Epilogue I

EPILOGUE I

ONE MONTH LATER

“I got the job,” I announce, each syllable stinging more than the last. “I mean, that was the plan all along, but you know how Moretti is. Well, maybe you don’t actually. He’s nothing like his father but he’s…intense,” I pause, stifling the urge I have to laugh, but it’s true. Now that I’m with his cousin and working for him distributing a new strain of fantasma we’ve named Demonio, I feel like he has eyes everywhere.

I shake my head. “Anyway, I just wanted to stop by and see you,” my words only for my ears and the spirits that linger here. Running my hand over the aged limestone, a smile crosses my face. The engraving on the decaying surface is barely legible other than the flor de maga flowers beneath the first three letters of our last name. Demonio. Words escape me. There’s so much I want to say to him, that I wish I could’ve said to him, but now it all feels so pointless because he’s wherever we go after this brutal life is done with us. My boots kick at the grass, frustration mixing with sadness.

“You would’ve liked her. Raiden,” I blurt, another set of words that feel like daggers to the heart. “I know you set out for our paths to cross, but I don’t think either you or Victor had even the faintest clue–no offense–of how we would be together. We’re so opposite, yet so similar. She’s fire and I’m ice, but it works somehow. Whenever she needs someone to calm her down I help extinguish that heat overflowing her veins. But not too much, because that attitude she has on her does things to me. I don’t know, maybe I’m a masochist for being with her, but she makes me so fucking happy, dad, and I haven’t been happy in a long fucking time. Not since–” I pause, a lump lodging in my throat, emotions on high. “Anyway, it’s been a long time since I’ve been truly at peace. Since mom died, and because of that I’ve become cold. Hardened to the world, and she’s helped me with that. She’s the wave of warmth I need to melt all the anxiety and pent-up anger away. She’s everything to me. Which is why I’m going to give her this,” I stop to reach for the necklace he gave my mother. The wind captures the pendant, swinging it. “I was going to leave it at mom’s grave before I left, but now I think this piece of your love and our heritage is better suited for her. To keep it alive.”

As I stick the necklace in my pocket, my phone vibrates with an incoming message. My heart flutters like I’m a goddamn schoolboy when I see her name.

“Speak of the devil,” I mumble, retrieving my phone and exchanging it with the necklace.

Raiden: Where art thou, pendejo? *kissy face emoji*

Ha, fucking smartass always.

Me: Really? Still with the pendejo, even after I let you talk me into … you know *scared emoji*

Raiden: Oh please! One time won’t kill you and just think about how wet it’ll make me *splash emoji - cat emoji - butterfly emoji *

Raiden: I’m touching myself just thinking about it…

This woman, I swear.Granted she doesn’t know I stopped at the cemetery on the way to pick her up, but still. She’s about to give me a fucking hard-on while I’m standing in front of a grave.

Me: I bet you are mama *tongue emoji*

Me: Be there soon

Me: You get a medium toasted coconut, what milk latte again?

Raiden: Excuse me, I just told you my pussy is wet for you and you’re asking me what my fucking coffee order is?

Raiden: You are so fucking…

Raiden: Adorable *pleading eye emoji* You were so close papi. Oat milk. Why?

Me: Well we have a long night ahead of us, so I want to make sure you get what you need to stay awake for the job we have tonight…and for me *devil emoji*

Me: On my way

Raiden: Ok! *kiss face emoji*

Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I look once more at my dad’s tombstone.

“I’ll be back soon, dad. Oh also, I’m having you moved. You need to be placed next to mom,” I wink. “And don’t fight me, Carmine already arranged it, movers come next week,” I joke. “Love you,” I say, running a hand on the faded engraving.

Raiden: You brought it right? *peach emoji*

Raiden: And you prepped?

I roll my eyes, pressing the audio button to send a message as I turn the wheel.

“I’m driving, I can’t text back. But yes, unfortunately…to both,” I laugh hitting send.

Less than a minute later, an audio message from Raiden comes in and, like the giddy fool I am for her, I can’t hold back the smile that spreads across my face as I press play.

