Page 93 of Beautiful Vengeance

Kiyomi nodded, aching for them. They’d been through so much these past few days, probably more than any of them. Their own aunt had been behind everything, even killing her own sister and brother-in-law to get control of the girls. “And then?”

Amber and Megan looked first at Ty and Jesse, then each other. “I’m going to do some freelancing,” Amber said. “Specializing in hunting down human traffickers.”

Kiyomi chuckled. “Perfect. Megan?”

“Ohhh, I’ve got big plans. Like starting a horseback archery program for veterans. I think it would be great therapy for a lot of people. But wherever Ty and I wind up, I don’t want it to be far from this one.” She nudged her sister with her hip, earning a little smile from Amber.

“Eden?” Kiyomi asked.

“I’d like to write a book about poisonous plants and their uses—non-lethal uses,” she clarified with a little grin. “And maybe do some botanical research of my own. Maybe find a cure for something.”

“Cool. Chloe? Though I’m kind of afraid to know the answer.”

Chloe snickered. “Well. There’s no way I can just ‘retire’ quietly.”

“None,” Heath agreed with a sigh.

“I’d miss the action too much,” Chloe continued. “Think I’ll hang out a shingle, do some freelancing as a demolitions expert.” Her eyes gleamed as she shrugged. “Could be fun.”

“Sofun,” Heath deadpanned, and the others laughed.

“I’m just glad she’ll have an expert combat medic with her,” Kiyomi teased.

“And you?” Trinity asked, drawing Kiyomi’s attention. “What do you want to do?”

Kiyomi glanced over at Marcus, who was now talking with Ty, Matt and Rycroft down the bar. Rycroft was on his third beer already. Looked like he’d be catching a later flight home. “I’m toying with the idea of setting up some kind of foundation for orphaned girls. To protect them from exploitation in a way we weren’t.”

“Totally fitting,” Trinity said.

“But before I direct any energy into that, I think I’d like to go on a short holiday,” Kiyomi added. An actual holiday, something she’d never been able to have before.

“Yeah? Where?” Megan asked.

“Japan. I want to meet my relatives there.”

“Does Marcus know?” Amber asked.

Kiyomi leaned across the bar and called down it. “Marcus.” He looked up at her, raised his eyebrows. He was so damn hot. And all hers. “Will you take me to Japan to meet my relatives?”

He looked surprised for a moment, then his face softened in a tender smile that turned her inside out. “I’ll take you bloody anywhere you want to go, love.”

“Awwww,” Megan said, putting a hand to her heart as she gave Kiyomi a meaningful look. She knew Marcus better than anyone. “Kiyomi…”

Kiyomi smiled. “I know.” He loved her. It seemed like a miracle. “And before you say it, yes, I’ll take good care of him. And Karas and Rollo.”

Megan smiled and raised her beer glass. “Thank you.”

Kiyomi glanced at the others, and a sudden sense of bittersweet sadness crept in as the end of the evening loomed before them. Once they walked out of this pub, everyone was going their separate ways.

They’d all gone so long without each other during their time as operatives, Kiyomi couldn’t bear to be separated from her sisters for good. Not after everything they’d been through, and what they meant to each other.

“Promise me,” she said, looking from one sister to another, a hard lump forming in her throat. She was excited about her future with Marcus, but she would miss these women immensely. “No matter what happens after this, we all stay in touch. And if we ever need each other, we’ll always be there to have each other’s backs.”

“Absolutely,” Chloe said as the others nodded in agreement, and reached out to squeeze Kiyomi’s hand. “Loyal Unto Death, Bitchilantes ride or die.Forever.”

“Forever,” they all chorused together, and sealed the vow with another group hug.

Kiyomi closed her eyes and breathed it all in.

---