The Hollow (Preacher Brothers 4)

But I’d only try for her.

Everything was for her.

Epilogue Two

Nadja

One year later

I never saw myself in this life, having Frankie by my side, knowing I was finally safe, finally able to make my life my own in the way I saw fit.

Finally able to be happy and love who I want.

I didn’t know if I was truly safe from the bratva, but we hadn’t had any contact with them, and with so much time passing, I knew we were safe. The bratva weren’t known for letting things linger, and with a year and a half passing since Maximillian’s death, knowing they probably knew where I was, who I was with, and still they left me in peace… I knew things would be okay.

Here I was, married to the man I loved, anticipating really starting our life together, having a family together, and finally getting that happily ever after I always dreamed of.

I looked down at my wedding ring for what felt like the millionth time since Frankie had proposed then slipped it on my finger at the altar. Frankie shifted on the bed beside me, and I looked at him, feeling this contentment fill me, my love for him reaching so high I could never grab it.

I watched the rise and fall of his chest as he slept and placed my hand softly on his heart. The beat of it was steady, strong, and the even breaths that came from him told me he was deep in sleep.

Being with him never had me looking back. I was only looking forward with him from this point on.

I lifted my hand and ran a finger over his cheek, feeling the scruff under my touch, drawing comfort that he was here with me. For so long after he was ripped from my life, I always saw myself trapped in a nightmare. So touching him, inhaling his scent, knowing he was here with me for real, forever, almost seemed… unreal.

I moved my hand and watched as Frankie opened his eyes, looking into my face. I was lost in his stare. He lifted his hand and placed it over mine, keeping my hand on his cheek.

“I love you touching me,” he murmured sleepily. “I just love you.”

My heart fluttered in my chest. “I love you too.” I sighed. “So much.”

He pulled me toward him so I was now straddling his waist, the sheet and blanket around us falling away.

“How convenient we’re still naked.”

I chuckled. “Good thing we didn’t get dressed after you devoured me,” I moaned, because that’s exactly what he’d done… devoured me like he’d been starving. Yet here I was, still wanting more.

The man I loved wasn’t the “good guy” to society, but to me, he was perfect. To me, he was a knight in shining armor, saving me from that fire-breathing dragon.

And I loved him so much it hurt.

I loved him more every day.

And I knew he loved me so fiercely it clenched at his heart like a vice, squeezing until it sucked the oxygen from his body. He told me that every day. He made me know I’d never be alone, and no matter what obstacle was in our lives, no matter how dangerous the world was, I’d never feel safer than when I was with Frankie.

And as I rose up so he could position himself at my entrance, it was him moaning how much he loved me, how I was his life. I let that surround me as I took him into my body, and we became one.

Epilogue Three

Frankie

Five years later

Who knew the fucking bad guys could get their very own happily ever afters?

“You’re burning the fucking burgers, man,” Dom snapped at Cullen, who in turn gave our eldest brother a scathing look.

“They are cooked to perfection, and besides, if you wanted them done to your liking, you should have got your ass out here and fired up the grill instead of standing beside me bitching about them. You volunteered my ass, when I was good with some takeout from Vincenzo’s.”

Dom grunted and started bitching back at Cullen. They did this for a solid minute before Cullen’s woman came out with two beers, handed one to each of the guys, then rose on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. And just like that, the situation was averted as Cullen got lost in Kimber.

I chuckled at how easily my brothers were controlled in the best of ways.

Speaking of being controlled, I searched the backyard for Nadja. I spotted Wilder and his wife over by the playground we’d built for the kids a couple years ago. They stood side by side, Wilder had his arm over her shoulder, keeping her close. Kimber was beside Cullen at the grill, and Dom had moved over to the patio table to sit with Amelia.