Page 164 of Restitution

Dad’s eye twitches. “I was in a bad place at the time.”

Milo and Hopper are lying on each side of us, the latter with his head on Stacey’s lap, Hopper curled into a ball and pressed up against me. It’s the calm I had no idea existed – I thought I’d lost everything, including my mind, yet here I am, smiling down at my girl, wondering what comes next.

The last two corrupt world leaders were arrested only a matter of minutes ago, and I’ve been able to breathe since. Even with the thick smoke from the fire, the incinerated marshmallows and the cigarette I inhale, I can breathe.

I lean down to whisper in Stacey’s ear, “You want to go fuck before we leave?”

“We did it like an hour ago,” she hisses back. “Your reload button needs to break.”

Barry stands up, grabbing everyone’s attention. “I think, going by the reports…” He zooms into something on his phone screen. “Yeah. They’ve got everyone now. It’s really over.”

He looks over at Base and Luciella. “I would suggest keeping Luciella hidden for now though.”

“I was going to,” Base snipes. “I’ll go to my grandfather and demand a divorce and to keep Luciella in protection in Russia. He won’t refuse me. I’m his only heir until my kid is born.”

“What will you do?” Barry asks Dad. “You’re technically dead. No one is searching for you, but I’d keep a low profile for now. I’ll be able to keep your meds coming until I figure out something else.”

For once, Dad doesn’t argue with him or call him a dickhead. Hejust nods and warms his hands on the flames. “Does Aria know yet?”

“No,” Barry replies. “But since the officers and investigators have closed all the reports and there’s no active case, I think we’re all safe to go home.” He glances up at me. “Call your mother and let her know you’re all alive.”

“And then I need to leave?” Luciella asks.

“We’ll stay here for now,” Dad says to her. “Your plan better work, Sebastian.”

“Give me a week,” Base says. “I’ll write down the address for where to meet me.”

Stacey shifts between my legs, looking up at me. “We’ve waited years for this.”

My head tilts. “For what?”

“The chance we deserve.” She smiles. “I’m excited.”

“What do you want to do first?” I ask, playing with her hair. “We can do anything you want.”

She waggles her brows, lowering her voice to a whisper, so we can’t be heard over the music that’s playing. “I want us to go on dates, to live together and get married. You can fuck me every morning and night until I make you a daddy.” Her lip traps between her teeth as my cock twitches. “How does that sound?”

I lean down and kiss her before we excuse ourselves – then I drag her back into the building, throw her on the bed and sink into her.

Luciella and Dad stand outside the building as we pack the car. The dogs jump into the back, and Barry shakes my dad’s hand, tells Luciella to take care before getting into the driver’s side.

“At least you didn’t threaten each other,” Stacey says to Dad. “Like I said before, there’s a brewing bromance there.”

“No,” is all my dad replies. He looks at me. “I’m proud of you. I don’t know if I’ve ever said it, but I am. You’ve gone through so much, endured so much pain that no person ever should, and you’re still standing here, alive, and surviving it all.”

The corner of my mouth twitches. “I take after my old man.”

“Your mother sounded happy on the phone,” he says. “I think it’s still best if I remain dead to her. I’ll reveal myself when the time is right.”

Luciella tugs Stacey in for a hug, and they both start crying as if they’re not going to see each other anytime soon. Me and Dad watch them, Base frowning at the ground, and when they pull away, I have the severe urge to wipe Stacey’s tears and hold her against me and make sure she never cries like that again.

Stacey reaches up on her tiptoes and kisses my dad’s cheek. “Thank you for saving me and being the dad I needed. Please stay safe.”

He clears his throat and nods. “I’ll see you soon, little one.”

She heads to the car, and I pull my sister to me. “Don’t stay away too long, brat.”

She smacks my chest but sobs as she wraps her arms around me. My twin. My sister. She just cries harder, and I lean my head on top of hers.