Page 108 of Dismantle & Prevail
Movement catches my eye and my attention moves to Rayne, who is mimicking the rest of the room.
Tears well in my eyes and that's when I notice the entire room has fallen silent. Glancing around, I see there isn’t a single dry eye in the house, Ari’s included.
Ari’s arm snakes around my waist, his hand brushing against Rayne’s back. Her dark eyes stare up at us with a smile before turning back to Boone and the rest of the team.
Slowly and as one, we all say the slogan that changed my life forever.
I have changed so much in the years since I stepped foot inside Braveheart and it's because of this family and the man next to me that I finally feel free.
Together, Ari and I dismantled the chains that tethered us to the ground and used every ounce of strength, determination, and resilience to prevail us into the next chapter of our lives.
One that I know will be full of laughter and happiness, along with the satisfaction of watching Rayne Mackenzie Clark grow into a woman, I can only hope is just like her father.
“One heart, one purpose, one destiny. For the brave and the fallen.”
Epilogue
Six Months Later
“RayneMackenzieClark!Comeinside, it's time to blow out the candles!”
The summer sun shines high in the sky, providing the perfect weather for a grand birthday celebration.
Rayne flies through the air as she jumps off the swing and runs full speed towards me. Her purple tulle dress flowing in the wind and I can’t help but laugh as I catch sight of her bedazzled purple Chucks, covered in mud.
As she reaches me, she jumps into my arms and places a kiss against my cheek. “Happy Birthday to you too, Tay! Where’s Daddy?”
Shifting her to my other hip to prevent her from hitting my fresh ink, we make our way towards the common room.
I was woken up first thing this morning with a note from Ari that included a drawing and handmade gift certificate for an all expenses paid visit to Zoro.
There was zero hesitation when I walked into his studio. Scattered across my collar bone are various butterflies that Rayne has drawn over the time she has been at Braveheart.
I’d be lying if I said the transition has been easy. As the weeks and months progressed, we learned how big of an impact Tana and Clay truly had on Rayne.
They never bothered to place her in school, nor did they care about her health. She had countless wounds at various stages of healing, and that was just on the outside. Her innocent little mind was much darker than we could have imagined.
Countless nights, Ari and I stayed up holding her as she cried, fought us, and just stared into the void as if she was stuck in some messed up daydream.
Thankfully, Ari once called me his dreamcatcher and as a united, loving front, we worked hard to show Rayne that the life that was once full of heartache was now one full of love, fun, and allowing her imagination to take her to places that weren’t possible before.
Some days, I locked myself in the bathroom and broke down. I felt as if I failed her somehow or doubted my ability to be the person she needed when my scars were just as fresh. Lucky for me, I had a man that could see the mask slipping back into place and was there to rip it to shreds and, in turn, I could do the same for him.
To no surprise of my own, Braveheart is full of helping hands and slowly but surely we were able to get Rayne on a path that would give her a clear road to healing and finally living life as any kid should.
And to my ultimate surprise, it turned out that Raynie and I are only born a day apart, so when she suggested that we have a conjoined party, it took me by surprise.
Of course, she is her father’s daughter and couldn’t do anything without some bit of flare. Which is how I find myself and Rayne walking into the common room decorated from head to toe in pink, purple, blue, and gold. Her favorite colors—at the moment.
As soon as she catches sight of Aries, she jumps off my back like a damn monkey and sprints toward him. Effortlessly, he drops down, beer in hand, and catches her, all while explaining something to Zoro.
How the hell is that so damn hot? I have no idea.
Rayne whispers something in her father’s ear and Ari spins around, finding me amongst the crowd.
Setting Rayne down, he waves me over. Pulling me to his side as soon as I’m within reach.
Tilting my head back, he presses a lingering kiss to my lips. “Happy Birthday, Butterfly.”
