Page 69 of Vengeful Sins

“A party for me?” It’s almost too much to believe, but her ecstatic smile and the presence of Briggs and Carter tells me it’s true. Even Tucker’s parents are waiting, both of them holding glasses of what looks like champagne.

“You deserve all of this and more,” Tucker murmurs in my ear while I fight back happy tears. Finally, I feel. Finally, I’m connected. I’m not afraid to show them how happy this makes me.

“Come on, let’s go to the kitchen,” Mrs. Kingsley invites, waiting for us to approach before giving me a hug that almost fills the hole that’s been in my heart ever since I lost Mom. “Happy belated birthday, sweetie.”

“Thank you so much. This is… I’m overwhelmed.”

“Think nothing of it,” Mr. Kingsley insists. I’m not used to seeing him dressed casually, the way he is on his day off, sipping champagne before offering a brief half-hug. “You deserve to be celebrated. Though if Tucker had had his way, he would have rented out an entire theme park for you, or at least a hotel ballroom.”

“What can I say? I enjoy grand gestures.” Tucker pulls me close for a second to whisper in my ear. “I didn’t know that about myself until I met you.”

I know what he means, because there is a lot about myself I wasn’t aware of until I met him. He has opened my eyes to a whole new life. When I’m with him, I can honestly believe there’s a chance to be happy—but more importantly, I’m starting to believe I deserve it. I’m not broken or evil. There’s nothing wrong with me. And with him beside me, I can grow and thrive in ways I never thought possible. I deserve it.

I even deserve the beautiful cake waiting in the kitchen, pink and white and already set with candles. There are balloons and streamers and even silly party hats which Wren makes me wear before putting on her own. “I need to get a picture of this,” Carter mutters, pulling out his phone. Wren rolls her eyes, but I can’t bring myself to do it. There have been much worse pictures of me circulated. Let everybody see how happy I am and how much people love me. I’ve gone so long without it.

Tucker’s mom lights the candles, and I step up in front of the cake wearing my silly hat and an even sillier smile. A real smile, the kind that comes straight from my heart. No more hiding, no faking it. I don’t need to do that anymore.

With Tucker by my side, and Wren standing on the other, everybody launches into Happy Birthday. I finally feel like there is a reason to celebrate. This couldn’t be more different than my actual birthday and all the terrible things that happened afterward, but that’s in the past now. This is my new beginning, my fresh start, and I’m not going to take it for granted. Not for a single second.

“Make a wish!” Wren urges while Tucker plants a gentle kiss on my cheek.

That’s the thing. I already have everything I ever dreamed of and can’t imagine wanting more. So that’s what I wish for, closing my eyes, taking a deep breath.More of this.And when I blow out the candles, hitting every one on the first breath, I already can’t wait to find out what’s coming next.

Because for once, there’s something to look forward to after so many years of running away from the past.

EPILOGUE

MAYA

Three Months Later

“Inever knew I like surprises so much.” Even if this one involves sitting in the passenger seat with a blindfold over my eyes. Considering we’ve only ever used blindfolds while I was tied up, it’s different.

“I never knew I liked delivering them so much,” Tucker admits with an almost carefree laugh. I think that’s the most surprising difference about him, four months after we’ve started living together. How carefree he is now. That layer of anger and hardness that was always around him is gone now, replaced by someone a little softer, kinder, sweeter. At least, when he’s with me—it’s not like he’s changed his entire personality, and he won’t let anybody get away with walking over either of us. He’s always going to be my protector.

He’s always going to be mine. I’m never letting him go.

“Just a little longer,” he tells me, while I try to figure out where we are. We’ve only been in the car maybe ten minutes,if that, having made a series of left and right turns. I’m totally disoriented now, at a loss. But I trust him.

That doesn’t mean my heart slows down any once we come to a stop, and he cuts the engine. No, I’m more excited than ever, bouncing a little in my seat and wiggling my nose in case it will help move the blindfold so I can see.

“Stay still,” he orders, then gets out of the truck while I wait impatiently. He’s only walking around to my side so he can open the door and help me out.

“When am I going to be able to see?” It’s unnerving having him lead me like this, regardless of whether I trust him. I stumble, but he’s there to catch me before I can fall.

“Okay. I’ll take pity on you.” He brings me to a stop, and I’m tingling with anticipation while he steps up behind me. His breath stirs my hair as he murmurs, “One… two… three.”

Suddenly, the blindfold is gone. I blink hard against the sudden light flooding my vision, squinting. Finally, what’s in front of me comes into focus—not that I understand what I’m looking at. “A house? Whose house?” I ask, taking in the white siding and black shutters, the neatly trimmed hedges, the bright yellow front door that looks so cheerful and welcoming. It’s a decent size, not exactly enormous, but comfortable. At least, on the outside.

Slowly, Tucker’s arms wrap around me from behind before he pulls me close against his chest to whisper in my ear. “What if I told you it’s our house?”

It doesn’t make sense at first, and I have to laugh, twisting my head around to roll my eyes at him. “Okay, funny. For real. Whose house is it?”

His playful expression doesn’t change. “What if it’s ours? Can you see yourself living here?”

“You’re insane!”

“I’m an insane homeowner,” he points out with a grin. “Because this is our house. I bought it for us—unless you would rather continue living with my parents for the rest of our lives. I thought it might be nice to have a little privacy.”

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