33. Epilogue

Spring :

As the sounds of construction echoed in the valley, Dante stood watching the walls of their new home being raised, Blaine beside him happily bouncing. "It's really happening! I didn't think we'd ever get here."

"Neither did I, love."

"Dante, you always said you were sure this day would come."

Dante nodded slowly and whispered, "I did, but…I worried it wouldn't without telling anyone, even myself. Seeing this…we have walls at last, well, I'm thrilled, BB."

He was kissed on the cheek as Ming slowly made it up the three stairs to the trailer and found her bed quickly. "Ming's getting tired of all this fresh air."

"She'll be happiest of all when we have the house built. She needs her space."

Dante laughed at that. "Did she tell you that?"

"She doesn't have to. We're connected."

"Right. I forgot."

The man was alive with happiness and Dante watching him smile as he watched their dreams coming true. The excitement he felt was palpable, and Dante wouldn't dim that for the world.

Even after Dominic Velker turned up dead like his son, in some car accident, and more eyes were on them, his family, he couldn't let Blaine know. The resort was going to happen, and he was determined to get it there.

Marius called him from Denver where he and his two men were vacationing and frequenting the leather bar, Chaps. Dante excused himself to head back into the trailer, closing the door so Blaine wouldn't overhear. "Yes, Marius, what have you found?"

"Boss, there's been a spotting of Alex Brooks here in Denver. I didn"t let Dallas and Ruben know. I don't want to freak them out. As far as they know, he's far away, evading the feds."

He had been far away, but he wasn't any longer. Two states away and he could be in Montana in a day. "Are you coming home?"

"I'm sending Dallas and Ruben ahead and I'll come with Dex. I'm going to follow a couple leads on him. Is Daily still under surveillance?"

"He is, yes, Marius. Of course. He's behaved since Velker's death. I think he realizes he's under suspicion, not to mention he's shmoozing the widow of the son. He's been seen with her a few times in town."

"Could she be in on it too? How far is this going?"

"I'm speaking with the senator tomorrow. He's coming to meet some of his constituents. Meaning those that pad his pockets. I'll hopefully get more information then."

"Good luck, and make sure my men are watched over when they get back."

"I will, Mar. Take care and give my love to your men, Dex and his man."

"I will."

Dante went back outside to stand with Blaine and look out on their new home. Long windows were planned, and the siding was a light-colored pine that would blend with the surroundings.

More than anything, they wanted the entire resort to blend in with the forest that would surround it. To be a part of it and not in opposition. They had so many dreams, but there was still a threat looming that didn't want to go away. Brooks, Daily, they would continue to be problems until Dante grew tired of it and ended it. The problem was, they'd be the first suspects if either disappeared or were found dead.

So, they waited, biding time until they could reasonably kill the mother fucker and not be the first suspects. They'd gathered people from all over the county to vote in Vic, but Vic was still worried. She was a woman, and a beloved woman around the county. A woman in a place of power there, in a place that clung to old ways and old sentiments.

Still, they were in it for the long haul, and Dante wouldn't let anyone kill the dream for him or his beloved husband.

It was a trial, but anything in life worth having was a trial. The car pulled up and presented him with an even bigger trial.

The young man stepped out of the back of the SUV, wearing a suit that he'd soon learn, like his uncle had to, that the place called for jeans and flannel or T-shirts. But, damn, he looked good.

"Selestino, my lovely nephew," Dante called to the handsome man walking to the trailer.

"Uncle D," he said as he ascended the steps to kiss his uncle's cheeks. "This place is more beautiful than the pictures Uncle Blaine's been sending."

"I wish he hadn't. There are still dangers here. If anything happened to you, it would kill me."

He was the picture of his father, Antonio, with lighter hair, like his mother, the beautiful Scandinavian beauty, Selena. So handsome, sweet and smarter than he had the right to be, being only twenty-two years old.

"Then you'd better get some big man to protect me."

Selestino had come out to the family when he was only twelve, announcing he was ready to start dating boys, only boys, and if no one liked it, that was too bad. He was already in all the wills.

"Selestino, you are not coming here and falling for some damn cowboy or…or worse, one of our men!"

Blaine hushed him with a kiss. "Leave him be, Dante. I have a feeling that here, in this magical place, he'll find the love of his life and maybe, he won't be so anxious to join the family business."

Selestino's dark eyes sparkled. "Yeah, that's not happening. I plan on being a Don in a year."

As Blaine and Dante both groaned, Selestino walked to the dogs to greet them all.

"BB, he's going to make me gray."

"Then buy some more dye."

Dante glared at his husband. "I do not dye my hair."

"No, your stylist does it for you." Blaine nodded to Selestino. "He's going to be fine, Dante. We'll make sure of it. And Antonio and Selena are counting on us."

Reserved that his treasured nephew would be close, he was afraid, yes, but also happy. "I guess it's just another reason to get everything right. For him. Maybe he'll be happy to take over this place instead of the family business."

"I think you could talk him into it. Maybe…maybe one of the men around here can help."

Dante leaned on the thin wood railing and sighed, "Blaine, you're a hopeless romantic."

"I learned it from this romantic man I married."

As Selestino played with Buster and Jasmine, once Ming got too tired and came to rest on the porch in the warmth of the sunshine, they saw the little boy they'd both loved. Yes, he was grown, had gone to college, had relationships with several boys through his schooling, but for them, he was still that kid that was too grown up at seven to play with his younger siblings.

"He already feels like part of the place, doesn't he?"

Dante nodded. "He certainly does, but so did we, five minutes after we got here. I think…I think we're going to find happiness here, Blaine."

"Going to? I already have."