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EPILOGUE
DÉSIRÉE
It’s been less than a month since I killed Gaylord and part of me still worries that someone is going to come and haul me off to jail. Malcolm says he’d never let that happen, and even though I believe him, it still scares me. My gut’s telling me that something more is going to happen. So far, my gut has never been wrong. It was right about someone following me.
Apparently, all of those times that I thought someone was watching me, it was Gaylord. Malcolm and my brothers went back to his place and found a whole shrine dedicated to me. Photos of me. Photos of Malcolm’s house and car. Hell, there were even photos of my brothers’ houses. The man wasn’t in love with me. He was obsessed.
If I hadn’t killed him, I’m sure I would have been in the same situation that I was in with Dimitri. Tied up in a small room while he just had his way with me. I can’t go through that again.
After everything quieted down after Gaylord, I took my brother up on his advice to take some refresher courses in self-defense. I chose Krav Maga to learn simply because I didn’t know anything about it, and it focuses on real-life situations. That’s what I need. I need to know what to do when someone comes up behind me and puts a gun in my back.
At first, Malcolm was a bit hesitant to let me go to the classes, but when he saw how it was boosting my confidence, he was all for it. If there’s one thing that I can say about Malcolm is, he’s always going to want me to be okay. He’s always going to do what he can to make sure I’m taken care of. I know in my heart of hearts that Malcolm loves me more than life itself, and it’s a very humbling feeling.
Right now, we’re working on me being able to go places without him and not have a panic attack. I’m trained, and he makes sure I have a weapon and a tracker on me at all times, but still, there is the chance that all of that might fail. There’s a chance the very second I put my guard down, someone is going to wrap their arms around my waist and throw me in the trunk of some car. Along with me being so upset, Malcolm is getting more and more frustrated that he’s yet to find Dimitri. It didn’t take him this long to find me when I was locked up there with him. He’s beating himself up for not finding him directly after and killing him. I explained to him that if he were to have done that, it would mean he’d have left me to be alone at one of the hardest points in my life. I want him to catch Dimitri, but I needed him way more at that moment. The fact that he was able to help me through such an insane time pacifies him most days.
“You sure you’re going to be okay? I can make this meeting really quick with Félix, and then I’ll come with you.” Malcolm holds me in his arms as the two of us lean against his car. I’m going to a charity event in town, it’s not Malcolm’s thing, but I know he’d come with me if I asked him too. There’s going to be a lot of people at the event, but at least it’s being held outside.
“I promise I’m going to be just fine. I have my tracker, and my phone is fully charged if I feel like something is going on, I’m going to call you right away. I can do this, Malcolm.” I smile and scratch my nails lightly at the back of his neck while he pulls me closer to his body.
“I know you can. Honestly, this is all due to me being selfish. I don’t want to share you with anyone, not even your company.” He squeezes my thighs, and I have to stop myself from letting out a moan. If I do, neither one of us is going to end up where we’re supposed to be.
“Well, you know what they say, some birds are too beautiful to be caged.” I smile at him as a cute pout appears on his mouth.
“Does that mean you’re going to fly away? I’m not good with that. Not at all.” He’s gruff.
“If I fly away, I’ll always come back. I know where home is, Malcolm.” I kiss him, and instead of just the peck I thought I was going to get, he deepens the kiss making my toes curl in my converse sneakers.
“Every night. You’ll come back every night,” he says out of breath against my lips.
“Yes. Every night. Forever.” I kiss him again, softer this time. I hold him tight, just hoping that he understands just how much I mean what I say. I don’t ever want to be anywhere else but with him.
“You ever going to come in, or should I reschedule?” My brother Rémy sticks his head out the door. He glares at us, and even though he’s trying to make it seem like he’s angry, I know he’s over the moon. I have someone who loves me as much as Malcolm does. When we finally let the family know that we were official, no one was surprised. If anything, they wanted to know what took us so long.
Everyone’s happy that Malcolm and I finally got together, but I know my brothers are still waiting for him to do something that would cause them to have to beat him down. He may be one of their oldest friends, but they’re my brothers, after all.
“He’s coming.” I lean over and stick my tongue out at Rémy, who rolls his eyes and goes back inside.
“I’m hoping that this shouldn’t take too long. I’ll send you a text when I’m finished, and if you want me to, I’ll come meet up with you, or I can meet you back at home.” Malcolm starts taking a few steps back from me.
“I don’t think I’ll be at the event that long. I’ll meet you at home. Don’t rush, I went shopping, and there’s a little present I want you to see me in.” I smirk at him and shoot him a wink.
He huffs out a breath, “Mon trésor.” His eyes go dark with desire, and he takes a step back in my direction.
“Ah.” I put my hand up to stop him. “The longer it takes you to finish here, the longer it takes you to get home. You can’t have it both ways.” I laugh at the completely pitiful look on his face. You’d think he and I never had sex before. I love that he still wants me so badly. It’s like we can never get enough of each other, and I’m perfectly fine with that.
“Hurry up,” he growls out before he backs up toward the door. I just smile at him and walk around to the driver’s side of his car. I hop in, and he walks into the building to have his meeting with my brothers. I’m not sure what’s going on, but Félix called everyone in. I hope it’s nothing too bad. I check my mirrors, turn the car on, and just as I’m about to pull off, my phone rings in my pocket.
I put the car back in park and pull out my phone. I don’t want to miss it if it’s Malcolm. When I look at the screen, I see an unknown number. My gut tells me not to answer.
I should have listened.
I slide my finger along the green icon, “Hello?”
“Ahh, Désirée, Désirée. I’ve missed the sound of your voice.”
Panic and dread claw through my body like a monster. I’m hallucinating. I must be. This can’t be happening.
“Who is this?” My voice is barely a whisper. I don’t dare say his name out loud. I fear if I do, this nightmare will become a reality.
