Page 58 of The Ecstasy of Sin (Brutal Brotherhood #1)
Wren
Two weeks later.
The midday sun is warm against my skin, hanging high in a clear blue sky as it chases away the chill of autumn. A crisp breeze stirs the trees that surround our home, carrying the scent of leaves and pine through the air.
The evergreens tower at the property’s edge like ancient sentinels, while the giant oak and maple trees scattered across the sprawling lawn are dressed in the fiery shades of fall—red, gold, and amber fluttering like sparks as they catch the sunlight with every gust of wind.
Hunter has abandoned the ball I was throwing, now happily leaping into the air to catch the falling leaves as they spiral down around him.
His red sable coat gleams in the sunlight, freshly groomed and radiant, every inch of him vibrating with joy.
Tongue lolling, eyes alight—he is the picture of happiness.
“He loves all this open space.”
I turn at the sound of Dominic’s voice just as he steps outside, the heavy front door clicking shut behind him. He jogs down the stone steps toward me, dressed in nothing but black sweatpants, his broad, tattooed chest glistening with sweat. The sight of him makes my heart race.
“Yeah,” I reply, smiling as Hunter runs to greet him, his fluffy tail wagging in wild circles. “The guys still fight over who gets to take him for a hike or a jog, but at least I get the mornings.”
Dominic chuckles, then lowers himself behind me, his legs bracketing mine as he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me against his chest. His lips brush the shell of my ear. “My sweet little lamb,” he whispers, voice thick with affection. “Are you happy?”
I lean into him, melting in his embrace, my head tilting back against his shoulder. “How could I not be?”
He hums low, his palms sliding over my softly rounded stomach. “You look fucking incredible.”
A shy smile tugs at my lips. “You keep feeding me the way you do, I’m gonna end up real chubby, just like I was growing up.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” He tucks his face into my neck, pressing a kiss to the pulse thudding there as it quickens from his touch.
Dominic’s hand lifts, his fingers curling around my throat. He leans back just enough to look down at me, our eyes locking. “Whoever told you fat was a bad thing deserves to get their ass kicked.”
I whimper, his grip tightening ever so slightly, and my gaze remains fixed on the darkness in his green eyes, burning darkly just for me .
“Whatever your body ends up looking like now that you’re well-fed, well-fucked, and finally safe… it will always be perfect to me.”
He’s right. I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. After years of surviving on scraps, bouncing between starvation and binge eating whenever I could find food, I owe my body more grace than this.
Now I’m here: loved, healing, and learning to love myself too.
A tear slips free, trailing down my cheek. Dominic releases my throat to catch it with his thumb, brushing it away. “Bodies are just vessels, Wren. Beauty changes. But what’s inside—your soft, empathetic heart—that stays.”
“You're a poet, Dominic.”
“And a serial killer,” he reminds me, his voice dropping as his mouth hovers over mine.
My breath catches, and our lips brush against one another.
“I’ll love your body with every inch of mine until my last breath, no matter what you look like.” Then he kisses me. Slow, deep, and consuming, his tongue sweeping over mine, pouring his obsession, and his promise, into every breath we share.
I climb into his lap, cradled in his arms as he devours me.
When he finally pulls away, I offer him a genuine smile. “I love you.”
“I love you too, little lamb.”
He leans in again, but freezes as the front door bursts open.
Voices erupt from inside, and then Ryker barrels out, flying down the front steps in nothing but sweatpants. His mouth is full of what looks suspiciously like Mrs. Caldwell’s fresh baking .
We both sit up, Dominic’s arms tightening around me.
“What the fuck is happening now,” he groans.
Ghost comes running out behind Ryker, his face twisted in fury. “You motherfucker!”
Ryker is howling with laughter while jumping down the steps like his life depends on it, hitting the driveway at full speed, and judging by the look on Ghost’s face, his life is definitely at stake.
“It was just a kiss!” Ryker hollers, nearly face-planting as he stumbles, then recovers and takes off across the lawn.
