After Selena came forward with the rape charges, two more women felt brave enough to press charges against Jesus as well. The man was sentenced to twenty years in prison and we celebrated with a trip to Puerto Rico. I was able to meet part of my father’s family and celebrate the fact that I was no longer classified as a felon, and that the piece of shit who caused so much havoc in my life was finally behind bars. I’m pretty sure that trip was when Ivelisse was conceived as well.
Since then we’ve been living the American dream—building a life together, growing our family, and celebrating our success with our family and friends. And after little convincing, I got Andre to agree to add self-defense classes at the gym for children, which has increased business tremendously.
“Uncle Javi!” My nephew Adrian and his little brother, Jaxon, come running up to me, arriving in time for the older children’s class that follows this one.
“Hey, boys. Where’s your mom?” I search the room for my sister, but don’t see her anywhere.
“She’s yelling at Dad about something. I’m surprised you don’t hear her.” Adrian says with a roll of his eyes. Even my sister’s kids know about her temper. I don’t know how Andre handles her, but they’re still going strong after all of these years. In all honesty, they’ll probably fight and then fuck each other in his office to cool down. I hate that I know that, but it’s true.
My sister found out she was pregnant with twins a few months after Jesus attacked Sydney, so my nephews were born a little less than a year later. I’ve loved being an uncle, and my mother and Emilio make sure to visit much more often now that there are grandchildren galore.
“Okay. I’m sure she’ll be out here in a minute.” Or twenty. “Go get your gloves on,” I suggest as they run back toward their bags and start taping their wrists.
“Man, they’re getting big,” Sydney says, pulling my attention back to her.
“Yeah they are.” I lean over our daughter and kiss Sydney’s lips. “Hey, Princess. How was your day?”
“Pretty good. Damian resisted a nap, so I didn’t get as much work done as I wanted. But at least I have more energy now that I’m in the second trimester.”
“I know. And don’t worry. Once this baby’s out, I’ll get your ass back in this gym and build up your stamina again.”
She grins at me mischievously. “I don’t need help with all of my stamina.” And she’s right. The woman is a sex fiend when she’s pregnant. I’m the one who needs more energy to keep up with her.
“Well, we can just keep getting that kind of work out together then, if that’s what you want.”
“I’ll never stop wanting you, Javi,” she whispers as I feel a twitch in my dick when she says that. It’s been ten years and I still want this woman every second of the day.
“Ditto, babe.”
“Daddy? Is it time to get back to the class?” Ivy asks, pulling on my shorts as my eyes shift down to her.
“Yes ma’am. Let’s go.”
“Yes!” She pumps a fist in the air and then runs back to the bags.
“She sure does like the class, doesn’t she?” Sydney adds, watching our daughter bounce in excitement as she adjusts Damian on her hip. The kid is almost three, but he still loves being held.
“Yup. And I’m glad. It’s important for her to know how to defend herself. This way, she’ll be just as strong as her mom from an early age.” I turn back to my wife, beaming down at her.
“I love you, Javier Montes. We’ve come so far, haven’t we?”
“Damn right, Princess. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You and our babies.”
“Aw,” she hums, reaching up to cup my jaw, sending a flurry of feelings through my body from her touch.
This woman means the world to me. I still can’t believe she’s mine.
“You love me, don’t you, Javi?”
And I answer her the same way I always do when she asks me. “Guilty as charged, Princess.”
THE END
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Acknowledgments
When I first started toying with the idea to write a book back in January of 2019, this idea popped in my head of a lawyer who fell for an ex-con. I wrote it down, and then brushed it aside as more ideas came to me. But when I finished Emerson Falls, I knew this was the next story I wanted to tell because Sydney and Javier were talking to me and needed to come out. I loved writing these two, and there is something about a broken hero that just pulls at the heart strings.
This story is loosely inspired by my sister’s own love story. She actually fell in love with a guy she knew from high school but hadn’t seen in years at a time in her life when she felt like her world was falling apart. Needless to say, things started falling into place for her when this man came into the picture, and they are very happy together more than a year later.
To L: I remember talking about “The Ex-Con Book” so many times while we plotted other books, that I am so glad it’s
