I burst out laughing. “Yeah, right. That would have worked if I hadn’t already known the beast had been tamed.”
“Only for you and our family. I will not stand by and let anything bad happen to you, or to us.”
“I know.”
Earl was the tamed beast for me, but if anyone tried to hurt me, they would have to deal with the true evil lurking beneath the surface.
For everyone’s sake, I hoped they left us in peace.
Epilogue
Earl
Five years later
“I hate boats.”
“It’s a yacht, babe,” I said.
“It’s a very large boat.”
Even as Ashley held on to my arm, I couldn’t help but smile. Five years we’d been married. Our anniversary was tomorrow. Our two children were currently in the care of Emily and the Monsters at Crude Hill. I didn’t like leaving them behind, neither did Ashley, but I wanted to spend some time with my woman when we weren’t invaded by the patter of little feet and screams for Mommy and Daddy to wake up.
Our first child, Corey, was such a sweetheart, and had come into this world causing a few problems.
Ashley’s first pregnancy had held a whole host of complications. She had ended up bed-bound for the last few months of pregnancy, on doctor’s orders. It had made her incredibly cranky and such a fucking pain to be around. Still, I loved her, and our son was a shining light in our life.
Two years later, Athena had been born. Our precious little baby girl. Her pregnancy had been easy.
We’d settled in England. Ashley wanted us to have a fresh start, and I’d already been in the process of buying us a house. Emily and her men visited us regularly, and we went to Crude Hill a couple of times a year.
I never thought I’d fall in love or feel this way about anyone, but Ashley was different.
She was all mine, and I was hers.
I continued to run my empire. Building it from strength to strength. I didn’t need any of the other businesses, and I worked alongside law enforcement whenever they needed me. Going fully legal hadn’t come without risks. I had enemies, and I made sure my wife and children were protected at all costs. The Monsters back in Crude Hill were also protected. Their lives were not up for questioning within relation to me or what I do.
Life was a balancing act, but Ashley was worth it.
Some people believed I’d become a pussy with a wife.
I hadn’t.
I was far deadlier than ever before, and there were at least three people who were now dead who could have told everyone. During the first year, my wife received death threats, and one day, I came home to find someone in our house. I’d killed them without Ashley ever finding out, and I’d buried what was left of the body.
Each time people thought to take me on, they were fools to try.
My professional life had taken a turn, but that didn’t mean the beast lurking beneath me was gone.
Only Ashley and my babies got to see a good man. Everyone else got to see the real me, the man they all deserved to see.
Once I was in position, I removed Ashley’s blindfold. She blinked against the full beam of light. We were out on the ocean. There were several clear days scheduled. I wanted my wife, naked, waiting for me, and with no chance of kids asking what their daddy was doing to their mommy.
A few mornings that had happened, and a couple of nights. I’d been so fucking close, and my kids were cock blockers, but I loved them.
“Hello, Mrs. Valentine.” I pressed a kiss to her neck.
She tilted her head back and moaned. “Yes.”
“I want you to get completely naked and spread those legs for me. I’m totally taking you right here, right now.”
“Anyone could see,” she said.
I growled against her flesh. “Haven’t I proven to you that no one but me will see you? No one will look at you or know. They will have to answer to me.”
She groaned as I cupped her pussy. She was already so wet. “I love you, Earl.”
“I love you too.”
By the end of this anniversary, I intended to knock her up. It was time she had another kid. Each baby we had bound her more firmly to me.
I was an obsessive guy, and when I knew what I wanted, I went for it. Ashley was mine, and no one else was ever going to know what fucking treasure they all gave up.
Mine.
The End