Epilogue

Nora

July 2014

There's a light, fast knock on the door. "Come in." It opens, and I'm surprised to see who is there. He steps inside and closes it.

Massimo stares at me from across the room. "You look beautiful," he says.

"Thank you," I say, looking at him from the mirror. He's as handsome as ever in his tuxedo. In fact, I think he's grown up a little more now that he's not under my father's thumb anymore.

Although, I'm not sure what happened to my father, other than he was supposedly killed by Fernando Espinosa. The men are still looking for him, but they've had no luck since he's been on the run for weeks now. We even had to push our wedding back due to the attack on Connor and the trouble that caused.

He reaches out and takes my hands in his, extending them to the sides and staring at my gown while giving my hands a gentle squeeze. "You are radiant, Nora. An absolute gem. I'm glad you allowed me to be here today. I want you to know that I had nothing to do with Father's attempt to marry you off all those years ago, and I hope you believe that."

I nod. "You know, Massimo, you were the only one I never blamed in all of this. It's not like you had much of a choice either. He wanted you to marry someone else too."

"Thanks." He pulls me in for a hug. "I missed you so much, Nora."

"Would you do me a favor?"

"Anything?"

"Walk me down the aisle." My brother's face brightens, and a smile breaks out across his handsome mug.

"I would love nothing more." He hugs me again. "When Jack threatened me that he was marrying you and there was nothing I could do to stop it, I was so fucking afraid for you, but now I see that you're so happy. It does my heart a world of good." He kisses my cheek and says, "He better be good to you because I'll go to war for you."

The music begins, and my brother extends his arm. Today is going to be perfect now.