Page 186 of Holy Hearts
“Which brings me to my actual point,” she says, her voice gentler now, as though she knows she’s brushing up against something fragile. “I think it’s safe to say that you’re one of us now. Officially. We’re a lot, but”—she grins, glancing around the room at Chase and Juliet, Liam and Zoe, Orion and Layla, Miles sipping a beer on the windowsill—“you fit right in. I mean, you opened a romance bookshop. You practically manifested your place in this family.”
I can’t hold back the soft laugh that spills out, but the tears gathering in my eyes betray me. I sniff quietly, but Julian notices—because of course he does. He walks over and wraps his arm around my waist from behind, pulling me against his chest.
“I’m proud of you, pet,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss against the crown of my head.
Kai moves beside me, pressing his palm against my lower back in silent solidarity. The weight of their attention—theirlove—makes me want to cry harder, but I bite my lip and try to hold it together.
Stella lifts her glass one final time. “To Sophie. To The Story Nest. And to the happiest of ever afters.”
Everyone cheers, glasses clinking together in bursts of sound that echo across the cozy shop.
Julian’s voice dips low beside me, just for me to hear. “I hope your parents come visit sometime. Wait until they notice the ‘Staff Recommendations’ shelf has a whole row of nothing but why choose romances.”
I snort, half gasping as I wipe my eyes. “Oh God. She’ll definitely need to lie down for a week after that.”
Kai chuckles softly, brushing his knuckles against the small of my back. “I’ll pray for her.”
“You might need to,” I whisper, leaning into him. “Especially when she sees the titleSeven Brothers and a Baby.”
Julian hums thoughtfully. “I thoughtClaimed by the Teamwas bolder, but sure, we’ll ease her into the shock. Or you could just put a ‘For Mum’ sign on it and let nature take its course.”
I swat at him, laughing despite myself. “You’re lucky I love you.”
Kai squeezes my waist gently. “We’re both lucky.”
The moment stretches, warm and easy, and as I glance around the shop—at the people who have become my family, the men who love me, and the life I never imagined for myself—I feel whole.
Glancing at Julian and Kai as they bicker softly over something or other, I realize this isn’t just happily ever after.
This is the beginning of something even better.
EPILOGUE
THE LEGACY
Malakai
Twenty Years Later
I open the front door of the house and gesture for Sophie to walk in before me. It feels empty and… quiet. She walks into the foyer, setting her purse down on the table and stepping out of her sneakers. I close the door behind us, and the sound echoes so loudly that I almost flinch. When she turns to face me, there are tears running down her face, and my heart clenches at the sight.
“Come here,” I say softly, holding my arms open.
She doesn’t hesitate. Walking over to me, she collides with my body and begins to sob. My hands squeeze at her sweater, and my throat aches with unshed tears.
“God, I miss him s-so much,” she says, her voice hoarse.
I kiss the top of her head, squeezing my eyes shut. It’s futile. Before I can stop it, my body shakes as I cry. Sophie squeezes me tighter, her fingers grabbing at my torso. I canfeelher pain, and it nearly knocks me over.
“I know, little dove. I miss him, too.”
“What are we going to d-do without him?”
I sniff, blinking rapidly to clear the tears. “I don’t know.”
“Nothing w-will ever be the s-same,” she adds, hiccupping as she cries.
“It won’t be, but we’ll adjust. Okay? We’ll adapt. We’ll find a new routine, and we’ll be okay. Because we have to be.”
