Page 111 of Reckless Promises

My mom’s dark hair is down, and the streaks of gray are more prominent than the last time I saw her. She glances from Cillian to me, and I can tell she’s nervous around him. After spending years with my father, she doesn’t know how to act without his direction.

“Mom, you know Cillian.”

She nods, once more scanning him over.

Stepping out of his grasp, I walk over to her, stopping where she’s still standing in the doorway.

“Are you okay, Mom?”

Her eyes pinch as she stares at me. Gen told me over the phone that Mom’s been in shock ever since they arrested Dad, but to see it in person stings deeper than I anticipated.

“I’m…” She shakes her head, snapping her attention back into focus. “I’ll be fine.”

I have no doubt about that, even if I know it’s a long road ahead for her. She might not have liked how my father treated her, but they’ve been married for twenty-three years, so it’s what she’s known up to this point.

“I know you will.” I reach out and take her hand. “Just know Cillian and I are here for you.”

Once more she glances at him, and I wonder if she’s seeing him as an ally or the enemy. Either way, once she gets to know him, I hope she’ll understand all he’s done.

The Bardots, the Rocheforts, and the Morenos no longer pose a threat. And even if there’s always someone on the horizon trying to dismantle empires, I trust Cillian to protect us.

After a long moment, Mom’s eyes once more connect with mine, and a bit of the edge has faded away.

“So it’s true then, what Gen said?” Mom squeezes my hand. “I’m going to be a grandma.”

Something about that word hits me dead center. It floods me with an emotion I’m not familiar with. Joy, pride. The look in my mom’s eyes is unlike anything I’ve seen from her. She’s genuinely happy for me.

“You are.”

A smile so big and genuine crosses my mom’s face that tears stream down mine. After everything that happened, I didn’t think she’d be here to share in this with me. And that only makes me realize how much I need her.

“Congratulations, sweetie.”

I pull her in for a hug, and it takes her a moment to reciprocate. But she does.

She wraps her arms around me, and I cry until I’ve soaked her shoulder. Big, happy sobs burst out of me because my family is back. We’re whole. And for the first time in my life, I actually believe we’re free.

Epilogue

Odette

I never wake upbefore Cillian, so when I open my eyes to find him sleeping beside me, stretched out like a shirtless god, I can’t help but smile.

The past few weeks have been exhausting, but he’s finally resting as he comes down from all of it.

I plant my hand on my stomach, and even if I’m not yet showing, I feel our baby in there. Life blooming the way our love did. Unexpected but somehow perfect for us.

Rolling onto my side, I watch the slow rise and fall of Cillian’s chest. I trace the scar where his appendix was removed and appreciate how the morning light streaming through the windows draws out every hard inch of his muscles.

At this rate, with him looking like this, I’m going to need some form of birth control, or we’ll be raising an army.

“You think I don’t feel you watching me?” Cillian smiles, but he doesn’t open his eyes.

He rakes his hands into his messy dark hair as he stretches.

“I’m sure you do.” I can’t help but laugh, peeling the sheet down to his hips and climbing on top of him.

I seat myself directly over his rock-hard dick, wearing nothing.

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