Chapter 22

twenty-two

. . .

River

Two weeks later

" I t's okay to cry, River. You loved him. If you can't cry after his funeral, when can you?" Gigi said, her voice thick with tears as she passed me a tissue.

"I just can't believe he's gone. It happened so fast, and I didn't even get to say goodbye. I loved him so much, you know? I woke up this morning and expected him to walk through the door, and then I remembered he was gone, and it was like seeing his dead body all over again."

My lower lip trembled as the tears I'd been battling all day finally spilled down my cheeks. The funeral was over, but the hurt remained. I didn't think it would ever lessen. The hole he left in my heart would never heal.

A warm palm splayed across my lower back. Instant comfort washed over me as the familiar scent of my husband's cologne followed.

"Come here, sparrow. It's been a tough day." Turning around, I stared up at the face of one of the men I'd love for the rest of my life. Behind him stood Walker, Bishop, McCreedy, and Ransom, all wearing somber expressions.

They'd orchestrated this funeral for Gigi and me, knowing we needed to give Bear a proper sendoff. Private and secret though it may have been. As far as the government was concerned, he was a missing person. But we knew the truth. That was enough for us.

Cross pulled me into his chest, holding me close. It took everything in me not to break down into soul-wrenching sobs. I'd done more crying in the last two weeks than I had in my whole life.

As a figure dressed all in black came into view, I had the sinking suspicion my tear-filled days might not be behind me just yet. Wilson, Bishop's handler, finally graced us with his presence.

"What the fuck does he want?" Walker asked, the question posed to Bishop.

"Fuck if I know."

McCreedy let out a heavy sigh. "He's probably here to arrest the lot of us."

"What?" Gigi asked, eyes wide. "But I didn't do anything."

"Calm down, hellcat. I doubt he's here for you." Then he pulled out his phone. "But just in case, I'll get a head start on bail money."

Bishop dropped a kiss to my forehead, giving my nape a squeeze before he started toward his boss.

"Sterling," Cross called, stopping him in his tracks. "You let him come to us. We face this together."

It did something to me, that show of camaraderie. Daniel Cross Jr. didn't stick his neck out for many, but I guess when someone saves your life, loyalty is second nature. Bishop had donated his blood to Cross that day at the hospital. If it hadn't been for him, this funeral would've been for my husband, not the brother of my soul.

I threaded my fingers with Cross's and gave them a reassuring squeeze. He didn't know how much this meant to me, to see them all become a unit, a family. And not just for my benefit, but because they'd survived what was essentially a war together and genuinely cared about one another.

Cross leaned down, lips brushing my ear as he whispered, "Go to him. He needs you."

Slipping out of his hold, I reached for Sterling and offered him a sweet smile as he met me halfway, his touch a gift I knew he didn't give freely.

"It's okay," I said, my gaze not leaving his silver one. "Whatever happens, I love you."

"I love you too."

He only had a chance to give me a brief kiss before Agent Wilson was upon us.

Instead of approaching Bishop, he turned to me, holding out his hand, his eyes hidden behind mirrored sunglasses.

"Mrs. Cross, I'm sorry we have to meet under such somber circumstances."

I raised a brow, not taking his proffered hand. "Am I supposed to know who you are?"

Technically, I knew he was Sterling's FBI superior, but only because we'd discussed it once. Agent Wilson didn't know that, though, so as far as he was concerned, he was still a complete enigma to me.

"Deputy Assistant Director Wilson, ma'am. Forgive the interruption, but I'm here on official business."

Here it was. The moment he took us away. Bishop for deserting his duty, me for killing my kidnapper, Walker for the death of Tex, and Cross for... fuck, everything. I was going to lose it all.

He pulled an envelope out of his jacket, offering it to me.

"What's this?"

"Those are the official documents declaring you as Sterling Bishop's sole beneficiary."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Agent Bishop was a remarkable man."

"Was?"

I cut a glance to Bishop, who was standing beside me, his expression inscrutable.

"Yes. Isn't this his funeral? I know you two weren't legally married, but he did name you as his partner and beneficiary in his living will." He sighed heavily and refused to make eye contact with Bishop. "It was the hardest thing I've ever done."

"What was?"

"The paperwork regarding his death in the line of duty. He died a hero, Mrs. Cross. The man will be a legend at the Bureau. Volkov was a boil on the ass of humanity."

Walker spit out a laugh, "That your official take, Agent Wilson?"

Wilson grinned. "Let's just say I eagerly await his day in court. As do the families of well over a hundred victims."

"Jesus," Walker breathed.

"And what about us?" Cross asked.

"What about you, Mr. Cross? As far as I can tell, you're spotless. Not a single blemish on your record. Almost as though it was wiped clean. Your father's sins died with him."

Walker coughed before bringing a flask to his lips. "Shit."

Ransom gave Walker a droll glance. "Is the flask really necessary? You have an entire bar right fucking there. Would you like me to make you a drink?"

Walker took another long drag out of his flask. "Why would I dirty a glass? This is Langston whiskey in a flask monogrammed with the ranch's logo. I'm good."

