When the door closed, Josie muttered, “Huh.” There really wasn’t anything else to say. Smiling up at Kai, she asked, “Ready?”
“Ready, Sunshine.”
With two banana cakes in hand, they headed out to join her other family for dinner.
Epilogue
June 2050
Malakai held his breath as the announcer called out the judges’ decisions.
“By unanimous vote, the winner of the welterweight title is, for Team Palamo, King – the Cobra – Massey!”
The shouts from the crowd were deafening. The title bout had been fought in New Atlanta’s arena instead of an out-of-town venue, and approximately thirty of the Stone Society along with Kai’s parents and several members of his family were in the crowd, cheering on Kai’s star fighter. Kingston had been the first to sign up to train under Malakai, and less than two years later, had won their first title match. When the young man walked through the door of the training center, Malakai knew there was something special about the kid. And King had been a kid. Barely eighteen, he’d come in a broken young man from an abusive home life. Kai and Josie became his family, and after a few months of training and friendship from Kai and love and nurturing from Josie, King transformed before their eyes. Palamo Training had several excellent fighters, but King had worked his ass off, earning the title.
After an hour of interviews and photos, the three of them headed home where their family waited with a celebration fit for a king. Yes, there were plenty of jokes made, but Kingston took them in stride. Kai and Josie hadn’t been able to get back to the island, so his parents had come to them four times. Each time, they brought different grandkids to get a look at the big city.
When they arrived home, the party out by the pool was in full swing. When they walked out the French doors, everyone chanted, “Cobra, Cobra, Cobra.”
King’s smile was brighter than Kai’s beloved sunrise. That is until the young man walked down the steps, faltering. He shook his head as he reached for something to steady him.
Kai rushed to steady King. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just got a little lightheaded.” When he straightened, King sucked in a breath. “Who is that?” he asked, staring at Henry’s sister, Samaria.
Josie laughed, and Kai grinned at his mate. They had joked about adopting Kingston, but if Kai’s gut was correct, King was going to become part of the family for real. Samaria strode up to King and introduced herself, and just like that, there was more than a title to celebrate.
As the two families partied and mingled as one, Kai wrapped his arms around his mate from behind, his hands splayed across her round belly. It had taken almost a year for all their homes to be rebuilt, but the Clan had become closer than ever. Rafael took Kaya, Sebastian, and Priscilla to the Italian villa to give Kaya time to heal. Nik and Sophia moved in with Julian and Katherine. Jasper and Trevor ended up staying with Frey and Abbi.
Henry settled into his job with Julian. It didn’t take long for Julian to trust Henry with the lab. With a baby on the way, Jules was more than happy to let Henry focus on everything computer-related while Julian focused on Katherine. It took him longer to get over being bested by Hagen and the unknown hacker, but Katherine and little Carleigh helped.
Trevor, whose journals had been found under the rubble of his and Jasper’s home, confronted Jonas about the redhead clones. Jonas denied having anything to do with the Tessa look-alikes, but he admitted to working with Craven before he cloned Tessa. The need to find Craven moved to the top of the Clan’s list.
Several of Kai’s nieces and nephews had chosen to remain in New Atlanta after visiting, and so had those of Rafael’s family who had been thinking of moving. Josie’s relationship with her own family had improved somewhat, and they joined her parents for dinner once a month.
Ariki and Lani made their way through the crowd. Lani smiled at Kai’s protective hold on his unborn son. “Have you chosen a name?”
“I have.”
Josie turned her head, frowning up at him. “You have?”
“Yes, Sunshine. I have. Our firstborn will carry both our names. Joseph Manaia Palamo has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
Josie’s face softened. “It’s perfect.”
“Just like his mama.” Kai turned his mate in his arms and began swaying to the music. Ariki and Lani joined them. Just as Malakai had promised, he danced for Josie anytime she requested, which was often. Considering how much it turned her on to watch, Kai had no problem moving sensually to a slow song or amping it up to perform a livelier, Samoan dance. When the music changed to rumbling drumbeats, Ariki tapped Kai in the shoulder. “Showtime.”
The crowd moved back, giving Kai and his male family members room to move. They weren’t dressed in their lavalava, but that didn’t matter. It was the movements, the chanting, and the shouts that called to the gods.
Josie stood transfixed as she did every single time he danced for her. The fire in her eyes let him know she was turned on, and they were lit with literal flames. The
