Page 344 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. Two

Ruthless Desires Epilogue

Elira Firethorn

Chapter one

Rhett

The kitchen is filled with morning light as I sip my coffee and silently read a few poems from Isabella DuPont’s first collection. Wren finished the fourth one a few days ago and hasn’t been able to stop talking about it, so I figured it’s time I start reading them, too.

The little pink book rests on the kitchen counter while I sit at one of the barstools. The house is quiet still, and none of us really have much planned for today until this evening. No jobs, no connections to maintain, and nothing to do but make sure Oliver is ready for his big day.

It’s… nice.

I’m still trying to get used to days like these. To alifelike this. We spent so much of our lives focused on one goal, on one thing, and it almost ate us alive. Now that we’re on the other side—even though it’s been three years—everything feels almost surreal.

I’d say it’s too good to be true, but we’re here. Itistrue. We’re free.

A set of familiar, soft footsteps sounds on the stairs, and I close the book and cross the kitchen. I’m halfway done pouring coffee into a mug when I feel her fingers trailing down my back in a silent greeting.

“Morning, sweetheart.”

Wren makes a surprised sound. “I could’ve been Oliver.”

I shake my head. “Footsteps are too different.”

She hums as I grab the half and half from the fridge. “This for me?”

“Mmhmm.” I brush my lips across her forehead before unscrewing the cap and pouring the cream into her coffee. “Sleep well?”

“Yeah. You?” Her brows are furrowed as she watches me, and I don’t miss the concern in her voice.

Ever since we killed Richard and Ludo, my insomnia symptoms have faded. Not entirely, but enough that my sleep schedule more or less matches everyone else’s now. I feel much more rested these days. It’s like my body finally knows it can relax. I rid the earth of the men who hurt me and Sammy—who hurt all of us. Now, it’s time to live again.

“I’m okay,” I tell her, and I mean it. I may have gotten up earlier than normal today, but it was for a different reason.

At my assurance, Wren smiles and rises onto her tiptoes to kiss me. Her arms come around my torso, the feeling right and warm, before her lips meet mine. One of my hands strokes her hair while the other presses against the small of her back. I want her as close to me as possible, and she obliges without a second’s hesitation.

When we pull away, she finally notices the box on the counter. Her eyes light up, and she gasps. “Donuts!”

“Mmhmm. Fresh, too.”

With a grin, she grabs her coffee and settles into the barstool next to the one I was sitting in. “For Oliver?”

“That, and it’s the first day of summer. Thought it was worth celebrating.”

“Oooh! I forgot.” She reaches into the box and picks out a perfectly glazed donut.

I’m sure the first day of summer isn’t something that the average person pays super close attention to. But when I was younger, summer meant freedom. Without school in our way, it gave me more time to spend with Ell and O. It also meant I could keep Sammy out of the house for most of the day because I could drop her off at Moore’s, and I knew she’d be safe.

If it wasn’t for Meredith, I don’t know what I would’ve done. At that point, her day job allowed her to work from home, and she was happy to keep Sammy occupied while I worked summer jobs or hung out with the guys. I didn’t just dump Sammy on her, though. I did my best to make sure we weren’t too much of a burden. Meredith, though… she wouldn’t have any of it.

She treated us like her own. Still does.

“God, this is amazing.” Wren lets out a delighted sigh before nibbling on her donut. “I don’t think I’ve ever had one this good before.”

“They’re the best in the whole city, if you ask me.”

Leaning against the counter, I watch Wren as she takes another bite. She doesn’t look like she has a care in the world. Her hair is down, her shoulders are relaxed, and a soft smile graces her features.