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EPILOGUE: MADDIE

I watch as the tattoo artist works his magic on Jagger’s skin, putting the finishing touches on it. So damn beautiful. My gaze lifts to the dark eyes that always watch me with love and possession, my entire body warming beneath his gaze. This is his third tattoo. He decided to get another one on his other hand to celebrate our one-year anniversary.

When he’s finished, Jagger holds out his hand, and I take it. He helps me onto the table, and as the tattoo artist sets to work, he holds my hand, squeezing it, talking to me to distract me from the pain. I’m getting a rose on my ankle, matching the small one on my chest.

“How’s it feel now that you’ve spent a year as Mrs. Jagger Brandt?” Trent, the tattoo artist, asks when Jagger pauses.

“Amazing.” My gaze slides from his to my husband’s. “I never tire of him.”

“Thank fuck.” Trent laughs. “He wouldn’t care if you did. He’s slightly obsessed.”

I laugh as Jagger rolls his eyes. “Do either of you expect anything different from me?”

“No,” Trent and I say in unison.

When we’re finished, and Jagger has paid, he wraps my hand in his, leading me outside to his truck. The warm spring air kisses my skin as we walk, the sounds of birds chirping filling my ears. I look at the sky, watching the wispy clouds float by. Hi, Dad. You were right. Love is all that matters.

Lowering my head, I can’t help but notice the small smile curving Jagger’s lips as though he knows I’m talking to my dad. His gaze locks on mine, and he squeezes my hand.

“My dad was right,” I break the silence as Jagger holds the passenger door open, helping me inside. “Love is all that matters.”

Jagger’s smile is beautiful. “Yes, he absolutely is.” Leaning forward, he gives me a soft kiss. “Love is the only thing that matters.”

Stepping back, he shuts my door and heads to the driver’s side. I watch him, my gaze hungry, taking in his muscular body. He follows a strict workout routine, packing on more muscle as if to ensure he keeps anyone who intends me any harm away simply by scaring them half to death when they glance at the monstrous man beside me. Since we’re rarely apart, the odds of someone harming me are slim.

As he climbs into the truck, a knowing smile is on his face. “I received a notification from Amazon. Another schoolgirl costume is on our porch.”

I raise my brows. “You wouldn’t have to keep buying them if you’d stop shredding them,” I tease.

He stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What the hell fun is that?”

Throwing my head back, I laugh. A huge smile is on his face as he starts the truck and then backs out of the parking space. I can’t help but admire how beautiful it is and how often I see it. Jagger is so different than when I first met him in terms of how much he smiles and laughs now.

But he’s no different in intensity and stalking me.

“There’s something I need to ask you.”

Jagger pulls onto the road, beginning the drive from Falls Creek to our cabin in the mountains. “Ask me anything, Baby Girl.”

“I received a strange text from Ashlynn while in the restroom. I called her while washing my hands. She was sobbing and muttering about photos of her boyfriend cheating on her.” My eyes are glued to Jagger, and I see him flinch slightly before his jaw clenches. “Know anything about that?”

“That dumb motherfucker,” he curses, shaking his head. “I told him to stay out of it.”

“So the asshole is cheating on her?”

Jagger shoots me a look. “Yes. I told Jason to leave it alone—”

I bark out a laugh. “Seriously, Jagger. Would you? If you had evidence that Ben was cheating on me, wouldn’t you have found a way to get it into my hands?”

“Fuck.” He blows out a long breath. “Yeah, I would’ve.”

I shake my head. “Clearly, Jason is still stalking Ashlynn.”

Jagger slowly turns his head to mine. “Did you really expect anything less? You saw him at our wedding. He fawned all over her. Hell, he’s been smitten with her since you were… Missing,” he finally growls, white knuckles gripping the steering wheel.

Reaching over, I put my hand on his thigh to calm him. “What the hell has happened to my husband, using words like “fawned” and “smitten.” Have you been reading the new book I’m writing?”

Once again, he looks at me like I’m completely ridiculous. I am because I married my stalker, who is even more in love and obsessed with me than ever.

“Do I even need to answer that ridiculous question?”

I snort. “No.” I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to hide my laugh. “Do you like it?”

His hand covers mine, still resting on his thigh. “It’s fucking amazing. I love the stalker in it.”

Erupting into hysterical laughter, I say, “You should. He’s based on you. Can’t you tell from the most recent scene when he hid beneath her bed? Thanks for the inspo, by the way.”

He chuckles. “I aim to please, baby girl.”

“Yes, but you fucking scared the piss outta me when you reached out and grabbed my ankle when I got out of bed.”

Jagger laughs harder. “Just keeping you on your toes, Maddie Rose.”

“Great. Now he thinks he’s a poet.” I roll my eyes, but my smile clearly conveys that I’m not annoyed.

“Baby girl, I’ll always be whatever you need and give you whatever you want. If you want a poet, I’ll become one.”

Laughing, I shake my head. “Guess it’s good that I fell in love with a stalker. No one else could give me everything you do.”

“I guess it’s good that I fell in love with my obsession. No one else could understand me or give me the things you do.” We stop at a red light, and he leans over, kissing me breathlessly. When he pulls away, he says, “Especially your love.”

I let out a sigh full of contentment and happiness. “I love you, stalker. Forever .”

“I love you, baby girl. For infinity .”