EPILOGUE MARIANA AND KAI

"Go and shower, Kai. I mean it. Everyone will be here soon, and I want it to be perfect."

"Everything will be fine. Relax. And I'll shower. You can even join me." He pulls me from fixing the dining table and places a kiss on my head. "That might help you relax."

"If you didn't look like you've just bathed in all the dust in San Antonio, I might. Clean your ass up. We can celebrate together later."

He strips off his T-shirt as he walks away, giving me a fine view of all of his ink as he heads upstairs. It's good that he takes time to clear his head when it all starts to build and get too much for him. Riding is where that happens best. It's his way of coping, of keeping himself balanced with everything he does for us. And it stops him from being a testosterone-fuelled jackass to me, so I'm happy, too. So far, we've kept our promise to each other, and we've found our way.

On any other day, I'd gladly follow him to the shower, but I'm more nervous than I'd like to be about hosting a family gathering. Probably because it's the first time Dante and Wren will be here. They are the guests of honour, after all. This is their celebration.

Married. It still feels strange to think of Dante like that, but if finding his happy with Wren and doing our work in New York means the bridge I burned can be salvaged, I'm one hundred percent in.

Despite everything that's happened over the last year, we've still not been together for a family celebration. They were once part of the heart of us – with Melena pulling our strings and issuing her commands – but we were happiest when we were together. Thanksgiving was nice, but with Dante missing, we weren't whole. And now, I can't help but think about Shaw and the fact he won't be here. It"s like Dante all over again. Why can't we just be a family?

Funny how I never thought Shaw would be the one to leave or push back like he did. He's never stood up for himself like that before. And the worst of it is, I never even knew what he was feeling deep down. I always felt the pain and guilt that Dante carried from when I was taken. And that shaped so much of my life. Shaw was just – Shaw. I didn't see his pain, and that doesn't sit well. He's my twin, and I should have known, should"ve felt it. I should have looked for his pain besides my own.

I reach for the line of tequila bottles in the kitchen and break the seal to pour myself a shot. "Here's to you, Brother." It's smooth, so much better than the crappy swill we had to toast with before. Well, not in my house. Traditions may stay, but I want to put my own mark on things. "We'll drink together again. Put things right." I take a second shot for Shaw.

~

Half an hour later, Kai comes down, looking sharp in a fitted shirt and smart jeans. "We ready?" he asks. I smile at him and wrap my arms around his neck, breathing him in to seek some comfort.

"Yep. Food is sorted. You could check the drinks for the toast. Champagne is chilling in the other room. Take the tequila through?"

"You got this, Mer," he reassures me, running his hands down my arms.

"I know. It's just… Dante and I haven't had much contact since-"

"He'll be fine. He knows how sorry you are. Knows that you want to make things right. Besides, there's enough going on right now, and he seems okay in New York. Wren's with him. It's all good." He takes a couple of bottles but looks at the already opened one before raising his brows at me.

"I needed it, shut up." I grab the bottles from his hand and take them through myself, stacking them on the sideboard next to the dining table.

It's all set, brimming with all our favourites. The smell of spice and meat is nostalgic, bringing back memories of when we were all together – Melena included. I snatch the open bottle of tequila and take another shot, banishing that thought of her.

The chime of the door brings me back to today and the task of hosting our first proper family celebration since then.

"I'll get it," Kai calls, and it gives me a second to check everything for a final time.

Knox comes through to the main room carrying baby Cade.

"Hey, and look who's with you. Come to Auntie Mariana," I greet, pulling the baby straight from Knox. An immediate rush lifts my soul by the cuteness that is a baby Knox. But he starts to fuss, and I tense with him in my arms.

"What did I do?" I look to Knox and Peyton, waiting for a reason why he's scrunched up his little face and is now thrashing in my arms.

"Here, he's not great with people he's not familiar with." Peyton steps forward and takes him back, and he instantly settles in her arms. She looks at Knox, stepping closer towards him. She's not been around the family very much, so her nerves are justified. The curse of falling for one of us is that there's no escaping our family.

Kai grabs drinks as I go and get the door, welcoming Abel and Lexi.

"Come in, come in." I beckon them in and take the bottle Lexi hands over to me. We're all hugs and smiles together, and we go through to join Knox, Peyton and Cade.

Abel takes a look around as if he's assessing the house for something, but his steps and mood seem dour.

"Everything okay?" I ask him. He gives me a cold stare, clearly not impressed. "Come on, Abel, this is meant to be a celebration," I joke at him, but my own feelings falter with his mood. Maybe he's mourning Shaw?

The door rings for the final time, and everyone looks around as if we all know how important this next step is.

"I'll go," Kai offers. We lock eyes, and I smile and mouth a thank you to him.

The room is quiet, apart from the coos from Cade. There isn't the usual easy banter between us, but I hope that will come.

We all turn towards the door as Dante walks in.

"I thought this was meant to be a fucking celebration," Dante announces, as he looks around at us all.

Wren is by his side and smiles, nudging Dante.

"No point in starting without you," Knox jests.

Introductions start, Kai offers drinks, and soon, there's talk and chatter. My heart swells as I stand back and take it in, feeling comforted by my family all under one roof again – nearly all my family.

"Okay, okay. Time to eat, or the food will be cold." I usher everyone through to the dining room and watch them take their seats.

Dante puts his hand on my shoulder, and I turn to look up at him. "Nice place, Bella."

"Thank you. And thank you for coming. I've missed you."

"Yeah, guess I've missed you, too." He walks past me and joins Wren at the table. The relief of his words and that he's here hits me and emotion has me blinking my eyes to stem the tears. There will be work to get us back to where we were, but this is the start I was desperately in need of.

I take a moment before sitting next to Abel, who's at the head of the table. There's still a space missing, but I can't do anything about him right now. It doesn't mean I don't wish he was here, though. He might have been an ass and a pain, but he was part of this family, my brother, and we need him with us.

"Eat!" I announce.

Everyone starts to load their plates and hand dishes around. The chatter and banter begin slowly, but it builds, and it's great to hear. I glance over at Abel, but the scowl etched onto his forehead doesn't lessen. I look to Lexi, and she just shakes her head. At least she's noticed it, too.

As more food is consumed, I signal to Kai to help with the drinks, and he starts with the champagne.

"Okay, okay. I'd like to make a toast." I stand, grab the tequila from the sideboard and pour everyone a shot. "Here's to who we are. Tequilla for our past. Champagne for our future."

"Cheers!" Everyone echoes.

Peyton doesn't drink the shot. I give her a pass, but only because of baby Cade.

"What the hell was that?" Knox asks after looking at his shot glass.

"It's supposed to be cheap tequila, Bella. That shit ain't cheap," Dante snipes. He picks up the bottle and looks at it, refilling anyway.

"Well, when you're hosting, you can supply the booze and serve us some cheap ass swill."

"No, we aren't doing anything that tastes like the last shot I did with your family, Dante," Wren defends. "This is just fine, Mariana, thank you."

I look over to my brother and tip my champagne flute in his direction. "To Dante and Wren."

"To Dante and Wren," the table repeats.

"And to family." Abel stands. "Old, new, and never forgotten." He looks at each of us around the table, making sure we all feel his words.

Knox follows, standing and holding out his glass. "To family."

We all repeat.

Because no matter what we've been through, and no matter how hard it might be, that's what we are. Through and through – for better or worse – we are family.