Page 139 of Falcon

Epilogue

Four months later

Faith

“Baby? Come here for a second.” I hear Marco call from the living room.

Over the past four months, he’s spent one-hundred-percent of his time here in Savannah with me. I think, as much as he hasn’t admitted it yet, he likes it here much more than California.

I come out of the bedroom and slip down the hallway.

“Yeah? Everything okay?” I plop down onto the sofa next to him and he pulls my legs into his lap, sliding his hand up and down my shin.

“Read this.”

He hands me his phone with a news article pulled up and the headline makes my eyes spread wide.

WFC Champion Fighter Braxton White Charged With Sexual Assault – Multiple Women Come Forward.

“Oh my God,” I say under my breath, as I read the article in its entirety before handing it back.

“He’s been fired from the WFC because of all of this. His sponsors have pulled. His career as he knows it is over, and he’s going away for a long time. There is a special place in Hell for people like him.”

“I could see it when I looked into his eyes. He’s a monster, but this isn’t the norm, Marco. It’s so rare men like that are caught. I’m so proud of those women for coming forward and telling their story. That’s what makes other women feel empowered enough to do the same.”

I slide closer to him so I can rest my head on his shoulder.

“Have you ever thought about doing that?”

“Doing what?”

“Talking to other women about your story? Telling them that there is a light at the end of the tunnel when everything feels hopeless?”

“I mean, of course I have. I just don’t know where to begin with something like that.” She looks up at me. “Have you thought about the idea I brought to you last week?”

Over dinner with Case, Nora, Amelia, and Grayson, I pitched the idea of him opening up a gym here in Savannah that caters specifically to at-risk youth. It could be a safe place for them to go. To keep them off the streets. He can teach them basic self-defense and how they can channel their energy into something positive.

“I have thought about it every single day since you mentioned it.”

“And?”

“I think it’s a brilliant idea, but now that you mention it, I have an addendum to add to the idea.”

“I’m listening,” I say.

“I want it to be all encompassing. Tutors, computers for kids to use for homework, self-defense classes, a complete safe place…including a safe haven for women to come if they are in danger, and I’d like you to help me run in.”

“Wait…what?”

“You said it yourself. You said that you think things would be better if women felt safe enough to go somewhere to have some guidance as to what to do next if something happens to them. We can combine forces. We don’t have to go through the logistics now, because I’m sure there will be so much to do first, but I want to tackle this dream, and I want you to do it at my side.”

I blink and stare at his face as it all processes.

“You really want to link yourself to me like that?”

“Faith, I’d go downtown and marry you right now, if you’d let me. I want to be linked to you in any way that I can.”

I move quickly, climbing across his lap and kissing his lips.

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