by Rina Kent
The lightning in his gaze takes my breath away. Then his brows furrow. “Am I the father?”
How can he even ask that? “Of course you are.”
“Good.” He gives a curt nod.
“If you weren’t, would you leave me?”
“Fuck no. I would’ve killed the biological father and raised the child as mine.”
I nudge him. “That’s not something to joke about.”
He grins. “Who said I’m joking?”
“Hey!”
His large hand cradles my stomach, expression filled with awe.
“I’m going to be a father.” The wonder in his voice undoes me. He stands. I wrap my legs around his waist as he hugs me so tight, I burst into laughter. Crow laughs with me, the sound is intoxicating.
“Would you have me?” he asks, resting his forehead against mine. “I know I’m not perfect and I haven’t lived a normal life, but I want to start anew with you and our child.”
My heart warms. “You don’t even have a choice. I told you the last time that I’m keeping you. I’m the beast, remember? And I’m kidnapping you into my castle.”
“Is the beast supposed to be wearing my T-shirt?” He growls.
“No?” I don’t know why it came out as a question.
“I want it back.” He grins mischievously. “Right fucking now.”
Epilogue
Eloise
Two months later,
* * *
A kick wakes me up. I groan while I sit up in bed with a hand on my belly. My baby girl is such a sadist. I swear she’s been waking me up this way for weeks.
I’m not the least bit surprised, though. She’s Crow’s daughter after all.
Speaking of Crow.
My gaze looms around the room. A shaft of morning light slips through a little opening between the curtains. Crow never leaves the curtains open. He says there’s always a risk of snipers, even though we have bodyguards that watch from a distance. Crow mentioned they’re the Rhodes’ men and The Rhodes were his disciples. As long as he trusts them, I trust them, too.
Crow’s masculine, leather scent is all over the sheets and me, but there’s no trace of him.
A lump forms at the back of my throat — just like every time I wake up and don’t find him.
For the first weeks since his return, I clung to him all day and night, refusing to let him do anything. The thought of waking up to find out all this is a dream, and Crow is indeed dead, haunts me.
Perhaps he isn’t real. Perhaps I’m going insane.
Crow must’ve felt my distress because he did a wonderful thing. He asked me to introduce him to Céline and her family. We invited them over for dinner. Céline gashed about him for days. We meet regularly now. Knowing that Crow wants to be a constant part of my life put my mind at ease.
I still dislike waking up to this emptiness.
My baby daughter kicks again, and I cradle my stomach. “Take it easy, ma petite.”
Charlotte saunters inside and hops on the bed. Her nose sniffles on my stomach. She’s been doing this all the time these past weeks. I’m sure she will be the best of friends with my baby.
Orange, on the other hand, glares at my belly from a distance as if he doesn’t like the idea of a baby in the first place.
I stroke Charlotte’s head then put on a sweater and descend the stairs. The reception area is clean and tidy. The ceilings are freshly-painted. All the wallpaper are renovated.
Papa’s house became a wonder thanks to all the work Crow and I have put into renovating it. Okay, mostly Crow. He’s excellent at using those strong hands.
Papa would be so proud to see the house they left me in its best shape.
I stand in front of the jar, retrieve a note and write.
‘Cosette keeps kicking me the entire time. She has Grandma’s name and apparently her temper, too.’
After I drop the note in the jar, I pause in front of the family pictures. I finger a frame with my parents. It was my first baby picture. Maman and Dad look so happy. He has an arm around her shoulder, his eyes dripping with affection for me and my mother. There wasn’t a day where I didn’t feel Dad’s love for us. There’s a recent picture of me sitting between my parents a few weeks ago when Crow and I visited them for the third time since his return.
I didn’t want to hurt Crow’s feelings by making him meet Dad, but he said that he doesn’t mind. He’s my father after all, and although Crow hates him, he respects him for protecting his family. He’s also thankful to him because I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Dad.
Crow was even the one who placed the old picture here. You look fucking adorable as a baby was his only excuse.
As Céline says, ‘Crow is a keeper.’
My parents and I can only meet on Dad’s private island near Ebiza. Even Crow agreed. If Hades knows Dad – or Crow – are alive, he’ll hunt them down. Since the rest of Crow’s colleagues are keeping this Hades busy and actively working on bringing him down, I can sleep peacefully knowing that both Dad and Crow are safe.
Dad grumbled for what seemed like forever when he realised how serious my relationship with Crow is. He always tried to convince me that no man is good for me, let alone a killer, but Maman shut him up by saying that her own father used to say that and she married him anyway.
She said she can see how much Crow loves me and for that reason alone, she’ll support me. Maman, always the hopeless romantic, but again, that’s one of the main reasons why she melted a cold person like Dad.
The scent of coffee and cake wafts from the kitchen. Crow has been spoiling me senseless. It’s all for my health, he says. I tiptoe into the kitchen, ready to hug him to death. The breakfast is on the table, but there’s no sign of Crow.
My pulse spikes up and unwelcome thoughts barge into my mind.
I shoo them away when I hear faint voices coming from the kitchen’s back door. Crow’s voice is amongst them.
My breathing calms.