Ransom huffed out a breath and shook his head. "Langston. Those Montana assholes sure know how to make some spirits, as much as I hate them."

I would have laughed if I wasn't so worried this was all some kind of massive joke.

"Mr. Wilson?—"

"Doug, please."

Walker snickered. "Doug. Your best friend named Skeeter, by any chance?"

I had no idea what he was talking about, and it was clear by the expression on Wilson's face this was not the first time he'd heard that joke. "Is he finished?"

"No," Walker said. "I'm a font of entertainment."

I caught his eye and shook my head. So not the time, Walker.

"So Sterling is dead, and I'm his beneficiary?"

Wilson nodded. "Exactly."

"And Cross and Walker are exonerated?"

"Seems that way."

"And after today, I never need to worry about you showing up unannounced again?"

"Precisely."

Sterling shifted next to me but didn't say a word. He knew better than to question such a gift. I supposed I should take a page out of his handbook and do the same. But after what we'd been through, I couldn't help but feel like the other shoe was going to drop. Eventually. I hated that I felt this way about my life, but it had been one thing after another, and I was convinced nothing good lasted forever.

"Best of luck to you, Mrs. Cross. Take care of yourself." He handed me a thick business card. "If you need anything, feel free to reach out."

"What about Volkov?" Cross asked, his voice a harsh rasp.

"I'm not at liberty to say."

"That's bullshit. If anybody should get to know?—"

Wilson cut off Walker's protest with a well-aimed glare. "I'd say you've received all the favors you deserve, wouldn't you? Don't press your luck, Mr. Cross."

Walker shuddered. "Mr. Cross is my grumpy ass brother, thank you very much."

"I am not grumpy."

"Well, not if you're getting laid."

My cheeks burned at the truth in Walker's words. "Thank you for coming, Agent Wilson. Drive safe. We've got it handled here. I'll call if I need anything."

Wilson gave us one last nod and turned back to leave the way he'd come. Gigi let out a soft whistle. "Is it just me, or did he give off some real big dick energy?"

McCreedy glared at her. "No. Not even a little. If you ask me, he was all hat and no cattle."

She snorted. "I didn't ask you, jackhole. I was talking to River."

His glare intensified, and suddenly I was picking up vibes of my own. Jesus, these two could start a wildfire with the sparks they were throwing off.

As soon as Wilson's car was out of sight, I turned to Sterling. "Did you know?"

"Did I know what?"

I slapped him gently on the shoulder, instantly regretting the uninitiated contact, but he didn't even flinch. "You know exactly what. I'm your beneficiary?"

"You are."

"Since when?"

"Since the gala."

I gasped. "What? Why?"

"Because the moment Volkov made me, I knew it was only a matter of time before my ticket was up. I needed to ensure you'd be taken care of, no matter what happened to me or the Cross brothers."

"Sterling . . ."

He shrugged, entirely unfazed. At least if you didn't know how to read the hunger burning in his quicksilver gaze. "I didn't know you were the one my heart was searching for, but the second I found you, there wasn't a doubt in my mind. Your name is etched on my bones, siren. Whether you were mine to keep or not, I was always yours."

Tears pricked my eyes. Sweet mother of God, would these men ever stop taking me out at the knees?

"I didn't realize the giant had it in him. I'm gonna need to up my game. I think he just out-swooned me." Walker's whisper broke through my tears, turning them into a watery chuckle.

"That's why I don't even try. I just use my dick." Cross's frank admission had me laughing as Sterling pulled me in for a kiss.

"I'm sorry, have you forgotten what I'm packing? Magic fucking cross, brother. Magic fucking cross."

"Fuck off. I don't need trinkets to get the job done. Just pure fucking skill."

"Okay, cowboy. Let's see which one of us she screams for first, shall we?"

"We are right fucking here. Jesus," Ransom said.

Gigi socked him in the arm. "Shut up. Don't ruin this for me. I am living vicariously. Although to be honest, I'm tired just thinking about satisfying three men. That's a lot of dicking, and I need my beauty sleep."

"I'm sure you could take it," Ransom teased.

She batted her long lashes at him. "Are you offering to help me test the theory, handsome? I've never had a cowboy of my own before."

McCreedy cleared his throat. "Not under my fucking roof. Come on, hellcat. Funeral's over. I've got work to do."

Gigi sighed and rolled her eyes. "Work, work, work. That's all he ever does. I can't wait until I get my own place and can start over properly."

"What?" McCreedy and I said at the same time.

"Yeah, well, if you guys would stop eye-fucking each other for two minutes, I'd finally be able to tell you. I'm staying here. I don't have anything waiting for me back in Hemlock Harbor. Bear is gone. You're here. So it makes the most sense for me to put down roots where the only family I've ever known is. That's you, River Adams."

Cross cleared his throat.

I rolled my eyes. "Technically I never changed my name."

"Easily remedied."

"Someone is feeling mighty big for his britches." I might've pushed back, but I secretly loved his domineering, jealous side.