I can’t help it, I start laughing, the sound spilling out uncontrollably as Ghost lunges after him. My laughter only gets louder when Hunter joins the chaos, barking and hopping around like this is the best game in the whole world.
“Get ‘em, Hunter! Bite Warrick! Protect me!”
Dominic drops his head to my shoulder with a sigh, but there’s a smile tugging at his lips. “I love the sound of your laugh… even if it’s because of these idiots.”
Ryker keeps dodging Ghost like a pro, who can’t help but laugh a little over Hunter’s excited antics, despite his best efforts to hold onto his righteous anger.
“Ryk needs a lesson in consent, Hunter. Take a chunk out of his ass cheek!” Ghost yells before lunging and slamming into Ryker’s midsection. The two of them hit the grass hard, rolling as they wrestle. Ryker is still laughing at Ghost’s reaction to whatever it is he did.
Torin steps out onto the porch next, followed by Mrs. Caldwell—our newly appointed house manager. She was more than happy to accept the job, and a room in the house, since her husband passed and she has no family nearby.
Dominic told me he has hired her on and off over the years, and Ryker swears by her loyalty. She’s older, kind, loves animals and books… the perfect addition to our household.
Just like Dr. Everly, who moved to Ontario last week and took up residence in a newly renovated cottage about twenty minutes away. She’s become a permanent fixture in the medical facility downstairs, helping me manage my chronic illness with more care than I’ve ever known.
Sometimes I still cry thinking about all of this. Everything Dominic has done for me, and continues to do. He’s completely rewritten my life into something I never dreamed I could have.
Torin sighs as he comes to stand beside us. “Ryker stole Ghost’s croissant… and then kissed him on the mouth.”
“Of course he did,” Dominic mutters, like none of this surprises him.
My smile is so wide it aches.
“Please, boys!” Mrs. Caldwell calls out, waving her hands from the porch. “There’s an entire tray of fresh croissants in the kitchen! No need to fight!”
“It’s about more than the croissants, ma’am,” Ghost calls out, polite as ever. “Ryker needs to learn some fucking manners.”
With Ghost turned toward Mrs. Caldwell—who just sighs and shakes her head before heading back inside—Ryker seizes the opportunity. He leans up and drags his tongue across Ghost’s cheek .
My laughter dies instantly as I watch Ghost turn his head in slow motion, eyes locking onto Ryker’s smug, shit-eating grin.
Ghost clenches his fist, drawing it back, and aiming at Ryker’s face.
Before he can even think about swinging, Hunter is wriggling his way in between the two men, pinning Ryker with his full weight and assaulting him with a frenzy of kisses. Ryker wheezes, trying and failing to fend him off as the German Shepherd plants slobbery love all over his face.
“Yeah, see how you like it,” Ghost chuckles, rising to his feet while Hunter keeps Ryker pinned in a flurry of fur and devotion.
I laugh again, loud and unrestrained, and this time, Dominic and Torin join me.
“Karma,” Ghost mutters with a satisfied nod, before heading back inside.
Ryker’s still wrestling with Hunter, twisting his face away in a desperate attempt to dodge the onslaught of wet kisses. “I feel so betrayed!” he shouts. “After all those walks, you turn on me?!”
I turn in Dominic’s arms, curling my hands around his neck as I lean in and press a soft kiss to his lips. He gazes up at me like I hung the moon and the stars just for him, and the warmth in his eyes makes my cheeks flush.
“Yes,” I whisper. “I’m definitely happy.”
He smiles up at me, the warmth reaching his eyes.
Really, how could I not be ?
I’m part of a family now: fierce, loyal, and undoubtedly damaged like me. Forged between brothers who aren’t afraid to love each other with everything they have.
Even though I have to live the rest of my life with chronic illness, and carry my soul-deep grief every single day, I’m not alone anymore. There’s enough love here to light even the darkest corners of me, filling me in ways I never imagined possible.
And any lingering thoughts I once had of submitting that application to end my life? Nowhere to be found. Chased away by the obsession, devotion and unrestrained love of a man that may be more villain than hero, but is absolutely perfect for me in every way.
For the first time since I was a little girl, I love my life.