“There is no need, Antony,” Peter says calmly.
I stare at him, remembering my brother, and slowly breathing in and out, and in, and out, and in … what do I do now?
Epilogue
Antony
You worry so much about the thorn that keeps stabbing you and drawing the trickles of blood from your body that you never pay attention to the cancer that grows inside, slowly creeping through your veins and into your head until it controls not only your body, but your mind as well. The cancer feeds off of you until there is nothing left, and it has no use for you any longer … then you’re dead. The only way to prevent death is to trick the cancer and make it think you’re already dead.
Michael stands at a podium, thanking everyone for electing him before taking a moment to shed a tear, “I am honored to be your Governor, and I promise to serve you well. I have experienced great sadness in my life, losing my mother in a home invasion, losing my first wife and son in a car accident, my father in a drive by, and now my wife and brother in a horrible fire, but I won’t let tragedy defeat me. I will overcome my sadness with the help of my existing family and friends and with all the love that has been showered upon me by all of you,” he announces with applause. “You are my strength, and I will be yours!” I shake my head in disgust.
“Mr. Colletto, he is waiting for you,” Phillip says from behind me.
“Thank you,” I say, turning the TV off. I approach his door and come face to face with Peter as he is walking out. “How is he today?”
“Pissed off and horny as hell, so I wouldn’t stay in there too long. You might see some things you don’t want to,” Peter says, sliding a cigar into his mouth with a smile.
“So, I take it she is with him already this morning?”
“She never left him.” He nods, walking away.
I take hold of the doorknob and take a deep breath. I walk in and smile wide when I see them in bed kissing and holding each other as a couple should. “You look much better these days,” I say.
He sits up and opens up his arms wide to me and shows me love as he always has, with respect. “You should have run and left me, but I am damn glad you came back to get me. Although, my getaway could have been a little less bumpy.”
“Don’t blame me. I didn’t make the plan. Hell, I didn’t even know the plan until it was all over, which sucked by the way. I was ready to go back and kill him with my bare hands. If I had known they already knew he was going to blow the fucking place up and had planned to sabotage the cameras so they thought you were still down there struggling to be carried out instead of exiting out the opposite side of the estate dressed as one of his guards, then I would have felt a little better about things.”
“Trust me, it wasn’t easy on me either. Being tied to her and Thomas so I could stand was not exactly a pleasure, no matter how much alcohol they fed me.” Dace flinches a little when he laughs.
“Oh shut up, you big baby. You would have thought your whole body was broken. You were only a bit bruised, is all.” Austin kisses him and he smiles. “Maybe a few broken bones, but none that couldn’t be fixed,” she says as he shakes his head.
“So how are you now?” I ask him.
“I’m good. Bones are healing, I have my girl back, and we both have new identities. We can live how we want to now,” Dace says, gripping Austin’s hand.
“I have a new one as well. Michael thinks I am long gone in a drunken stupor on a tropical island somewhere. He’s just waiting for me to die of an overdose, I’m sure.” I look down and back up at him. “He has officially won by the way. They have recounted the votes for the last time. Not all of the people believe in him, but enough did. He has made his acceptance speech and thanked everyone for helping him get through this tough time. He stood up there with all his admirers cheering him on like he’s their chosen King.” I stand back with a sigh. “So, now what? Are we going to run away or are we going to fight?” I ask as if I don’t know his answer already.
Dace lies back with Austin at his side, his eyes wander the room before they land back at mine. “Running would be easy, and fighting is what fools do right?” I nod. “Do we still have a friend on the force?”
“Two actually now. Billy has recovered and is anxious to get back to work. Aaron is keeping his distance from Michael for now; he is acting the heartbroken brother perfectly. He’s the only one that knows about you two.”
“Good, so what do you want to do?” Dace asks me.
“We haven’t accomplished what we set out to do when we first came back here yet. Our mother’s killer is still alive and free to kill again.”
Dace looks at Austin. “I still want that boot wearing fuck, and his king.” Austin says.
“It’s up to you, Dace. Whatever you decide, we are with you,” I say, taking my brother’s hand and gripping it tight.
“Okay then, I would say now, now it’s time for us to create a new plan—a plan for Dethroning a King.”
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The Laws of Kings Page 29