EPILOGUE

DANTE

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

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“Put the...for the love of god, give me that.” I take the tray of drinks from my pregnant wife, and she smirks at me.

Adelina still finds my protective nature humorous.

When this baby is born in a month, I’ll remind her—in our bedroom—that I’m still a bad ass gangster. Until then, I have her wrapped up in an invisible bubble wrap.

Aka—me.

Mia takes the tray from me and places it on the table, freeing my hands so I can place them on Addy’s swollen tummy.

“I was fine,” Addy says.

“You weren’t fine. You can barely stand up without tipping over.”

“Rude.” She says against my lips as I lean way over and kiss her.

“It’s the truth. No more lifting until I say so.” I pat her bottom and guide her to her seat as I wave out my hand, encouraging our guests to do the same.

Sit.

I swear, it’s like trying to herd cattle.

“Just give me the word and I’ll have him taken out, Addy.” Braxton smirks as he bites into a piece of pineapple. “Technically, he no longer exists.”

Dick.

But he’s right. We don’t exist anymore.

Not as the same people we once were. But we kept our first names. Now we are Mr. and Mrs. Romano. A common Italian surname.

“You will do no such thing,” my mother, and his mother-in-law, says, whacking him around the head.

Braxton overreacts and Gianna just laughs at him.

I stand behind Addy’s chair, my hand on her shoulder, and take in all the Dark Kings.

They’re all here in New Zealand.

Adelina and I decided it was the safest place for us, somewhere we both wanted to live. It was either that or Iceland.

Mom was shocked when I told her what we were doing, but after a lot of crying and yelling, she folded and said her children were more important than our family legacy...and the lifestyle she was accustomed to.

Gianna and Braxton also moved with us.

It gets better...

So did Decker and Isabelle.

These men have become my best friends. Something I never imagined would’ve been possible a year ago.

Connor followed through and helped me sell my properties and is still running the legitimate businesses on my behalf. We plan to sell them soon as they aren’t profitable, and damn, Barrett charges a hefty management fee.

I’m joking, he’s doing it for free.

They’re going on the market in the new year, which is just a few weeks away.

Right now, everyone is here for Christmas Day. In this part of the world, it’s summer. The sun is out, the sky is blue, the birds are singing, and a soft breeze is blowing over the large deck of our home overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Our house is modest, but it’s all we need.

“Sit.” Addy pats my hand, and I take my seat at the head of the table.

Down from us, Sienna sits while Nathan stays standing staring down into his baby’s face as he cradles it in his arms. He’s obsessed with Daisy, who is very cute, and I wonder if I’ll be the same.

“Mom, can I have butter on my sweet corn?” Mateo, Summer and Mack’s son, asks.

“Yes, but you have to eat the corn, not just lick off the butter.” Summer says, shooting me a wink. “Bet you can’t wait to be a father.”

“He’ll be impatient.” Mack says, pulling the chair out for Mateo.

I was going to tell him to go fuck himself, but there are three children present plus the one inside my wife. It may be able to hear me speak, so I’m not risking it.

Addy will tell me off, in other words.

But let’s face it, my child is going to curse. It’s Italian with my blood, so of course it will.

“You’d be surprised how patient this man of mine can be when he chooses.” Adelina says, reaching out her hand for mine.

Her large diamond sparkles in the sunshine. The only hint of our true wealth. I don’t know what she tells our neighbors or if anyone asks. Mostly, we keep to ourselves, socializing with Braxton, Gianna, Decker, and Isabelle.

“Really? Mine is just bossy.” Sienna smiles at Nathan.

He leans down and hands her the baby. “Because that’s how you like it, sweetheart.”

Sienna blushes and I glance at Addy, who is grinning.

She turns to me, and I wink back. I want her pregnant again the moment our child is out of her womb. I want ten little Adelinas running around.

She said we’ll stop when we have a boy and a girl.

“Fucking hell,” Connor says, dropping into the other end of the table, while all the moms cover their children’s ears.

“Connor Barrett,” Mia cries. “If you want to be a daddy, you need to stop swearing.”

We all watch Connor.

He lifts his glass of champagne and sips slowly.

I glance at Mack in question, but he deadpans me.

“Are you trying?” Sienna asks, putting the bottle in Daisy’s mouth and glancing at both Mia and Connor.

“I try every night.” Connor sits back and slowly his lips turn into a smile.

