Page 43 of Gilded Dreams

“I’m sad to lose this place and it’s not even mine. Justice will be so sorry to see it in ashes all because of me.”

“Should we tell her?”

Cops rush around us, directing the firefighters. Grant and his buddies pitch in.

“We have an early Christmas present for you.”

“Now?” My eyes widen in surprise. Could there be a worse time?

Atlas pins me against his chest. “We bought this place. Justice signed over the deed the night of our first date at The Society.”

I don’t know what to say for several seconds. When I do find my voice, I hurl myself into Atlas’ arms and they pass me around, each hugging me tight, whispered words of love and promises of forever.

“This doesn’t mean I’m marrying you, but you’re getting closer.”

I love teasing my men. Finding the joy of having their love shines a light on the darkness that tried to steal me away from them. Not only the stalker, but our parents too. Love like ours shouldn’t be extinguished all because someone else says it’s wrong. I slide my palms over Brogan’s and Atlas’.

“Let’s help these men save our home, boys.”

Epilogue

Kandy, one year later, Christmas Eve

As it turns out my mother didn’t accept me falling in love with my stepbrother and his two best friends. That’s okay. Her loss. She’ll either come around to me loving the men who stole my heart years ago or not. Joe, on the other hand, was passionately furious with us for taking so long when we broke the news last Christmas. I honestly do not know how my mom and that man have stayed married for so long, but that’s love for you. I’ll never question its power.

It’s given me a whole new take on life. I practically feel like I’ve won the lottery of life. Though it took longer than I like to think about, I finally have my happily-ever-after with my three best friends. We’ve been together for a year now and every morning I still can’t believe that I have three men who adore me and spend every second of the day finding ways to show it. From leaving me small notes to discover in the morning to cooking dinner for all of us on the weekends and a million things in between. I guess they feel they have a lot of time to make up for. But honestly, I’m just happy to have them in my life now. I see it affects Atlas the most. I see him looking at me at times and the pain in his eyes breaks my heart.

But the longer the four of us are together, the more we all heal as a family. They truly suffered years with regret on how we ended things in Texas.

In the year since the cabin burned down and my attacker was arrested, we’ve had a lot going on. I’ve moved in with the men who own a gorgeous brownstone in the city. While we share a large bed most nights, we all have our own rooms and space. Which is important for my sanity. Trust me!

And I work remotely now thanks to Justice. I was nervous about proposing the option, but the second I voiced my thoughts she made it happen. I’m truly lucky to have such a great friend.

Reconstruction on the cabin is well underway and nearing completion with a new feature Atlas insisted on—a panic room. I agreed as long as we added on a special playroom reminiscent of our beloved stay with the Gilded key Society.

I didn’t get any arguments.

As soon as it’s completed, we’ll be spending most of our time there. In the meantime, it’s been fun filling our playroom with toys and giving them a try. But don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been one screw-fest after another. Sometimes it’s two of us sharing a moment; other times it’s one-on-one in the shower. Or sometimes there’s no sex at all. Believe it or not, my big badass SEALs are huge cuddle bugs. Especially on movie nights.

On the nights I can’t sleep, I’ll find myself thinking about what-ifs. What if I never took Justice up on her Christmas gift? What if Mackay had succeeded in killing me? It’s a dangerous game that can make the pit of your stomach quiver with fear. I don’t recommend it.

And speaking of Mackay. Once the police got their hands on the douchebag, all kinds of jaw-dropping details came to light. For instance, I’m not his first. Come to find out, Mackay isn’t his real name, either. Surprise! Not really. He has five other aliases, and all are tied to similar crimes in different cities across the country. Poor women, but at least I can rest easy, and so can the men, knowing that no other woman will suffer because of him.

But tonight isn't about the past or what might have been if one thing or another had happened instead.

Tonight is about us and I send up a silent thank-you to Justice for giving us the gift of a night at The Gilded Key Society last year. I made reservations for us this time around with a plan in mind.

I walk the perimeter of the very same room we stayed in last time. My feet sink into the plush red carpet. In the middle is the bed draped in white satin this time and that chest of toys is still at the foot of the bed. The cuffs they tied me up with before are still in their place.

What’s different is the beautiful, glittery Christmas tree with its white-twinkling lights. The big day is tomorrow, and I already know what I’m getting my men for Christmas and the special presents are already hidden beneath the tree.

“Our Christmas butterfly looks stunning in white tonight.”

Unlike last time we were here, this time I’m wearing a floor-length nightgown with thin straps and my necklace. The night my stalker attacked, the bastard had yanked it off, but my men had it fixed and around my neck in less than a day. I haven’t taken it off since.

I slowly turn at the sound of Atlas’ voice, and my heart quickens at the sight of him, Ryder, and Brogan in tuxedos.

I hold a hand out for all of them to join me. This time there’s no need for signatures on papers. I’m not going anywhere, and I think they know it.

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