I approach the ajar back door and make out Crow standing at the porch, his back facing me. He’s wearing a simple grey T-shirt that stretches over well-defined muscles. The view always causes my toes to curl. Add those bird tattoos peeking from the collar of his T-shirt, and my hormones go on overdrive.
The other voice belongs to Ghost who’s giving me his side profile. He’s wearing a casual suit and standing straight, but not stiffly. I have no idea how he does that, but he just does.
Crow talks to him over the phone, but this is the first time Ghost shows up in person.
Making sure to stay hidden, I cross the sweater over my belly and lean in.
“So you’re the fucking mafia now?” Crow asks, a notch of amusement in his voice. “I bet you love it.”
“Shut it, mate.” Ghost’s voice is mildly annoyed. It’s the first time I hear him talk in anything but his composed, calm tone.
Ghost has always been a mystery. A dangerous mystery. I’m just glad that he’s one of Crow’s friends, not an enemy.
“Is Hades still a pain in the arse?” Crow asks, and this time, his voice hardens.
“He won’t be coming here,” Ghost says. “He doesn’t have enough assassins left for trivial matters. He’s focusing on Team Zero because he can keep us on leech with Omega. But if he’s imprisoning half of our mates, then he’s desperate not to lose us.”
“Does he suspect you’re detoxing?”
“If he did, he would’ve locked us all up and shoved Omega into our veins.” Ghost pauses, his dark gaze lost in the distance. “He’s just suspicious by nature, but it’s gotten worse after yours and Storm’s death.”
“Just keep me the fuck out of this. I want nothing to do with Team Zero antics either. Don’t send me joker cards games anymore. I fucking hate that card now.”
My chest tugs, knowing it’s because of that time Xavier placed a joker card on me.
Ghost raises an eyebrow. “You’re abandoning your Team Zero family?”
“I have a new
family now. This is the only place where I want to be.”
I clutch the door frame for balance, barely stopping myself from running to Crow and hugging him.
He said that before, but hearing him talk about it to his closest friend makes it a lot more impactful.
“You should try finding an alternative family,” Crow continues. “Team Zero isn’t exactly conventional.”
“Team Zero is the only family I need.” Ghost’s tone is non-negotiable. “Anything else is a distraction. I don’t do distractions.”
Crow lifts a shoulder. There’s a pause before he continues, “You’re my mate, Ghost. If you need me, I’m here, but you better only need me when you’re fucking dying.”
Ghost’s lips twitch in what appears like a smile but isn’t. Perhaps he doesn’t do smiling.
His eyes snap to me with the same welcoming look. I flinch. Merde. He knew I was here all along?
“Bonjour, Eloise.”
“Bonjour.” I smile, cheeks heating at being caught eavesdropping.
Crow whirls around. The intense blue of his eyes widens a little before he strides my way. He wraps his arm around my waist, and his lips brush a kiss on my hair. “It’s a bit cold outside.”
Ghost walks to stand in front of us and says to Crow, “Your reflexes are less sharp.”
“Well, I detoxed completely, not like you losers.”
“It works differently for all of us. You’ve got lucky somehow.”
“Lucky? You little —” Crow glares even though his voice is jokey. “You know what? Don’t call me when you’re dying, Ghost. I will just attend the fucking funeral.”
“Hey.” I stroke his chest. “Don’t say that.”
Ghost’s lips just twitch in amusement. He addresses me. “If you need help with this one, let me know.”
I grin. “I will.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I’m a fucking gentleman.” He pauses then places a large palm on my belly. “Sorry, little one. No more cursing.”
Ghost shakes his head and walks down the porch.
“Tell Shadow he owes me a boxing match,” Crow shouts at his back.
Ghost lifts two fingers without looking back.
As soon as he’s out of sight, Crow ushers me inside with a protective hand around my back. He finds a blanket and drapes it around my shoulder.
“You should’ve not come outside,” he scolds, but his voice drips with affection. That’s Crow. He’s hard around the edges but the most affectionate man inside.
At least with me. And that’s more than enough.
“I was intrigued by Ghost,” I say. “He seems so mysterious and interesting.”
Crow comes to a screeching halt at the kitchen’s threshold. His eyes narrow on me as he says slowly, “Mysterious and interesting, huh?”
I laugh and nudge his side. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Damn right you didn’t. Ghost is like my brother so that makes him your brother-in-law once we get married.”
My breath hitches as I stare up at him. “G-Get married?”
“Yeah. What did you think? I heard you talking to Céline saying you don’t want to look fat in a wedding dress or I would’ve married you a long time ago. You don’t even need the wedding dress if you ask me.”
My throat dries. “Are you… proposing to me right now?”
“Wait a second.” He rounds the corner and runs back a moment later with a velvet box in his hand. He starts to open it then stops. “Wait. I should be on my knees for this.”
“No.” I clutch his hand and keep him upright. Giddiness swirling all over me. “Just say the words already!”
Deep affection shines in the bright blue of his eyes as he says in a deep, composed voice, “You gave my life purpose, and I want to spend the rest of it showing you how much you mean to me. Would you marry me, Eloise?”
