lips twitched into a smile, but the shadows in his eyes told me he was still wrestling with his past. "Sometimes I can't shake the feeling…"

"Stop." I cut him off gently. "That's all behind us now. Look at what we've built here, Nathan. Look at our family."

He nodded, holding my gaze for a moment longer before getting back to dinner. But I saw it—the love, the fight, the hope that flickered there.

And the fear.

“I think I just…” His eyes darted toward the living room, where Evan was busy with his trucks. “I don’t want them in the business. Don’t know what’s going to happen when they get older.”

“You don’t have to worry about that right now,” I said, voice soft. “I mean…maybe they’ll want to be doctors like Lily. Or cold-blooded killers like their mom.”

Nathan chuckled, glancing back at me with that crooked smile I fell for every time. "Abby, sometimes I really do wonder about that head of yours."

"Hey, it's kept us safe, hasn't it?" I shot back, smirking.

Before he could reply, a knock sounded from the living room. I turned towards the door. "Sounds like everyone's starting to show up."

"Yeah," Nathan agreed, giving the sauce one last stir. "Dinner's just about ready." He wiped his hands on a dish towel and nodded toward the hallway. "Go on, I'll bring this out."

"Alright," I said, pushing off from the counter. "Let's see what kind of chaos they're bringing this time."

I headed for the door, eager to see them—but even years later, these family gatherings made me a little sad. I’d barely known her, but Evelyn Zhou's absence was like a shadow in the bright hallways of our life. I wished she could've met Evan and the new baby on the way, seen what Nathan turned into—a man who poured love into his family instead of violence.

"Abby?" Nathan called from the kitchen, breaking into my thoughts.

"Yeah?" I threw over my shoulder, not stopping.

"Everything okay?"

"Fine," I said, but my voice wavered, betraying me.

I reached the door, hand resting on the cool metal knob, and let out a long breath. Evelyn had set us on this path, her strength and cunning woven into the very fabric of our lives.

She'd never get to hold her grandkids, but without her, there'd be no grandkids to hold.

No beautiful home filled with laughter or a kitchen that smelled like redemption.

"Abby, are you letting them in or what?" Nathan asked again, closer this time. “Don’t want to keep them waiting.”

I smiled back at him, fixed my gaze on him standing by the table. The meal was set; silverware out. Nathan was getting Evan settled, holding a truck in his hand like it was the most precious thing he’d ever handled.

He was beautiful…nothing like the man who’d almost killed me, but also exactly the same.

It was dark getting here, but we made it to the light.

THE END