Page 125 of Hold Me Down
I just step away, knowing that this can’t be my concern. There’s no merit left for me to lecture him. I stalked my wife, followed her without permission, broke into her apartment, hacked local databases for information, and many other illegal acts. And I wouldn’t change a fucking thing.
So, I have absolutely no leg to stand on in that argument.
Elizabeth continues to fawn over Emma, touching her little toes as she rests in Ashia’s arms. Thankfully, Serena moves to the other couch so I don’t have to kick her off, and then I take my rightful place next to my queen.
“Everything okay?” Victoria asks me, clearly talking about Zeke’s outburst.
“Ask me again in a few weeks.” I wrap my arm around Ashia’s shoulders and pull her close, getting comfortable as everyone else starts to move. Zeke comes back in with his laptop and sets it on the island, but then abandons it and starts grabbing the few boxes of his belongings. Carter takes the hint and starts grabbing his things as well.
It’s bittersweet, watching them pack up and get ready to leave. I know it’s not forever, and hell, I’m sure I’ll hear from these mother fuckers by the time the sun sets, but we’ve all gotten so close—closer than we were before, and that thought is almost insane. They’ve been with me through everything…
This time last year, life felt empty. I poured all of my time and attention into DH and the guys, focusing on nothing but keeping the city safe. Everything was great, but I wasn’twhole. The life I wanted seemed impossible to have, and I only dreamed of someone loving me as harshly as I could love them. Myworld is chaotic, dangerous, and violent—not something that’s in fairytales or love stories.
But it is in ours.
Fate proved that it’s always had a plan for me, that I just had to wait it out. I was created for one woman, molded and sculpted for one purpose—to serve her—and she was presented to me the moment we needed each other most. The road was never meant to be smooth, and it probably never will be, but it’s easier to tread beside each other. Ashia’s light guides me, and my darkness hides everything else around us. I’ve consumed her just as she has me, and now, we’re free to just live—to experience this crazy, chaotic life, and know what it’s like to embrace it together.
That’s something we’ll never let go of.
“Are you okay?” Ashia looks up at me and asks, batting those long, dark eyelashes and flashing her golden eyes. I’m more than okay. Nothing could ever go wrong again. I get to live out a long, happy life with the perfect woman and cherish each day like it’s our last. We’ll get to laugh, cry, and argue, and I’ll only beg for more. I’ll hold her close until death takes us, and then we’ll dance forever in the stars. I want to scream all of that as loud as I can, and hold our baby high and show that we’ve made it, but we don’t need that type of show. My girls deserve a peaceful, calm storm. So, I settle for something a little more subtle as I look into the eyes I’ll stare into forever.
“Yes, my love.” I rest my forehead against hers and kiss the tip of her nose. “I’m more than okay.”
Epilogue 1 - Ashia
One Year Later
The moment I step out of the bedroom, laughter echoes up the stairs, making my heart flutter. Hearing Damien’s deep, genuine chuckle mixed with Emma’s sweet laughter is a sound that I will never get tired of. It’s certainly a normal occurrence. There’s never a dull moment in this house, especially with those two. Peek-a-boo turns into a competition of who will get tired of it first—spoiler alert, it’sneverDamien. Every meal turns into an airplane or food fight, and there’s at least one kraken in every bath, not to mention how often we have to take a moment of silence to remember all of the rubber ducky souls that we’ve lost to the creature.
Rest in peace.
Even when we’resupposedto be walking out of the door, they’re goofing around and making the most of every second.I think I know what game they’re playing by the thumping sounds, but I could be wrong. Damien loves to switch things up, so there’s no telling what back story their game has today. Last night, Emma turned Daddy into a frog before bed…then he bounced her on the mattress until her face flushed from laughing so long.
I had no idea that a thirteen-month-old could laugh so much, but she is Damien’s daughter, after all.
I grab onto the railing and watch my step, trying like hell to see over my large belly and not miss a step. My warning of how big a boy would be in my body didn’t deter Damien whatsoever, and now we’ll have two kids under two in just a few short weeks. I’m convinced that Damien’s trying to kill me, because even though I’m only thirty-five weeks, the baby is measuring much longer and bigger than Emma did. Baby boy hasn’t tried to vacate early like his sister did, though, so that’s a plus.
Emma’s giggles only get louder as I make my way down the stairs, and my own laughter slips out when I actually see all of the commotion. Damien is crouched down and bouncing lightly on his feet, holding his hands out like he’s approaching a rabid animal. Then he tucks and rolls, just to take the same position again, but about five feet to his left. Emma laughs so hard that she stumbles and falls gently to her bottom.
“What are you supposed to be? A zookeeper?” I ask between giggles and make my way down the rest of the stairs. Damien’s jaw drops and he lays his hand on chest, pretending to be wounded.
“I’m a spy!” His lips slowly creep into a smile as he rakes his eyes up and down my body, surely eyeing the floor-length, dark blue gown I was told to wear today. “You’re so beautiful, baby.”
“Thank you.” I do a slow spin so I don’t lose my balance.
“Dada!” Emma yells to get her father’s attention.
“Do you want to see how pretty Mommy is?” He picks her up off the floor and holds her to his chest. She grips at his hair and nibbles on his chin as he walks her over. “I think someone’s teething again,” he chuckles.
“It would appear so.” I adjust the bow on her head and brush her blonde strands with the tips of my fingers. “We should’ve left five minutes ago, you know.”
“It’s only five minutes. Our spy work was much more important.”
“Well, she’s the flower girl. I'm not sure they'll see it that way.”
Damien just brushes it off.
“Please. How can they be mad? Have they seen this face?” He points to Emma’s toothy grin. “Or that face?” Then he points to me and smiles endearingly. He pinches my chin between his fingers and pulls me in, pressing his lips to mine softly. “I think we'll be just fine,” he murmurs, barely grazing my mouth.
