Page 50 of Unbreakable Connection (Connections Duet)

My woman didn’t need the money and wanted to gift it to humanitarian organizations that would continue to do the work of her parents and Ellen herself. The Chantal legacy lived on through their daughter, and now it will continue through many scholarships in their name, helping aspiring doctors worldwide. Kyle didn’t want to stay without Ellen and returned home to the United States. He was offered the top position of trauma surgery at Northwestern, and Ellen was so proud of him; we both were. He’s an incredible friend and a great doctor.

Ellen said tearful goodbyes to her staff, including Nai, who was staying to work at the new facility. Antonia had never cried so hard, but Ellen promised this wasn’t a forever goodbye. Instead, they would reunite on Bourne’s island next month, where we would marry.

While we decided where to live permanently, I sent Ellen’s things to my home in London. We both agreed it would be best for Ellen to take as much time as needed to regroup and acclimate to our new life in London. I knew it wouldn’t be long, but she deserved a break, and I wanted her to make my home,our home for the family we would start, and hopefully soon if I had my way.

When Ellen shared her dreams with me about having a little girl that we would name after her mother, it took all my strength not to fill her belly with my child. After that, it was all I could see, but she wanted to do it right by marrying first. On our last night at the cottage, we had a picnic by the fire, and Ellen shared happy memories with me about her parents. After hearing the happiness in her voice and how she described them, I felt closer to Ellen. She sighed, sipped her wine, and stared at the fire. The glow from the flames enhanced her natural beauty, and I couldn’t have loved her more than now.

“What are you thinking about?” she dreamily asked over her wine glass.

“You, always you, my love,”

“You are the sweetest man. Thank you for saying that, but I was doing the same thing. I was picturing our wedding on the beach and our new life in London.”

“You still okay with moving?”

“I am, no second-guessing when it feels so right. Edric, can I ask you something?”

“You know you can,”

“We never did talk about Paolo and what happened after you captured him.”

“And we never will, okay? He is not someone I ever want you to think about again, and know he will never be able to hurt you or anyone else.”

“Does that mean that you,” she paused and wiped away her tears.

“No, it wasn’t me, and it’s in the past where it needs to remain, do you understand?”

“I do, and thank you for telling me,”

“I will always endeavor to be honest with you, but baby, there are just some things that I may never be able to completely share with you because of what I do. But I promise you that my heart belongs to you, and I will do everything I can to protect yours.”

“Oh, Edric, I was never worried. I will never bring it up to you again. It’s in the past, and I want to concentrate on our present and future.”

“Let’s get started on that,” I kissed her and lifted her into my arms so she could straddle me. We made love for the last time here in Ellen’s cottage and in front of the fireplace, where we shared many great memories of being together. I loved this place and will never forget bringing Ellen back on the night I returned to her, making her admit her true feelings for me. We fought and fell in love right here. It’s the memory of that day we will carry with us as we move forward in our lives together as man and wife. It’s a dream I never believed I would have, and then Ellen came into my life and changed everything.

The following day, I gave Ellen the time I believed she needed, but she surprised me as usual. “You ready to begin the first day of our happily ever after?” I wrapped my arms around her as she took one last look at the cottage.

“I’m already there, and I’m so happy. I love you, Edric, happily with no end.”

EPILOGUE

Edric

“A toast to the happy couple,” Bourne said as he clinked his champagne glass to get our attention. After we arrived on the island, we slept for the first two days to recover from the jetlag, and then it was all systems go in wedding planning. It was summer here in New Zealand, and the island was in full bloom with miles and miles of fragrant flowers. This was the perfect place to marry Ellen. After all, this is where we shared our first dance at Bourne and Sabina’s wedding, and now, in a few days, we will get to do that again as husband and wife.

Sabina is over the moon to host us, but Bourne has been hovering because she’s also nine months pregnant and is due anytime now. Patch arrived with Kaz and a few team members at Atwater Security. We have many teammates out on OPS, so it was hard to gather everyone. Ellen was floating on cloud nine and finally took a moment to relax and enjoyed some pampering with Sabina as Anna and Antonia both doted on them.

It’s been a perfect week, and now we are on the eve of our wedding, surrounded by amazing friends who have become our family. Bourne could work a room like no other, and today was no different as he stood in front of the room demanding our attention with just a look. Before he began, he directed his attention to Sabina, who was visibly uncomfortable, but she shooed him away and told him to get started or tonight would be tomorrow. We all laughed, and then he raised his glass to begin.

***

“I’ve known the groom since we were up and coming lads in the British Army. We connected as friends and later as brothers from the first day we met. Throughout our friendship, this unbreakable bond has tied us together and will always be there until one of us says goodbye and meets up on the other side. As soldiers, we took an oath to protect and serve our country and have the backs of our brothers. The oath is a forever promise we carry throughout our lives. It’s a promise that we believed only applied to us for a long time because of the life we led. We never believed we had room in our lives to share it with anyone else because it was too dangerous and ugly. I swore I would never bring that to my front door and endanger another person I loved, but my amazing and strong wife, Sabina, changed all that for me, and instead of pushing away love, I embraced it with every part of my soul.”

“Now that Edric has found Ellen, she’s given him that same gift. It’s an incredible gift with a lifetime of promises, and if any two people deserved a shot at happiness with an incredible future attached to it, it would be my best friend here. Ellen, tomorrow youare marrying one of the greatest men I have ever had the honor to serve with and call my brother. You will never know another who could love you more than Edric. He will never let you fall and will cherish you until the end of time.”

“I once told Edric that love was not meant for guys like us and had no place in our lives. Of course, back then, it was the job making me think that way. I am not a man who gets it wrong, but I’m damn happy you didn’t take that misguided and very stupid advice.”

“Congratulations and the happiness you feel today; I hope you carry it with you every single day for the rest of your lives.”

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