Confident bastard.

“Now we’re in New Zealand, we can start,” Isabelle says, nudging Decker.

“One more year.” He shakes his head.

“Babe.”

“One more year, Izzy. I need to know we’re safe.” Decker slides his hand through her long hair and cups the back of her neck. “I lie awake worrying about you every night, let alone a tiny baby.”

She nods, but I can see the disappointment in her eyes.

“Look, you can’t live your life in fear. The Mexicans aren’t going to hunt you all the way to New Zealand.” Connor says, his head tilted but those solid shoulders of his never budge. “I’ve been thinking...with you, Brax, and Dante living here now, we should discuss opening a branch of Barrett Security here.”

I blink.

“What, and import paramilitary guys from the US?” I ask.

“No. New Zealand has a ton of highly trained military men and women here. Tap into that and you guys can get off your lazy asses and do some work.”

I laugh while Mia slaps his arm again.

“Ass isn’t a curse word.” He growls at her.

Mateo snickers, causing Mack to roll his eyes.

“You know, maybe we’ll move down here. It’s a nice place.” Nathan says, sitting finally and lifting his bottle of beer to his lips.

“You serious?” Connor asks and doesn’t look impressed at the almost mass exodus of his senior team.

“Um, no. I can’t leave my parents,” Sienna says, glancing down at the baby, a look of panic on her face. “No.”

Nathan turns to Connor. “That would be a negative.”

Decker snorts beside him.

“I’m in,” I say, handing Addy her glass of water when her bump gets in the way and she can’t reach it. “On the new biz idea. Just let me know what I can do.”

“Ditto. I’m bored as...fudge.” Decker corrects himself at the last minute.

“I’m still on my honeymoon.” Braxton grins and shrugs, chuckling, when we all tell him it’s been nine months.

Gianna actually blushes, and I do not want to think about him fucking my sister, so I groan.

She and Addy giggle.

Life is good.

Occasionally we near some noise about the crime families back home, but unless there’s anything serious, I try not to obsess over it.

The information I’ve shared with the FBI has helped them put away some key players and massively reduce the amount of women taken off the streets and put into slavery.

It’s an enormous industry.

What I’ve done has only scratched the surface.

I want to do more. After our children are born, I may look at getting more involved. But for now, I have a promise to keep, and a wife and children to protect.

Just as Decker does.

And Mack

And Nathan.

And Braxton.

And Connor.

“Merry Christmas everyone,” I say, lifting my glass. “Thank you for flying down to New Zealand. I know it’s a long way. You’re welcome to stay...another two days.”

Addy slaps me. “For as long as you like, he means.”

I grin.

“I like it here,” Mia says, sipping her ice water. “While I’m here, I’m going to do some scouting for destination weddings.”

Mia owns an event management company.

“Good idea. I’ll join you.” Sienna coos down at Daisy, jiggling her leg.

“We can all play golf or do some manly things.” Mack smirks before taking a sip of his beer.

“I want to play golf. Can I go with Dad?” Mateo asks.

“We will both go. It's not just a boy sport.” Summer shoots Mack a glare.

Given she’s a soldier, I’m not surprised by her response.

“I have a cover to finish before New Year, but I’ll drive you around,” Adelina offers. “How fun.”

I roll my eyes.

She has to be joking.

I have to help her into the passenger seat, and I’m not joking when I say it takes a lot of strength. But I’m a smart man, so I need to choose my words carefully.

“Kitten, there’s no way you’ll fit behind the wheel.”

Okay, maybe I’m not that smart.

That’s not all. Watching her drive on the other side of the road terrifies me more than her father finding us down here. I’m not a statistician, but I’m pretty sure the chance of her dying is higher.

“No one is driving anywhere” Connor says, shooting his wife one of his domineering glares that I’m becoming familiar with.

I thought I was protective, but he’s like an alpha on steroids.

“The driver and your bodyguard will take you.”

Mia smiles.

When I first met her, I thought she was submissive, but what I’ve come to understand is that the once mafia princess is strong, smart, and knows how to manage her husband.

Just as mine does.

“Where’s your wine?” Connor suddenly asks her.

Mia glances at her water as if she’s surprised to see it in her hand. The look on her face when she replies is lined with guilt. “Oh. Um...”

He drops his glass on the table and turns his body toward hers.

