Riled (The Invincibles 4)

“You wouldn’t mind me going off to work every day?”

“I will proudly and happily support whatever it is you would like to do, Kensington. I love you.”

“What about you and your work?”

“To be honest, I am ready for, as they say, a desk job.”

“What does that entail?”

“Letting the younger crowd get their hands dirty while I orchestrate from my solarium.” He waved his hand in a sweeping motion over the pool. “To answer your question in a serious way, it doesn’t matter where we live, my darling. As long as we are together, I can be at home anywhere.”

Epilogue

Rile

We were married in the small chapel on our estate on Mallorca in October, exactly one year after I first held Kensington in my arms,

My family was in attendance, which included my parents, my brother and his family, and my uncle and aunt, the King and Queen of Spain.

Kensington’s father was with us along with other members of her family, including the royal ones. She marveled at how I’d managed to get her great-aunt there without the fanfare usually afforded reigning monarchs. In the case of our wedding, I told her, there was no royalty with us, only loving aunts and uncles.

I’d asked her more than once about not inviting her mother, but after the one conversation Kensington had had with Kiki, I knew it would be a long time before that relationship would be reparable.

Every member of the Invincibles team was with us, including my partners, Decker, Edge, and Grinder, and their wives and families. Kensington insisted we also invite Casper, Ink, and Crash. And I insisted we invite Linc Mulrooney.

Quint and Darrow Alexander flew over from Texas, and Quint’s father, Z, the man who had once been the chief over most of the Invincibles, came too.

He was very put out with me when he heard I’d made an offer to Angel to join our team, but as a wedding gift, promised not to rail at me about it today.

Tomorrow after our remaining guests departed, we were leaving to return to Fregate Island in the Seychelles, where we would stay until after my birthday in November. When we returned, both Kensington and I hoped we would be well on our way to starting our family.

We’d spent more time on Mallorca in the last couple of months than I’d originally anticipated. Decker flew over and set up offices for both Kensington and I to be able to work remotely. She even attended the Whitby weekly staff meetings via video conferencing.

“Cortez, may I have a word?” asked my second cousin once removed.

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

“I want you to know that I couldn’t be happier for you and my grandniece. You make a beautiful couple.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

She put her hand on my arm. “However, if you keep her here, in Spain, and not in London where I can see the two of you regularly, I shall be very unhappy.”

“I promise we will spend a great deal of time in London.”

“Very well. You may thank me now, Cortez.”

“Thank you again, Your Majesty.”

“What are you thanking me for, exactly?”

“For joining us today and—”

My mother wrapped her arm in mine. “My cousin is suggesting you thank her for her brilliant match-making abilities.”

The Queen winked. “I told you he’d find his way.”

The next morning, before we left on our honeymoon, Kensington asked if we could take a walk together to the cemetery. She’d taken flowers from her bouquet that she laid on Celestina’s grave.