“Good boy. Don’t worry, you’ll like it, I promise. Oh, and hurry up, my mom stopped by unexpectedly and I’m fucking dying over here.”

Nerves settle into my stomach as I shift in my seat, slipping my phone in my pocket. Raiden and I have been inseparable since the escape room—it feels weird even calling it that now that we know what it was—but I haven’t met her mom yet. Raiden and her mom have a complicated relationship, judging from what I’ve picked up on at least. Since they both work for Carmine, they seem to clash often, but I guess that’s to be expected with two feisty Latinas. My heart sinks knowing I have no one to introduce Raiden to. I know if mom was still alive, she would’ve loved who Raiden grew up to be. She probably also would have gotten a kick out of Raiden’s antics, and she would have loved how happy she makes me, which I can confidently say I haven’t truly felt since she died.

As I pull into the driveway and park, my nerves magnify. I can see Raiden in the window as she talks animatedly to her mom, her long black hair pulled into a ponytail that’s bouncing back and forth with each bob of her neck.

I reach for the door handle, almost forgetting the coffee I picked up for her on the way. Grabbing it, I slip out of the car, slamming the door just as the front door swings open.

“Ma!” Raiden calls out as her mother scurries out of the door, ignoring her. Like mother, like daughter. Now Rae knows how I feel when she purposely ignores me.

“He’s here!” Her mom beams as she leads the way to the driveway, Raiden walking right behind her, looking pissed off, but even the scowl on her face suits her. There isn’t a damn thing she could ever do that doesn’t make her look beautiful.

I wait for them to reach me. Raiden’s ridiculously complicated coffee order in one hand, I extend my other to her mom. She ignores it, barreling into me with an unexpected hug that almost drops the cup out of my hand.

“Mami,” Raiden scolds playfully, slipping her grip through her mom’s bear hug on me, taking her coffee and mouthing a ‘thank you.’

“Ay, Bendito!” she exclaims, squeezing me even tighter before releasing me. It’s crazy how much Raiden looks like her mother.

“Hi, Mrs. Ramos,” I say, noticing the way her eyes are glazed over.

“Oh, papa,” she waves her hand at me, “Please, Rose is fine. No need to be all formal. I just can’t believe it,” she chokes out, emotion ripe within her tone. “You look just like her but with his eyes,” she laments, rubbing her wrinkled palm on my cheek.

From the pictures I’ve seen of my father, I can see that. I resemble my mom with her complexion and facial structure, but my gray eyes are all my dad.

Raiden steps forward right up next to me. She reaches for my cheek, turning me to face her. “Hey, you,” she smiles, pressing her lips on mine. Of course, Raiden, being who she is, picks up on my nerves and decides to slip her pierced tongue into my mouth.

“¿Qué es eso ,Raiden?!” her mom playfully scolds, tugging at her arm. “What will your neighbors say?”

Placing her tongue back in her mouth, she flutters her lashes at me before addressing her mom. “For kissing my boyfriend? Nothing. Now if we got caught doing what we did on the porch last weekend, that’d be a different story,” she winks, causing all the blood that was just rushing to my cock to instead travel to my heated cheeks. “Isn’t that right, papi?” she laughs.

“Jesus Christ, Rae,” I mutter, flattening my palm, against my head as I shake it in disbelief of how bold she always is. I fucking love it.

“Isn’t she something?” her mom asks, hands on her hips, flustered by her daughter’s antics.

I take Raiden’s hand in mine. “Yes, she is,” I say, winking in Raiden’s direction.

“Alright, ma, we have plans, so if that’s all…” Raiden is already pulling me in the direction of my car.

“Wait,” her mom says. “When are you two free? I want to have you over for dinner. Your brother Alex and his new girlfriend Vanessa will be in town, so it’ll be perfect to have everyone together.”

“This weekend,” I answer for the two of us.

“Perfecto! I’ll make pasteles.” She goes on with what else she’s going to make but I can’t focus.

Raiden is now on her tiptoes, perched by my ear. “I’m horny,” she whispers.

