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“It must have been hard not being able to return for fifteen years.”
It was one of the hardest and cruelest aspects of being forced away from Washington and banned from returning by my father out of fear that I’d be recognized. “It was.”
A solemn silence falls over us and only the birds tweeting in the trees punctuate it. We stand there for a long while, neither one of us speaking, until the silence is finally interrupted by Bella.
“I’m sorry, I just wanted to check everything was okay.”
I can’t help but smile at the sound of her voice. It’s like every aspect of her is a drug to me. “Don’t apologize, come here.” I hold my hand out for her to take and drag her against my side.
“I thought you wanted privacy, but you’ve been gone so—”
“Quiet,” I murmur, pressing my lips to hers. “Cathal wanted a little time alone to see where Aiden is buried. You’re fine now.”
She kisses me quickly and then buries her head against my side, gazing at the tree. “That plaque is beautiful.”
Cathal smiles. “It does look nice, doesn’t it?”
“Could you both give me a moment?” I ask, squeezing Bella gently.
“Of course,” Cathal says. “We’ll stroll back and wait for you in the car.”
Cathal offers Bella his arm, which she takes. Had it been anyone else, I’d probably lose my shit, but I trust Cathal more than any other man on this planet. Bella gives me a soft smile before walking away.
Kneeling down, I place my hand on the spot where my twin lies beneath, resting in peace, even if he never did get the proper send off he deserved. “It’s done, Aiden. I made them all pay for you,” I murmur, feeling the tears filling my eyes the moment I say his name. Tears that have eluded me for so long. “And in the process, I found my soulmate. I think you would have liked her.” I laugh then, tears streaming from my eyes. “Hell, I bet we would have had to fight over her, as we always liked the same girls.”
I draw in a deep breath, shaking my head. “I’ll never forget you. I’ve carried a piece of you with me in my heart since you died, and I always will. I hope you know that.”
A gust of wind rustles the trees, and for once, I allow myself to believe that it is him giving me a sign from beyond the grave. “I love you, brother. Forever and always.” I let my tears land on the ground, knowing that I can finally move on now that his killers are dead.
48
EPILOGUE
BELLA
I’m a bundle of nerves as the town car snakes through the winding country roads. Today I’m visiting my new forever home; Isiah’s country retreat in Letchworth. The slight nauseous feeling is either the fact that I’m nervous or that I’m three months pregnant with our first child. A fact I only found out about two days before we departed Washington, and I’ve yet to tell Isiah.
“You look like you’re nervous,” Isiah says, studying me closely with those intense blue eyes.
I swallow hard. “How did you know?”
He smiles softly. “You have this thing where your nose wrinkles when you’re thinking about something that bothers you.”
“No, I don’t.”
Isiah smirks. “Are you sure about that, love?”
There is no certainty of anything at this point—if Isiah says my nose wrinkles, then maybe it does. Squaring my shoulders, I reply, “I’m just anxious to see our new home.”
“It’s new to you, but not to me.” He rubs a hand across the back of his neck. “I meant what I said. If it’s not what you want, we can sell it and find somewhere else together.”
“I might love it,” I point out.
“Perhaps.” His eyes narrow. “But I’m not sure if you will think it’s too pretentious or not.”
I laugh as he knows after living at my parents’ home for so many years, pomp is the last thing I want.
“Do you find it pretentious?” I ask.
