Page 83 of Brutal Mercy

“I’ve got an idea that will help us win,” Roman says, “But it’s dicey. And it could backfire spectacularly.”

After what just happened, I’m fine with dicey. “Let’s head into my office. As far as I’m concerned, all those fuckers can burn for this.”

Roman smiles. “Then you’re really going to like what I have in mind.”

We head into my office. But my thoughts are with my wife. Because I know how close I came to losing her.

Chapter twenty-four

Hades

Overthenexttwodays, Roman and I work on our strategy to strike back at the cartel. We already started hitting their warehouses. We’ll take the fortress next and bring the war to Marco’s doorstep. Ares is searching for the rat in our midst. If anyone can find him, it’s him. It’s been two days, and Luna has been at her sister’s side ever since she was rescued.

Once Roman leaves for the night, with our plans to roll out and go to war in place, I go searching for her. If her sister truly needs her, I will leave Luna with her.

I miss my wife. But I know her sister has been through hell. I check in Lyla’s room. She’s hooked up to an IV drip per doctor’s orders. She was massively dehydrated. But in the chair by her bed, I don’t see my wife. It’s my brother at her bedside, looking grim.

I nod my chin at him. Yesterday morning, he explained the conditions he found her in and the damage that had been done to her. And I want to gut Diego Alvarez. I would, too, if the fucker wasn’t already dead.

Leaving my brother to watch over Lyla, I head downstairs to our bedroom.

I locate Luna in the bathtub crying. Stripping, I climb into the tub and pull her into my arms.

“Hey, love, it’s all right. I’ve got you.”

“They raped her.”

I knew already between Ares’s account and Dr. Moreno’s report. “I know. Fuck, I’m sorry. How’s she handling it?”

“She doesn’t want to talk about it.”

“Maybe she will when she’s ready. But you can’t beat yourself up over this. Remember, this isn’t your fault.”

“I know. It’s just . . . I want to help her, and she won’t let me.”

“Give her time. With your love and patience, I’m sure she’ll recover.”

She shifts and snuggles deeper against me. And I hold her tighter. “You know what I was thinking?”

“No. But I’m sure you’re going to tell me.” The corners of her lips curl.

“That I want to redo our wedding top to bottom. I know I mentioned it before. But this time I’m asking. Luna Maya Abbott Massimo, would you do me the honor of marrying me in the biggest fucking ceremony Denver has ever seen? Would you have babies with me and love me forever?”

She cups my cheek. And the love in her eyes slays me. “If I could, I would marry you every day unto forever just so I can tell the world how much I love you.”

“It’s you and me, love, against the world. Always.” I kiss my gorgeous bride, thankful that fate saw fit to give me a woman who completes me and who shows me more love than I ever thought possible.

And I will cherish her. Always.

Epilogue

Oneyearlater

Hades emerges from the sparkling blue ocean, and I suck in a breath. He’s even sexier than the day I married him the first time. He’s wearing only a pair of black trunks. He might be forty-two, but he’s as fit as ever.

It took almost a year of planning, but we were married a second time a week ago in a massive shindig at the Brown Hotel in downtown Denver. It was gorgeous. Lyla served my maid of honor. Over the past year, she’s seen a therapist and is getting better every day.

And I’ve got Hades to thank for it. He found the therapist for her and pays them to come to the house once a week. After lots of discussion, Lyla and I decided not to resurrect Mom and Dad’s store. And we sold the house, too, when Lyla said she would never set foot in that house again. A month after the attack Hades gifted me with a pair of tuxedo kittens. As a nod to my deceased mother-in-law, I named them Poseidon and Zeus.

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