“Yes! Yes!” I wrap my arms around his neck, tears forming in my eyes. I brush my lips against his and say, “You gave my life meaning, too.”
Cosette kicks again as if to make herself noticeable. Crow and I burst in laughter.
I never felt so alive.
Extended Epilogue
Eloise
* * *
Four years later,
* * *
Giggles drift in from the window overlooking the garden. The sound is carefree and infectious. I can’t help smiling.
I kiss Christophe’s little sleepy head and brush his brown strands back. He’s barely a year old, but he’s religious about his nap time. Unlike his rebellious eldest sister, who’s still playing outside.
After setting the baby monitor, I close the door to Christophe’s nursery and head outside.
Rays of sunlight bathe the outside garden. I halt at the threshold of the main door, transfixed by the most wonderful view in the world.
Camilia runs around the table with Charlotte, while Orange watches from the bench with a bored expression – like he’s above the whole thing. My daughter is wearing her monster uniform, because unlike the other girls, she thinks princesses are ‘overrated’. She’s named after Maman and has her exact temper. Dark locks of hair fall from her mask as her little feet carry her at an unusual speed.
Or perhaps the speed has to do with the fact that her father is holding back, letting her think she’s gotten away from him.
Crow is grinning, the blue of his eyes gleaming with happiness and mischief. That little monster, his Cam, as he calls her, had him as a ring around her little finger even before she came to the world.
I was completely wrong about doubting Crow’s parental abilities. Sometimes, when it got too hard, and I couldn’t take it anymore, he would put me to bed and take care of Cosette and Christophe all night.
He’s the type of father who doesn’t allow anything to happen to his family. He’s a gorgeous family man who does everything to make us feel loved and protected. It’s like he’s making up for what he lost as a child. And in some way, he is. He told me countless times that he never dreamt something beyond killing existed for him, so to have us is his miracle. So I told him that he is my miracle, too. I don’t even want to think about what would’ve happened if he didn’t come into my life.
Crow scoops Cosette in his arms and tickles her. She breaks into a fit of giggles.
I melt every time I witness that sight. I love them. I love him. More than words can describe.
Who knew that the man with tattoos peeking from the sleeves of his T-shirt and scars all over his body would be a wonderful father, husband and family man? All at once.
“Maman!” Cosette shrieks between giggles, extending little hands towards me. “Help moi.”
I shake my head, smiling. Due to Crow insisting on speaking English and me insisting on speaking French, our children talk in a mixture of both.
The specialist said it’s normal for bilingual kids. In fact, it’s perfect to stimulate their brains. Their control of speech will get better as they grow up.
Crow makes eye contact, and the intensity in his gaze causes a shudder to shoot down my spine. He’s never ceased to spring my body to life. Not when we first met, and not in all the years that have followed.
Some would think he’d lose his charm over time, but he’s been aging like fine wine. If anything, he’s a lot more alluring and irresistible now.
I clear my throat, adopting my parental tone. “Time for your nap, Cosette.”
“Non!” She wraps her arms tightly around Crow.
“Cosette,” I warn.
“Daddy?” She looks at him with those puppy eyes that she must’ve learnt from Charlotte.
Crow’s expression softens, and he’s about to agree. He’d give her his heart if she asked to see it.
Definitely a ring wrapped around her little finger.
I meet his gaze and shake my head. She needs her nap time.
Crow groans and pats Cosette’s head. “Tell you what, my little monster. If you nap, I’ll take you to the beach when you
wake up. We will play there all you want.”
Her big green eyes light up, but she says nothing. Her brows pinch together. She must be trying to figure out how to negotiate a better deal.
Like father, like daughter.
“Until dinner?” She finally asks.
Crow nods. “Until dinner.”
“D’accord!”
He carries her inside, and both Charlotte and Orange follow them. Crow stops beside me, lowers his head and plants a kiss on my forehead. Cosette emulates him and does the same.
With a sigh, I settle onto the chair and sip the lemonade they left behind. A soft breeze passes over me.
I close my eyes and tilt my head back.
Life can be so beautiful. I’m glad I took a chance at it.
Warm lips seal against mine. My hand ghosts up to his neck as I kiss him back, slowly at first, sinking into the feeling. Then, he deepens it. My body heats and the breath knocks out of me.
He breaks away, but remains perched over me, his hot breaths tickling along my skin. “That daughter of yours is a handful. She fell asleep right away which means she was tired.”
“Seriously?” My hands slip under his T-shirt to settle on his hard abs. They flex under my touch. “Is it time to talk about Cosette right now?”
“I was thinking.” He picks me up bridal style. I gasp, circling his neck for balance. Crow’s eyes brighten with mischievousness as he says, “Since the kids are napping, shouldn’t my lovely wife nap, too?”
I bite my lower lip. This side of him always gets me on my toes. “Does that mean you’ll tuck me in?”
He nibbles on the lobe of my ear and growls. “Oh, absolutely.”
I break into a fit of laughter and excitement and happiness.
I have never felt so alive.
* * *
The End
Book Three - Ghosted
Ghosted’s Blurb
He was born a weapon. She became one to destroy him.