Forgotten Luca (The Four 1)

Remy and I had ended up buying a home that was close to Aleks and Vaughn's in a quiet neighborhood. I was still adjusting to the idea of having people in my life that I would have to worry about on a near constant basis when it came to my enemies. But I was also learning that maybe there weren't as many enemies out there as there’d once been. And moving to Seattle had certainly helped ease my discomfort.

I still did what Ronan did and made sure my loved ones always had someone with them, but I made sure they were men and women who were part of our lives beyond just being hired guns. It wasn't something I'd ever admit to Ronan, but he'd been right about family and the value of having people around you could trust to watch your back and whose backs you could watch in return. It had been me and my brothers for so long that I'd forgotten what family really meant.

I'd also taken more of a backseat role at work. The mentality that I always needed to win and make money and own more had begun to change. Life was now about making sure my family was provided for, but more importantly, that I was there for my family. Literally.

Violet and her great-aunt were a regular part of our lives. We saw them nearly every day and Violet was thriving in Marilyn's care. They lived only a few miles from us, and we happily babysat several times a week with Violet sometimes even sleeping over at our house.

While Remy had gone back to work at Barretti Security Group, he'd also begun to sneak peeks at casting calls, specifically for voiceover actors. He hadn't wanted to commit to the idea of making something like that a full-time career, despite the fact that I could afford to support him while he pursued it. I suspected it was more that he was afraid to fail at something so soon after getting back on his feet. He’d also started taking acting lessons and while he didn't have any immediate plans to be in any kind of productions, he was enjoying learning the process behind and in front of the camera.

Remy had also been meeting with Ronan and several of his team members over the past few months to share information about the men and women who'd held him captive for so long. Ronan had already managed to shut down one of the cells outside of Chicago. His information had come directly from Remy, and at least half a dozen kids had been saved. My brother, King, had reluctantly agreed to work with Ronan and his men, though my brother still wasn't overly trusting of the group. Con had returned to Las Vegas for a few fights over the past several months, but in between he would travel to Seattle to visit us and spend time with Gio. My son had started to remember who his uncles were, so each of them, aside from Lex, spent as much time with him as they could.

I refused to let my thoughts drift to Lex because it would ruin this moment I'd been dreaming of for so long with Remy. My brother was okay, so I supposed that was all that really mattered.

"Luca," Remy said as he patted my hand. "What is that?" he asked as he pointed at the water. I looked back and forth to try to see what he was talking about, but nothing stood out.

"I don't—" I began, but then I saw it. A flash of gray in the water.

My heart leapt in my chest as I realized I was going to be able to give the man I loved everything I’d promised him so long ago.

"Is it—" Remy asked excitedly.

"Yes," I said. Just as I confirmed it, a second fin appeared and then a third.

"Oh my God," Remy whispered. We watched as the group of dolphins began growing and growing.

I kissed Remy's cheek and said, "I love you."

He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed my palm and then repeated the words back to me. Then he turned to face me and started stripping off his clothes. I smiled and reached for the top button on my shirt.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

The smile on Remy's face lit up his entire expression. He nodded and then he was kicking off his shoes. I had to hurry to catch up to him. My pants had barely cleared my ankles when Remy grabbed my hand. We both began running toward the water's edge, dressed in only our underwear.

As we swam out to meet the group of dolphins, there were two things I knew for sure.

This time I would touch one of the beautiful animals.

And I’d do it with the love of my life at my side.