Page 171 of Cruelest Contract
Matthias waits for him at the car, even courteously opens the door so he can hobble inside. The two of them wave before they drive off.
“Did you see that?” Tye points at the sky. “Hell of a shooting star.”
No, I didn’t see it. I’ll probably never be able to scan the night sky again without feeling a pang of sadness after so many years of searching for the Gemini constellation and thinking of Gabriel.
But maybe not. Perhaps I can learn to see the beauty in a moonless sky without a surge of pain. Remembering the good things doesn’t need to automatically summon the bad.
Like I told Julian, we’re surrounded by memories.
But we’re also home. There are so many more memories waiting to be made.
“Come on.” I tug at Julian’s hand and allow him to help me down the slippery porch steps so we can join his brothers in the yard.
Julian isn’t wearing a jacket so I unzip mine before wrapping my arms around him to share my body warmth. There are endless challenges ahead and Julian is the head of the family now. He’s promised that whatever waits beyond the horizon, we’ll confront it together.
I believe him. Julian always keeps his promises.
He slips his arms under the jacket and pulls me against his body. Stretching up on my tiptoes, I angle my face in search of a kiss. He delivers one and holds nothing back. My eyes close and my body throbs with the need to feel more of him.
I can hear his brothers exclaiming over another shooting star, excited as schoolboys.
“You guys weren’t looking,” Tye complains. “You missed it.”
“No, we didn’t,” I argue and Julian smiles down at me.
How could I possibly have missed out on anything?
I was kissing my husband.
EPILOGUE
JULIAN
The Following Spring…
Nothing stops the passage of seasons. They circle around as inevitably as the sky keeps watch above our heads.
Every spring carries the scent of new life and this one is no different. There’s not an acre of the ranch that isn’t touched. A vivid carpet of grass already covers the graves of my parents.
They rest side by side now. Cassio and Teresa. Together in death long after they were brutally separated in life.
The stone angel is no longer alone. Her dark prince has come home to her.
Fort and I have already left our carefully selected wildflowers, spoken our silent words of mourning and returned to our mounts. We don’t speak when Getty lingers for longer. Our brother is entitled to take as much time as he wants. We’ll never judge.
Beneath my saddle, Omerta remains impressively still. I’ve spent my life around animals and I know they understand morethan we assume. It’s not unthinkable that my father’s horse understands this is sacred ground.
The two of us have become good friends in recent months. I gently pat Omerta’s neck as a thanks for his patience.
In time, Getty withdraws and returns to his waiting horse. He gives us a solemn nod and we leave our parents to their peaceful rest for now. But only for now. We’ll be back.
Perhaps next time I’ll bring my sons. It’s never too early for them to learn their history. Today they are ten weeks old. They don’t know it, but this is also their mother’s birthday.
Within a minute we’re within view of the house. The ranch is full of activity today. Miguel and the cowboys are overseeing the arrival of two hundred head of cattle. Construction sounds echo from the site where the new clubhouse and sheds are being built.
On the business front, Sonny and his boys are due back by evening. Long before our most loyal Capo took a bullet for this family, he proved his worth and his promotion is very deserved. I’ve entrusted him to convey messages in person when the need arises.
If anyone has a problem with this, they learn to quit having a problem with one phone call from me. And they get put on notice to expect a visit from my brothers if they don’t back down.
