Page 46 of One Dark Kiss (Grimm Bargains #2)

EPILOGUE

Rosalie

Three weeks later

I stand outside of my pretty pink house as the sound of whirring saws and pounding hammers fills the afternoon.

Alexei agreed that we d live here and then purchased the homes on every side of us to tear down so we can build a compound of sorts.

I look over to the guest house, where several of my boarders are hard at work.

They accepted the offer of the free home, but they want to create it themselves.

I m a little worried what that means, because I saw plans for tunnels that would lead from the property in case of emergencies, as well as a place for a good ammunition depot.

I m not sure they know that they re retired, but considering I m surrounded by a good portion of the Russian mob most of the time, I choose not to worry about it.

Ella walks up from supervising the guest house, her laptop under one arm. Hey. She and Alexei declared a peace between them, and Ella promised she destroyed the video of him murdering David Fairfax.

Hi, I say. She s agreed to stay for a week or so. She s always been a free spirit, and she likes to train all over the world in hacking and computers. I know she ll get that wanderlust soon. But for now, at least she s safe.

She kicks at a pebble. I did a bit more research into David Fairfax.

I look around to make sure Alexei isn t near. You promised to stay out of that situation.

She shrugs. Couldn t help it. Turns out Blythe Fairfax spent a good amount of time in different emergency rooms around the state.

I blink. Alexei said David abused her.

Ella nods and watches the men at the guesthouse. It certainly looks like it. Plus, he had a series of girlfriends through the years, even during his marriage, who all showed signs of pretty terrible abuse. Several underage. She pats my arm. Though I don t think killing him was right.

Neither do I. Maybe. I m not sure. Why didn t anybody ever press charges?

I think they were too scared. He threatened to kill them, from what I read between the lines.

Perhaps he had deserved it. But the good news is that I don t have to worry about it because it s in the past.

My future lopes toward me from the main house, his gaze catching on Ella and then the elderly men arguing over by the guest house. He shakes his head as if he s not quite sure how he ended up in this situation.

Ella snorts. I ll go referee at the guest house. Giving Alexei a look, she flounces off.

He reaches me, takes my face in his hands, and kisses me deeply. I close my eyes and kiss him back. The love I have for him is hot and everlasting, and I ve decided just to revel in it and not worry. He s everything.

Releasing me, he sighs.

I look toward Ella, who is rapidly retreating, then back at him. Thank you for trusting my friend and for letting all seven of my boarders live next to us.

You owe me. A lot.

I chuckle. Yeah, and speaking of owing you, I think there s a lot to learn from the guys.

One of his dark eyebrows rises. You don t say.

I nod. They re all reformed and act like a family. We can do the same thing with the mob. You know. Build loyalty with incentives instead of fear. Like have scholarships, subsidized childcare, paternity leave ... you know.

He looks toward the group. I ll think about it.

So much warmth fills me that my cheeks burn. The song I heard you playing early this morning. It was beautiful. He belongs with a guitar in his hands.

Thanks. It s called Rosalie.

Something flutters in my abdomen. I love you. Thought I should say the words in a nice time instead of just when bullets have been flying.

His lips twitch. I love you, too. Have for years. He ducks his head and tosses me over his shoulder, taking long strides toward the house. You definitely owe me. Let s go find out if you ve learned to be obedient. You had better not be wearing panties.

My whole body shivers.

Because I am.