I feel like a damn teenager, the two simple words sending a painful rush to my groin.

“Sounds good, ma,” she cuts off her mom, flattening her feet to go walk to her mom and hug her.

“It was so nice meeting you.” I wave, but Rose shakes her head, stretching out her hands.

“I’m a hugger,” she laughs, giving me another bear hug. She releases me from her embrace and blows a kiss in our direction, mumbling something else about dinner this weekend, but my attention is on Raiden and the mischievous look on her face.

“Raiden,” I drag, sounding like fucking Ricky Ricardo. Ha, who am I kidding, she’s definitely my Lucy. Silly, bold, and my fucking kryptonite.

“Vamos, papi,” she says, nudging her head in the direction of the car with a small remote in her hand.

“Solo una vez eso es todo.” I respond, bracing myself for another one of Raiden’s antics. Just this once, that’s it.

“Fuck,” I mewl as I turn the wheel, parking in front of Maddox’s shed. “Are you done yet?” I grit through a tense jaw.

I turn to face the passenger seat where Raiden’s exposed, wet pussy is taunting me. Working through the vibrations she’s controlling in torturous intervals, I extend my hand, needing to dip it into that pussy. My pussy.

She lifts her hips so her exposed, panty-free cunt torments me with its close proximity. My inked finger hovers over her slit when she clicks her tongue. “Not until you admit it,” she teases purposely, letting the inflection of her voice turn into a moan.

“Raiden,” I grunt as she lifts her hands, revealing the remote in her palm.

“Say it. It’s okay,” she pants purposely, driving her free hand into her very wet center.

She presses the button and the vibrations intensify, the whole damn driver’s seat rattling. Pinching my eyes shut, I swallow thickly. “Fine,” I groan. “Fine, just let up a little, goddamn it.”

“¡Dímelo!”

“You’re right! It does feel good. There? You fucking happy?” I moan out as my cock twitches from the subtle tempo she’s reduced the vibrating plug to.

She covers her pussy with her skirt as she leans over to kiss me. Our lips crash, tongues dancing with one another as she clicks the button that turns off the toy. Breaking the seal of our kiss, she looks at me. “See, I was right. A vibrating butt plug is better than the stick you usually have in your ass,” she breathes before kissing me again.

We both laugh. I swear, the things I will do for this woman. They know no fucking bounds. The limit does not exist. Which reminds me, we have to keep our visit at Maddox’s short because there’s something I need to do that is very time sensitive, and I need her with me.

“Yeah, yeah. You proved your point, now let me take this out.”

“Let me,” she whimpers. Reaching for my pants, she unbuckles the belt and draws down the zipper. I work with her, shimmying down my pants and boxers. My hardened cock bobs as it’s freed. She tilts her head, capturing the pre-cum from the tip, lapping at my piercings before tapping her hand at my thighs, motioning for me to lift my hips. Her hand wraps around to my ass, skimming my hole, teasing it before she pulls out the plug. The relief I feel from it being out is quickly overshadowed by the need I have for her to relieve the ache her little game created. I hiss as she presses another kiss to my throbbing dick. Licking my tip, she peers up at me. “Hurry up and get dressed so we can do the drop-off and get the fuck out of here. This was just a warm up. I want more when we’re done here.”

Yes, ma’am.

Fully dressed, we pile out of the car and head to Maddox’s shed, where he told me to meet him. Only a couple steps away from the entrance, my phone vibrates. It’s Maddox.

“Hold up,” I tell Raiden, reaching for my phone.

Maddox: Doors unlocked. Let yourself in.

Placing my phone back in my pocket, I go to grab Raiden’s hand when loud moans sound from inside the shed.

“Um. Does Maddox know we’re coming?” she asks. From the sounds of it, someone inside the shed is either coming or dying. Knowing Maddox, there’s a high probability of both being the case.

“Yeah, he texted me saying the door’s unlocked.”

“Okay,” Raiden drags, not sounding convinced.

