Page 112 of Inez

"Happily ever after?" Solomon says, kissing Scarlett's temple.

I lean into Lorenzo, who grips and squeezes my thigh without turning away from Toro—their conversation seems to have moved away from football and into a discussion of the finer points of Brazilian versus Spanish politics, or something along those lines; their conversation moves seamlessly between Spanish, English, and Portuguese, which Toro seems to understand but not speak.

"Yes," I answer Solomon, after a moment. "Something which I doubt any of us expected."

Solomon snorts sarcastically. "Not fucking hardly, Soph. Not fucking hardly."

I sweep my gaze over the group. "Yet here we all are."

Maria, now sitting between Sol's thighs with her back to his chest and her eyes closed, a happy little smile on her scarred but beautiful face, speaks without opening her eyes. "We fought like hell for it, though, didn't we?"

"We did," I answer. "But then, some things are worth fighting for, are they not?"

"Love is," Maria says. "And family—however it looks."

Wherever you are, Jakob, I hope you find the redemption you've sought for so very long.