Epilogue

Jordan

Six months later…

A fter months of bouncing back and forth from Las Vegas to Rockland while waiting for Dante to build a house with a security team who meet his approval, we finally all ended up back in the nearby casino chapel where it all started—in the Tuscana wedding chapel at Caesar's Palace's.

Or at least that's where I thought it all started.

Standing before the small gathering of Maddie's family and my own, including most of the Savage Kings, in a black tux, waiting for her to walk down the aisle in her beautiful dress, I whisper to a practically pouting Eli, "How are you feeling?"

"Perfectly fine. It's not my fucking wedding." The bitterness is seeping off of him in violent waves I can practically see and feel.

I bite my lip to keep from smiling, and even reach for his hand, lacing our fingers together. He sighs a little as if having me touch him is some small consolation.

Eli still hasn't quite learned how to communicate honestly in the relationship with me and Maddie. It's like pulling teeth to get him to admit how he feels, but we'll always be patient with him.

Unlike me and Maddie, Eli didn't grow up with a loving parent to trust or lean on. It will take time for him to fully accept the fact that Maddie and I are his family now, that we love him unconditionally, and there's nothing he can do to push us away, especially by being honest with us.

The upbeat love song being played on the piano ends and the traditional wedding march begins to play. That's when I wink at the officiant who smiles at me nervously, as if he's worried Dante will kill him if he fumbles even a single word.

At the back of the chapel, the double wooden doors are pulled open to reveal our girl. Maddie is stunning in her long, pale blue satin dress that looks like it was poured on her. Next to her, Dante seems resigned to the fact that his daughter is gorgeous and will draw every eye in every room.

The woman practically glows.

Her long brown hair is left down and flowing down her shoulders, over her tempting cleavage, hiding any lingering marks on her neck that she seems to enjoy as much as Eli.

"Goddamn," the man himself finally murmurs from beside me, as if it took him that long to remember how to speak words.

"Right? What the hell did we ever do to deserve her?"

He doesn't answer me. And I know it's because he doesn't think he deserves her or her love.

Maddie makes her way down the aisle where Dante leans in to kiss her cheek before taking the seat in the front pew next to Vanessa.

His black suit jacket peels back, showing us the gun in his shoulder holster. Lifting an eyebrow at me and Eli, he warns us not so subtly that we better not hurt her.

Maddie takes her place across from me at the altar and smiles from ear to ear.

"You're sure about this?" I ask her when I take her hand in my free one. She doesn't hesitate before nodding.

"I love you," she mouths.

"I love you too," I say aloud. Then, I kiss her knuckles before releasing her hand. Squeezing Eli's fingers tighter, I turn toward him, and go down on one knee. "Surprise!"

"The fuck?" he stammers. Jaw gaping, he looks from me to Maddie, to the officiant, and even to Dante before he comes back to me.

"Maddie and I may have made the wedding plans together, but it was all for you. I know that you still have doubts about the three of us even months later, wondering where you fit into the picture of our future. You wonder if I'll ever fully accept you into my life publicly because I've struggled to accept myself for so long. Maddie and I will never hide our love for you, and to prove it, I'm asking you, Eli, will you marry me today, here in front of our friends and families?"

Maddie and I started talking about this plan weeks ago. We both grew up knowing we were loved by overprotective parents. Eli didn't. He deserves a ring, a marriage certificate to serve as a reminder whenever he doubts our love for him.

Maddie was just thrilled that I was willing to legally marry another man, knowing my father will never approve.

But I'm not doing this for him. I'm doing it for myself, because I'm happy and whole for the first time in my life.

Rather than respond with words, Eli releases my hand to yank me up to my feet, bear hugging me like I weigh nothing. Once he's nearly choked the life from me, he lets me go and steps around me to do the same to Maddie who squeals before whispering in his ear, "I love you too."

"Is that a yes, Eli?" I ask him.

"Hell, yes!" he replies as he lowers Maddie's feet back to the ground.

Snatching up my hand again, our gorgeous vengeful god turns us to both face the officiant, then not so subtly threatens him.

"Can you hurry this along? If Jordan has time to change his mind and marry Maddie, I'll string your holy ass up in the basement and make you pray to me."

The End