We both shrug, reaching for the doorknob at the same time, and immediately upon opening, we are met with Blair’s mouth lost between what looks to be from the blue hair, Delilah, but it’s hard to tell from this distance–and I’m trying not to gawk. But thankfully both of them are so into their moment they don’t hear either of us open the door.

“Oh fuck,” I grunt, stepping back from the doorway, my mouth is quickly covered by a gloved hand.

“You ready to die motherfucker,” a robotic voice – like the one used in the escape room– spews into my ear.

I hear Raiden scoff. “Oh please, Crane. Hands off him.”

Maddox drops his hand and the button controlling the concealed voice. “Come on, I was just playing,” he laughs, immediately stepping in front of us to quietly close the door. He steps to the side, looking in through the window, admiring Blair who – from the sounds of it – is close to getting Delilah off.

“Fuck,” Maddox groans, still staring – as he tends to do – at Blair. He takes out a pocketknife from his back pocket. “She’s going to love this,” he murmurs to himself eyeing the now extended blade.

“Okay,” Raiden interjects, “clearly, we interrupted whatever you two or three have going on here, so if you would be so kind as to delay being a creep for like two whole seconds and give us the product, we’ll be on our way.”

She sounds so sarcastic and bossy…it’s fucking hot.

“Yeah, Crane, you heard my girl,” I chime in, loving the way her cheeks flush as they always do when I remind her or anyone that’s willing to listen that she’s mine.

“Fine, it’s better you two get on your ways anyway. Who knows where this night will lead us. Meaning us three,” he motions between him and the two inside the shed. “Unless you’d care to join,” he smirks, nudging his elbow at Raiden who pretends to gag in disgust.

“Yeah, sorry, Crane, that’s a no for me,” Raiden disses, moving closer to me and interlocking her arm around mine.

“Oh well,” he shrugs, walking over to the back corner of the shed. He emerges a few seconds later with the duffel bag. “Here you go, all portioned like the boss wanted.”

Raiden steps in front of me, taking the bag from Maddox. “Perfect. Let’s go,” Raiden urges, already walking away from Maddox pulling me at my arm so I can follow her.

“Later, animals!” Maddox yells at us.

“Later,” I wave, back turned to him, heading to my car with Raiden.

“Fuck, our friends are crazy,” I joke.

“That they are,” she agrees, passing the duffle to me and leading the way to the car.

I pop the trunk and toss it inside before slamming it shut.

“Why don’t we ever do that?” Raiden asks, pouting her lip and batting her eyelashes.

I pull her in close to me, kissing her neck softly, just how she likes. “Because,” I start trailing kisses up her neck, “you’re mine.”

She moans as my lips travel to her ear, slowly making the trek over to her lips. “And I’m greedy and I don’t share what’s mine.”

A playful scoff breaks through her soft humming and whimpering. “So what does that make me then? Your property?” Her playful question is a challenge.

“Yes, Raiden. Is that what you want to hear?”

Kissing me first, her tongue flicks at my lip before she answers. “Duh. You passed the test,” she laughs before settling into another kiss.

“Test?” I ask genuinely confused.

“Yes, test. I love those three psychos and the open arrangement they have. That works for them, but for me, I did my time being with someone that wasn’t you. It sucked, and now I’m yours just as much as you’re mine. I’m not sharing you with anyone.” Her declaration surges past my ears and straight to my heart.

“Good, then you’ll be especially pleased with what I have planned next for us this evening,” I grin, walking to the passenger side door to let her in.

Closing the door behind her, I quickly reach for my phone to text Carmine.

Me: We’re en route.

Moretti: Excellent. You sure you don’t need the warehouse.

Adrenaline floods me as I type.

Me: Nope, I’ve got it covered.

Moretti: Very good.

Moretti: See you at dinner Saturday =)

Moretti: News travels fast in this family. You left a good impression on Titi Rose, Demonio.

Slipping my phone back in my pocket, I remind myself of the promise I made Raiden. It’s one that I intend to keep, just so I can prove to her that she makes everything in my life better. Even if it means blood must be shed, I don’t give a damn. For her, anything is worth it.