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CONAN

“ W ell, congratulations, brother,” Finn says as he sits beside me on the couch and hands me a fresh beer.

“Thanks.”

I don’t take my eyes off Hallie, who’s laughing with Charlotte in the kitchen. I have no doubt it’ll get louder once Lily arrives.

“I’m not sure whose love story is more dramatic, yours or Declan’s,” he mutters.

“I don’t know…Hallie never tried to kill me. I’d say he takes the crown with that one.”

Finn chuckles.

“Yeah—except yours did nearly kill you.”

“I didn’t die though. I’m good. Better than good. My new trainer reckons next year I can pick back up for the championship fight.”

He smiles.

“Good. You deserve your shot. You’re a good fighter. Now you’ve got the key to your anger, you should smash it.”

Hallie glances over and winks at me.

Fuck, she is stunning.

And pregnant? I have a constant hard-on when I look at her.

“She is the key, isn’t she?” I say quietly.

He nods.

“Yep. Mom and Dad would have been happy. Especially Mom, seeing you like this. It suits you.”

“Yeah. It does. It feels right.”

We sit in silence, finishing our beers.

“What’s next for you? You’ve got your trials coming up soon…”

“I’m focusing on getting us that ticket into London, Con. Declan’s letting me take the lead and work with Theo. Enzo is even on board. But we have to find our replacements for yours and Declan’s games in return.”

I swallow, searching out Rowan and Reggie, who are standing with Drago and Declan.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” I ask with a smirk.

“The twins can be trusted?” Finn counters.

“Yeah. They’ve proved they’re capable. They’ve stepped up lately. I vote they get the next games.”

“Declan!” Finn shouts.

The room goes quiet.

Declan strolls over with a quizzical expression.

“What do you think, boss? Reggie and Rowan get their own games?” I ask.

“My thoughts exactly,” he replies.

“Shall we tell them?” Finn asks.

“A day of celebrations,” Declan chuckles.

“Rowan, Reggie, Drago—get your asses over here,” Declan calls out.

I hide my laughter as Rowan looks genuinely concerned.

“We have a proposition for you two,” Declan says, addressing them.

“All ears, boss,” Reggie grunts.

“The Decadence Games and Chase are no more. But we need two replacement games. What do you think about taking them over?”

The twins share a look, and Rowan grins.

“Separately?”

I glance at Drago, and Declan catches my train of thought.

“You wanna do it together?” Declan asks them.

They both nod.

“It’ll be more fucked up if we both orchestrate it,” Reggie confirms.

“Drago…” I say.

His blue eyes are wary.

“Fancy your own game too? You’re part of the family now. The choice is yours.”

He scratches his stubble.

“I get freedom to decide what it is I want? All the details?”

“Yep. Just not the contestants,” Declan confirms.

“Count me in.”

I push myself off the couch.

“Looks like we need a good bottle of Irish whiskey to celebrate—a wedding, two babies, and two more fucked-up Decadence games,” I say.

I beeline straight over to Hallie and wrap my arms around her waist from behind.

“Wife,” I growl in her ear.

She shivers against me.

“You having a nice time?” I whisper.

“I am.”

“You wanna have an even better time?” I ask, brushing her caramel curls off her shoulder.

“What do you suggest, sir?”

“Meet me at the racetrack in half an hour.”

I don’t give her a chance to answer. I press a quick kiss to her neck and grab my whiskey.

The men have followed me over to the kitchen island. Declan starts dishing out the glasses.

“What’s this? You all look like you’re hiding something,” Charlotte questions, narrowing her eyes.

Nothing gets past her.

“Just business,” Declan replies.

She tuts and struts over, whispering something in his ear.

Finn takes the whiskey from me and begins to pour them out.

“The twins and Drago have been given their own games to host,” I tell Hallie.

Honesty is the only way now.

Even if it’s things she doesn’t necessarily want to hear, I’ll always tell the truth.

“Oh, cool. They seem pretty happy about it.”

I glance over. She’s right. Rowan looks like an excitable kid.

“Gets me out of it—that’s all that matters,” I say with a smile.

She grabs my hand.

“Thank you for telling me, Conan.”

“Communication is key, right?” I smirk.

No more secrets.

No hiding who I am.

Because I don’t need to.

My wife loves me—for me.

The front door flies open, and Lily rushes over to Hallie.

I step back.

“Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Quinn!” she shouts, throwing her arms up.

“I find out my best friend got married via a banner on her gate.”

Oh god. She sounds mad.

All the men start backing away.

“I am shocked. Hurt. Devastated.”

A smirk plays on my lips.

I fucking knew Hallie wouldn’t keep this secret from her.

“Drama never was your strong suit,” Hallie giggles, hugging her best friend tight.

Drago clears his throat behind me.

“Uh. Something’s come up. I need to head out. I’ll see if I can get it cleared up and come back later.”

I don’t even reply before he’s jogging out the door.

That’s fuckin’ weird.

Lily turns to me.

“You think she could hide that? I watched it on live streaming from the chapel.”

“I knew it.”

Hallie sticks her tongue out at me.

“Is this a good time to admit you told your brothers too?” Declan pipes up.

“I did not!” I protest.

Hallie looks shocked and amused all at once.

“I didn’t. I swear.”

I flip Declan off, and the room erupts in laughter.

“Anyway. Cheers to the happy couple,” Lily says, picking up my whiskey and knocking it back.

“Time to party!”

Isabella and Bertie come running in from the yard.

“Uncle Conan! Can I pick the music?”

She wraps her arms around my leg, and I scoop her up to my hip.

“Depends what genre.”

She rolls her eyes dramatically.

“Heavy metal. Obviously. The ones we play in the gym?”

A smile tugs at Charlotte’s lips.

“I’ve been teaching her well,” I tell her.

“Conan,” Lily shouts, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Yes, Lily?”

“Are you going to tell them what happened with the fake creepy priest, or am I?” She smirks.

Oh, fuck.

And this is why I’m giving Hallie a re-do. As funny as she found it, I’m slightly mortified.

“Conan, what the hell happened with a fake priest on your wedding day?” Rowan cackles.

I bite the inside of my cheek.

“Hallie…you wanna do the honors?”

She smiles so brightly I can’t help but laugh.

“Absolutely.”