Cross just held my stare, his gaze knowing. I hated that I was the one who folded first, but fuck, the man made me hot with nothing more than a look. He always had. And he knew it too. "I'll make an appointment for your name change this week."

Pursing my lips, I fought a grin. He didn't know I already asked McCreedy to file the paperwork. I wanted to be a Cross, but even more than that, I wanted to incorporate all my men. Since I couldn't legally marry all of them, I had to get a little creative, but once the paperwork went through, I'd be River Sterling Cross. My former FBI agent didn't love his last name because of the trauma it carried, but he did love it when I called him by his given name. Renaming myself, giving up my middle name in favor of his, was a way to keep them all with me. And, as far as the public was concerned, I would still be Mrs. Cross. I couldn't wait to hand them all copies of the judicial decree once I got it. I could already imagine the night we'd have in store for us.

Fuck, I was wet just thinking about it.

A night with all four of us together at the same time wasn't something we'd done yet. We'd toyed with the idea but never taken it that far. That didn't change the fact that it was one of my greatest fantasies.

Gigi elbowed me with a soft cackle. "I recognize that blush, woman. You're thinking about getting laid."

I sputtered. "Am not."

"Pfft. Bear would be horrified, but I'm proud of you. Get it, girl. Do you know how many books I've read where she gets herself a whole stable of hotties? God, this is like one of my favorite series, except you're not the harbinger of the apocalypse... right?"

"Uh . . . not to my knowledge."

Gigi looked at Cross, her eyes narrowed with mock suspicion. "You didn't use to be a priest, did you?"

"Uh . . . no?"

"Secretly Irish?"

"Definitely not."

"Bummer." She turned to Sterling. "Any chance you enjoy howling at the moon or long naked runs through the forest in your wolf form?"

"What?"

"Never mind. How 'bout you, Walker? Any Norse blood in those veins? You know"—she did a cheeky little jig—"Thor in the streets, Loki in the sheets?"

Walker just laughed and shook his head. "I'm too sober for this conversation."

"Speaking of sober, I think it's time to go home. You're definitely plastered," McCreedy said, taking her arm.

She rolled her eyes at Jackson before slapping his hand away and looking back to me. "I'm glad one of us is getting laid. Don't get knocked up, though. I hear it comes with consequences." Then she waggled her brows. "You know what? Fuck it. Get knocked up. Your baby might end up saving the world."

Cross joined Bishop and me, a low chuckle rumbling from deep in his chest as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to my shoulder. "Maybe she's on to something, sparrow."

"You think?"

"I did promise to put my baby in you once the danger had passed. I feel like this counts."

"Not if I get there first." Sterling gripped my waist a little tighter.

"'Scuse me, assholes. Did you forget that I've got dibs?" Walker spluttered.

Gigi opened her mouth, but McCreedy covered it with his palm before she could pipe up.

"You love scrooge!" she shouted behind his palm as he took her to the car.

I think I only understood her because of our years together. McCreedy didn't seem to catch the muffled insult. He'd have hell to pay when they got back to his house.

"You know I wasn't kidding, ladybug. I did call dibs on the baby making. Cross got to marry you and be your first. It's only fair I get to give you a baby before him."

"It's not really something you can control, Walk," I said with a laugh, my cheeks flaming, but not with embarrassment. The promise of what they were offering was more than welcome. I wanted everything with them. A family. A future. A life filled with love and laughter.

And lots and lots of orgasms.

A happy shiver worked its way through me, settling between my legs. How had I gone from so sad to so horny in a matter of minutes?

Looking from Bishop to Walker, then finally to Cross, I realized it was one hundred percent because of them. The three men who were made to love me. Forever.

Sterling pressed a hot, open-mouthed kiss to my neck. "What are you thinking about, siren?"

"Forever."

"Seems like a mighty long time," Cross said.

"Or not long enough." This came from Walker, a smile spreading his lips.

I shrugged. "I guess it depends on how you look at it."

A smile brightened Cross's face. "I suppose you might be right."

"You all heard that, yeah? Did someone make a note of the time? I think the world just ended after all. Daniel Cross Jr. just said I was right."

He growled. "Don't make me regret it."

"Oh, I plan to let you prove me right over and over."

"About what?" he asked, looking at me with surprise.

"That you belong with me. All three of you. I said it years ago. We were destined to be together. It just took us a decade and an FBI sting to make it happen."

"Technically it was a missio—" Bishop started, but Walker silenced him with a slicing motion across his neck. "Never mind."

"Whatever the reason, I'm thankful fate threw us together. It may not have been a pretty road that got us here, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a happy ending."

"I'll show you a happy ending."

"Jesus, Walker. It's a wonder you ever get your dick wet. You're a fucking child."

"Magic cross, brother. Magic cross."

"Can confirm. It's magic." I laughed, love shining through every word.

This was the life I'd been waiting for. The one filled with happiness I'd been promised in every fairy tale my mama told me. Except instead of one prince, I had three, and we rescued each other. But one thing remained constant. We'd found our very own version of a happily ever after.

The end . . . for now.