Page 347 of Conquered
He’s my fucking dad.
He catches me with a gruff sob, returning my embrace tenfold, and we just cling to each other for what feels like forever. There are so many years we’ve missed out on, so many hugs to catch up on.
“H–how?” I ask, pulling back to look at him, then around at the rest of them. “How did you find out?”
“Ryan, Principessa,” Enzo says, stepping closer. “I thought that I recognised your last name, the one that I gave to your mamma, and so I asked Ryan what her name was.” He wraps his massive arms around Tom and I, Rosa coming to do the same, all of us weeping happy tears as we cling to each other.
Violet gives a cry, and I disentangle myself to rush over and take her from Kai with a quick kiss to his cheek. I walk over to the little group, my dad, uncle, and aunt.
“Violet, meet your grandpa, and great-uncle Enzo, and great-aunt Rosa,” I tell her, giving her a kiss, then holding her out for Tom.
Eyes wide and glistening, he takes her from me, immediately starting to rock her in his arms and kissing her soft head. She quietens in his embrace, and my cheeks hurt with how wide my smile is as I watch Enzo and Rosa reach out and stroke her on opposite sides of her face, both taking turns to kiss her lightly on top of her head.
Large arms wrap around me, lemon filling my nostrils as I lean into Jax’s body behind me.
“Happy?” he asks, his voice low and gruff as usual.
“So fucking happy,” I reply, hugging his forearms to me.
We stand like that for a moment, soaking in each other's embrace, and as I look at my daughter, father, aunt, and uncle, then around at my Knights, I feel like I’m about to burst with sheer happiness. My family is finally all together. Both my biological and chosen family.
We're all together now, and my heart has never felt so full.
EPILOGUE
EIGHT MONTHS LATER
LILLY
Asense of déjà vu hits me as I glide my hands down the silk of my dress, only this time, instead of a white dress with an ombre that reflects the sunset at my hem, my whole dress is a rainbow. It’s in a Grecian style, gathered at my shoulders and waist, flowing in soft silk to pool on the ground. A golden, jewelled belt glints around my waist, a gift from the guys, and I’m praying that it’s not real gold or stones, but knowing them it just might be.
And the best bit? It starts as a lilac strip on my right side, moving through pastel rainbow colours all the way round, and when I twirl, I feel like I’m the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. The gold sequin heels probably help with that too.
“You look so beautiful,” Willow tells me, voice soft, and I look up into the mirror to see her elfin face beaming back at me. It took time, but she forgave me for the whole faking my own death and having to attend my pretend funeral thing. “Again.”
We both crack up until I scold her for almost making me cry, and we end up wrapped up in a tight hug.
“You are the best bitch a girl could ever have,” I whisper, my voice a little thick as I fight to hold back happy tears.
“You too, babe.”
“Come on, Lilly Bear,” Lexi calls, striding into the room and looking fucking stunning in a form-fitting, gold dress. “You don’t want to keep them waiting, otherwise they’ll come up here and you’ll never get to the ceremony with you looking so gorgeous.”
We’re in the main bedroom at Ash’s—I guess our—house in the woods. We’ve made it into a home, somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of a town or city. Somewhere peaceful, and full of fresh air for Violet. Plus, the crazy security that the guys have installed means that we all feel safe here.
“You’re right, bloody cavemen,” I answer with a chuckle, picking up my skirts because I always wanted a dress that I had to do that with, and what better day than now? “Is Violet okay?”
“She’s with Ryan and Enzo. I swear those men are wrapped around her little finger,” Lexi chuckles as we make our way downstairs, and I pause when I see who’s waiting for me at the bottom.
“You look beautiful, Lilly,” Tom states, his eyes glistening as he gazes at me in wonder. I’m sure I look back at him with the same expression. I still can’t believe that after all this time, I know who my biological father is, and he’s here to give me away to my soulmates.
“Thank you for today,” I tell him when I reach the bottom step, a lightness suffusing my limbs as I take his hands in both of mine. “It means…a lot.”
“I am honoured to walk my daughter down the aisle,” he answers, his voice thick with emotion and laugh lines etched into his face. “I never thought that I’d experience it.”
I squeeze his hands, once again fighting those damn tears, otherwise, Willow will scold me for ruining my makeup.
“Ready?” I ask him, and he chuckles.