“Okay.” She puts her glass down and holds up her hands. “Just wait. Before you get upset, I was going to tell you when we got back to New York.”

“Mia.” He growls.

I glance around at the Dark Kings, and their mouths are parted.

“I found out a few days ago, but you are such a protective grump. I wanted to enjoy the holidays.”

“Mia.” He growls again, darker and louder.

She climbs out of her seat and onto his lap. Connor immediately wraps his arms around her, and she whispers in his ear.

What is going on?

Connor launches out of the seat—which goes flying—with her in his arms.

Daisy screams and Mia squeals between giggles.

All the girls start clapping, and Brax, Decker, Nate, and Mack are grinning.

Clearly, they’ve all figured it out.

“The fuck is going on?” I ask, and as Adelina takes my hand, her eyes are filled with joy.

My breath catches in my chest. She looks so fucking beautiful, pregnant with my child.

My wife.

My love.

My everything.

“I love you.” She mouths and for a moment, nothing but her exists.

All of it was worth it. Everything that led to this moment with her. I couldn’t love her more than I do, but I’m going to try every day.

I wish we could have a million lifetimes together. The moment Addy said I do when we married, I felt the world right itself.

She was finally officially mine.

Forever.

Soon we will meet our child and become parents together.

She’s wrong. I’m not patient. I want all our babies right now. To meet them all. To love them all.

“Will you tell us already!” Sienna cries.

“I’m going to be a father!” Connor announces, and we both turn to see him holding Mia in his arms. The two of them beaming with joy.

“Put her down.” Mama slaps at him, looking as happy as the rest of us.

I’m proud of how she’s adjusted. She lives in a smaller home two doors down. All of us are within walking distance of each other in the coastal city.

We toast to celebrate Mia and Connor's news. Then, for the next few hours over Christmas lunch, make plans for the next week while everyone is together.

A trip to Waiheke to the wineries.

A day at the beach.

Golf...it was inevitable.

The girls organize their day out.

Connor shares more of his ideas about a New Zealand and Australian branch of his company. I’m not military trained, but we’ve built a trust between us over the past almost nine months and I know there will be a place for me in this company.

“Are you happy?” Addy asks me quietly.

“More than I’ve ever been,” I reply, watching her hand rub over her belly. “You?”

“Very. Thank you for never giving up on me.”

I smirk and pop a strawberry in my mouth and chew. “Never kitten. You know you belong to me.”

Connor’s phone rings down at the end of the table. The guy has it on volume level fucking one hundred.

“Connor Barrett.” He answers while a few of the group throw napkins at him for working on Christmas Day.

I take Addy’s empty plate—she didn’t eat much—and start taking those near me. We don’t have employees anymore, so I’m the cook and cleaner.

For now.

“When?” Connor says and Mack watches him.

I glance at Decker, who’s doing the same.

“Who gave you my personal phone number?” Connor demands darkly, catching my attention. “That right?”

Nathan’s brow lifts.

Braxton glances at me.

“I’ll be in touch.” He ends the call and puts his phone on the table. Glancing up, he looks first at Mack, then Nathan, then Decker, Brax, and me. “Got a new client. His wife has been kidnapped.”

“Sounds familiar.” Addy snorts.

“Right?!” Sienna pokes her tongue out at Nathan, but he barely reacts, focused instead on Connor.

“Anyone we know?” Mack asks.

“Pierce Sterling.” Connor says. “He wouldn’t tell me how he got my number and I’m not fu...flippin’ happy about it.”

“Good boy.” Mia rubs his arm. “He’s going to be such a good daddy.”

“Pierce Sterling.” Mack repeats slowly. “Always thought he was dodgy as hell. Didn’t his wife die a long time ago?”

“New wife...fiancé, I think. Much younger.” Connor shares.

“He’s Maddox J. Sterling’s son, right?” Nathan says. “What do we know about him?”

“Not much. Dark horse. I’ve only met him once,” Connor says, rubbing the side of his jaw. “Not many people make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, but when he shook my hand, they did.”

Who the hell is Maddox J. Sterling?

“Are we taking the job?” Mack asks.

“Undecided,” Connor replies, glancing at Mia.

“Well, while you’re all deciding,” Adelina says, placing her hand on my thigh and I snap my head toward her when I feel the sharpness of her nails. “Could you take me to the hospital? My water just broke.”

Oh, my god.

I’m about to become a father.

To a new generation who will never know the mafia life.