Page 29 of Only for You
Epilogue
One year later
Killian rose from the dark blue leather couch, a glass of champagne in his hand. Music from the club reflected off the glass of the VIP room, white privacy curtains helping to mute the noise. Glancing around, he couldn’t help but smile at the warm glow of satisfaction that settled in his chest. The people he cared about most surrounded him. Rion and his wife, Harper. Sasha and his fiancée, Corrine. And of course, Killian’s reason for breathing, existing…
He extended his hand toward Gabriella, and returning his smile, she wrapped her fingers around his and stood beside him.
“All right,” he announced. “I know you’re all wondering what the secrecy is about.”
“It had crossed our minds,” Rion drawled.
“I was being patient,” Harper said, throwing a chiding glance at her husband of nine months. “Unlike some people.”
Rion leaned forward and whispered something in her ear that had the lovely brunette blushing and clutching his friend’s thigh.
Gabriella snorted. “I think we better get this announcement going before we lose those two.”
Laughing, Killian held his glass of champagne higher. “Everybody grab a glass of champagne. We’re celebrating.”
“Is this about Gabby’s restaurant being named one of L.A.’s top ten dive bars?” Sasha asked, rising with his glass in hand. “Congratulations, sweetheart.” His friend leaned over and placed a smacking kiss on Gabriella’s cheek. “We saw the article online and couldn’t be more proud.”
After only a year, Gabriella’s place—simply called The Dive Bar—had become one of the more popular establishments in the Culver City, CA, area. She and Killian traveled back and forth between the east and west coasts, so she could remain hands-on with her restaurant. And yeah, they were racking up the frequent flyer miles, but the jet lag and constant—sometimes relentless—pace was worth it to see her make her dream come true. As long as he could share in it, like he’d asked in her uncle’s bar a year ago, he was happy.
“Hear, hear,” Corrine cheered, clinking her glass with Gabriella’s. “You know, Gabby, if you decide to open a Dive Bar here in Boston, I would recommend it to all my readers. Girl, you’d clean up.” Corrine, a sports columnist forTheBeantown Globe, apopular, local online magazine, had a huge following, and Killian didn’t doubt one recommendation from her would have people packing into the bar.
“I love your belief in me and my entrepreneurial skills, but let me get past the first couple of years first before I think about opening a chain.” Gabriella grinned at Corrine, hugging the redhead. The three women had become fast friends, and while he, Rion, and Sasha were thankful the women they loved got along, the trio could be downright scary when they conspired against the men in their lives. Which was often.
“I almost shit a brick when that article came out, but nope, that’s not why we asked you guys here.” Sliding an arm around Gabriella’s shoulder, Killian pressed his lips to her hair, savoring her sweet, familiar scent. Thanking God he could inhale it every day. “Gabby and I made a pit stop on the way home from L.A. yesterday.” Pausing, he reached in his pants pocket and removed a diamond ring. He slid it on her left ring finger and kissed the jewelry that symbolized his love and commitment to this woman. “We stopped in Vegas and got married.”
Stunned silence permeated the glass-enclosed room for several long moments. Then shrieks of joy—from Harper and Corrine—and lower, but no less enthusiastic, murmurs of congratulations momentarily eclipsed the muted music.
Joy that he could share this moment—his happiness, his bright future—with not just his woman, but the men and women he considered family, filled him to the point of bursting. This—his brothers, the women who adored them, completed them, this business they’d built together, the life they shared—this was peace. Hope. What they’d fought to free themselves from the mob for.
It was perfection.
“See?” Sasha nodded his head toward Killian and Gabriella. “See how simple eloping is? How happy they look? How…unstressed?”
“Can it, Merchant.” Corrine narrowed her eyes on him, jabbing her champagne in his direction. “You want to explain to my mother why she can’t plan our wedding or see her daughter walk down the aisle?”
Sasha gave an exaggerated shudder. “Fuck no. Never mind.”
“Pussy.” Rion snickered.
“Hey, have you seen her mother with her Irish up?” Sasha demanded. “Screw you. She’s scary.”
“Hey.” Corrine slapped his arm, grinning. “That’s my mother you’re talking about.”
Chuckling, Sasha lifted his glass high. “To Mr. and Mrs. Vincent. Wishing you many years together. No one deserves it more than you two. Love you.”
A chorus of well wishes followed the toast, but as Killian sipped the sparkling wine, he noticed Harper didn’t have a drink.
“Harper?” He arched a glass, glancing from her to Rion, and then returning his attention to the slim brunette. “Everything okay? You don’t like the champagne?”
She smiled, tipping her head back to meet her husband’s gaze as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “No, it’s not that. I just have to forego alcohol for a little while.”
He frowned as Gabriella said, “Why would you…Holy shit.”
“You’re pregnant,”Corrine shouted, shoving her glass into Sasha’s hand before launching herself at Harper. The redhead embraced Harper, and seconds later, Gabriella joined in.
Thrilled for his friend, Killian crossed the floor and drew Rion into a tight hug. As soon as he stepped back, Sasha dragged him into one.
So much joy. So much promise and hope.
A year ago, they’d been fighting to find their feet in the new world they’d created. But it’d been one devoid of love, of family other than their brotherhood. But now their future stood in this room with them.
Love had changed them.
Had saved each of them.
And every day was a gift.
