“I told you that, if you came here with me for a week, the slate would be wiped clean.”
“I know, but I didn’t expect us to be staying in separate rooms when you said it.”
“Did you really expect me to cheat on Lily?” Shade asked with a raised brow.
“No, but I thought…”
“That it would be Train here when you arrived?”
Killyama remained silent, taking another sip of her drink.
“For what it’s worth, Train wasn’t happy when I called in all his IOUs. He’s going to be even madder when I tell him about that swimsuit you have on. He’ll probably never play poker with me again, and he’s my second best mark.”
Killyama grinned evilly. “I’ll let you take a picture to give the fucker something to think about. So, The Last Riders all know we’re here this week? How did you explain that to Lily?”
Screams and yells filled the air as people ran to the lounge chair where Brooke was hunched over, her body twisting and turning in excruciating pain.
Shade watched in pure fucking pleasure as she died.
“I told her I needed to set up a trial study for Rachel’s plant.”
Epilogue 1
Four Years Later
“I told you so,” Shade said, coming up behind her to place his arms around her protruding belly.
“What about this time?” Lily said softly.
“That Evie would have her baby first.”
“You bet against your own child?”
Shade shrugged. “King did, too.”
Evie shook her head at the two men as she settled on the couch. Lily handed her baby Sophia, who was sound asleep.
“John, don’t you dare eat that. It’s almost dinner time. Go tell Aunt Beth and Uncle Razer dinner’s ready.” Lily took the cupcake away, watching as John put on his coat before he ran out the front door. Then she pulled the wrapper off and took a bite of the pink cupcake.
“I’m telling,” Shade said, taking the cupcake away just to place the last bite in his mouth.
Evie and King shook their heads at the couple.
“You two shouldn’t fight on your anniversary.” Evie handed the baby to King.
Evie wasn’t the only one to blink back the tears at the expression on King’s face in that moment.
Shade handed his wife a napkin when she asked, “Can you take the turkey out of the oven for me?”
He went to the oven, pulling the gigantic bird out. “Couldn’t you find a bigger one?”
“That was the biggest.” Lily set the platter on the counter for him to transfer the turkey to before she went to place the sides on the table.
Shade watched to make sure she didn’t try to lift anything too heavy.
John ran back in, holding the door for Beth and Razer and their children. He was glad he had listened to Lily’s suggestion when she had asked for a bigger dining room when he had rebuilt their home.
Shade relaxed during dinner. They had decided to have a family dinner before Lily and the others went to church. The following day, they would share Christmas dinner at the clubhouse.
Shade stayed home alone when everyone else went to church, using the opportunity to put together a few of the toys Lily had bought for John. He had barely managed to do half before they were back.
As Lily finished cleaning the kitchen, Shade took John upstairs for his bath where he shaved while his son played.
“Daddy?”
“Hmm?”
“Mommy said you married her on Christmas Eve.”
“That’s right.”
“I’m going to marry her on Christmas Eve when I grow up.”
Shade laughed, splashing water on his face then drying off with a towel. Picking another one up, he dried off his son before helping him dress in his pajamas.
“You can’t marry your mother when you grow up,” Shade said as they went into John’s bedroom.
“I can, too!”
Shade pulled the covers down, giving his son a stern glance.
John’s bottom lip trembled as he climbed into bed. “Why can’t I marry her?”
“Because she’s already taken. You have to catch your own.”
“How do I do that? Do I sneak up behind them and grab them?”
“No, that might get you arrested by Uncle Knox, so don’t do that. You have to be sneaky. You have to make them like you first, a whole lot. Then, when they think you’re the most special thing on Earth, like Daddy did to Mommy, you tell her your secret.”
“I do?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the secret?”
“That you love her and think she’s the most special thing on Earth, too.”
“I can do that.”
“I know you can.” Shade ruffled his hair before bending down to place a kiss on his son’s cheek.
“Night, son.”
“Good night, Daddy.”
Shade turned to the door, seeing Lily standing in the doorway. She gave him her smile as she passed by him to kiss John and tuck him in bed.
Shade waited for her in the hallway, closing the door behind her when she came out.
“Happy anniversary, Shade.”
“Happy anniversary, Lily.”