Page 80 of Rebellion of a Kingdom

Today is the funeral I had been dreading the most. A death that will forever both stain my conscience and break my heart.

Marcus' fingers are entangled tightly with mine on the left as Lincoln takes up his spot on my right. Both of them silently offering me comfort as we listen to the priest talk about a life cut way too short. I don't listen to his words. Instead, I think of all the things I never got to say, the things we never got to do and the friendship I am going to miss out on. Like my own internal punishment for the part, I played in her death.

I stay long after the service is over and even after her parents leave. Just remaining there to bask in my grief. I stopped by their house this morning, like I do a lot these days and they were almost fully packed up. They are getting ready to say goodbye to this town and all that has happened here. I didn't lie to them about their daughter. They know exactly who wielded the weapon that killed her and know I'm the catalyst for it all. I didn't ask for their forgiveness. I don't deserve it, just like I didn't deserve a friend like Taylor Kennedy.

The FBI received a large number of anonymous files right after everything went down. It was a mix between what we got from Elizabeth Donovan, what we had gathered ourselves, and what the guys stole from the compound. All of it telling a damning and compelling tale about the men of the elite families of Black Hallows. The investigations are ongoing, and we've all been questioned multiple times. We spun our own web of lies to cover our backs and no one seems to be questioning it. I guess with the number of bodies found at the compound and the fact Carter Fitzgerald is still missing after clearing out his accounts, it’s easy to not look our way. They are hunting what they deem to be bigger fish than the South Side Rebels.

Max and his team are still monitoring the situation in case anything changes. They aren't in Black Hallows anymore as they’ve moved onto their next job, but we still talk all the time. A lot more than we did before. I know I will always be able to count on them for anything.

Zack has finally returned to work full time and has even been commuting back and forth between his small office here, and his main office in New York. Logan and Lily have both gone back to college and Arthur and Helen have been extra manic about them checking in every day. They’ve chosen to stay in Black Hallows with us for the time being, they want to enjoy their retirement and be close to me and Cassie.

When I woke up in a hospital bed, Marcus was at my side, his face grief stricken. I waited for him to deliver the news that Asher was dead. That I had lost my best friend and my daughter had lost her father. What I didn’t expect was for him to nod to my other side where Ash lay unconscious covered in tubes. The doctors described his survival as miraculous. That the bullet pierced into his chest cavity and lodged itself against his heart. It took a fourteen-hour surgery to ensure he survived.

He is still recovering, much to his distaste, but that hasn’t stopped him. He still managed to successfully disband Donovan Enterprises. With Zack having zero interest in being the Donovan heir, everything went to Ash. Well, everything that wasn't seized by the cops. Asher was interviewed relentlessly about his father and brother’s crimes until the police were satisfied, he wasn't involved.

We are both still struggling with what happened and decided the best way for us to grieve is to work through it. Neither of us aspires to go to college, wanting to ensure we can be around Cassie as much as possible. So instead, we have almost finished setting up a charitable organization that will help victims of sex crimes. The Kennedy Foundation will be a place girls and women can come and get the help they need.

Lincoln continues to work with Zack and will be helping run things at the office here in town whenever Zack is in New York. He has been intense since everything that happened that day and I can see it haunting him. I know he’s got a dark past of his own and I think everything he saw that day dredged some things back up for him. He’s been more closed off than before and I know Marcus is worried about him.

Jace spent a couple of weeks in the hospital thanks to the injuries he sustained in the crash and from Greg’s men. He’s no longer my light and playful Rebel. Rachel’s death tainted him, but Taylor’s death ruined him completely. He’s a shell of the Jace he was before, and I don’t know if anything can save him now.

Marcus’ arm curves around my waist as his hand finds the now healed wound in my side. Just another scar that speaks a thousand words. Every time I look at them, I won’t think about Greg, that night or that day. No, instead I will think about my family, my future. A future I still get to have when so many others don’t.

“Time to go, baby.” Marcus leans down kissing my neck as he speaks the words directly in my ear.

I sigh, “I know, I was just saying goodbye.” I feel his nod against my cheek.

I lean forward and place the white rose in my hand across the heaped ground. “See you soon.”

Marcus guides me to the back of the black town car, and we head off. We are all going for a late lunch, choosing to skip the wake. We head to Big P’s diner to catch up with everyone else. Asher left to go pick Cassie up and Lincoln disappeared too.

Marcus and I are the first to arrive so grab a booth as Pam starts to fuss over us. We have become regulars here lately, bringing Cassie at least twice a week. She loves it and Pam adores her, like I knew she would. The freedom I now have to be able to take my daughter anywhere I want and not have to look over my shoulder, it’s indescribable. We can now live the life she deserves, the life I deserve.

“Usual?” Pam asks and I smile.

“Of course.” She nods, shouting off our orders and making her way to the kitchen.

“Did you see Jace?” I ask, “he wasn’t at the funeral.”

Marcus sighs, “he was there, he sat in the back and left before the end. I saw him going to the graveside as we left. He just needs time, we all do.”

The bell rings and the sight that greets me takes my breath away. Asher Donovan steps inside with our daughter in his arms. He knows he should still be taking it easy, but nothing stops him from carrying Cassie wherever she wants to go. The ache I feel whenever I look at them never goes away. I came close to losing both of them and I won’t ever forget that feeling.

“Mommy!” She squeals when she spots us, and Asher puts her down so she can rush across the diner towards us. Marcus scoops her up before she gets to me, tickling her sides, “no, River. No tickles!” She cries with laughter, before he drops her next to me.

I pull her into my lap and snuggle her close and Ash slides into the round booth beside Marcus.

“How’s my Hell’s Bells?” He asks with that dark smile of his and I see Marcus smile with him.

“Better now you two are here.” The anxiety that fills me when I’m not around them is something I struggle with every day, but they all help me with it.

He shrugs in such an unlike Asher move, and responds, “because I’m your favorite obviously.”

“Always.” I beam at him.

We order for the two of them and then just talk back and forth and let Cassie tell us all about the party she wants for her upcoming birthday.

Halfway through eating the bell dings again and Cassie yells out across the diner. “Superman!”

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