Just like a real dad. He gave me the warm fuzzies.
Once Penny and Sebastian found us with their little princess in tow, I couldn't help but smile. The Winston Isles crew was truly all together.
Bridge, Drew, Ben, Lucas and Bryna, Sebastian and Penny, Roone and Jessa, and of course Livy, Amelia, Emma, Telly, Carmen, and Nyla. My chosen family, whether by design or by accident. I asked everyone, "All right, so what's the plan? Where are we headed to catch a drink on this fine island?"
Lucas and Bryna stepped forward, and he said, "Actually, we won't be heading out. There is a private beach, and we've set a bonfire and are roasting a pig. They dug out a spit and everything."
Nyla clapped with glee, and I finally started to relax. She was mine. She was going to stay mine.
Bryna holding Lucas's hand, grinned up at him and then turned to us. "Oh, we also have a small announcement."
I glanced from the prince to his fiancée and back again. And then I knew… Lucas had brought us all home so that he could finally get married.
Bryna glanced around at all of us. "You know London has taken some getting used to. But knowing that we have family just across the pond has made it all easier, so I thank you guys for that. Giving us a home, giving Lucas something to do so he doesn't grow bored and empty my pockets every two minutes. But it's not just that, it's sisterhood. I couldn't be more grateful, and I couldn't be happier than for you guys to join us for our—" She stopped and glanced at Lucas. He squeezed her hand, and then they both said, "Wedding."
Drew cursed under his breath, and then Amelia stuck out her hand and he slapped a quid into her palm.
She did a little booty shake. “Of course they were doing this to get married."
Bryna clapped. "The wedding will actually take place tomorrow. Very low key on the beach. Not this beach, but we just want to get married."
They didn't need any of the pomp and circumstance.
Penny handed the princess to her father and then hugged Bryna so tight.
Ariel, Bryna and Penny's best friend, and Tristan, her fiancé and Sebastian's cousin, stepped into the garden, and Ariel frowned. "Oh no. I missed the big announcement."
Penny shrugged. “Well, you did. But you're forgiven because you come carrying wine.”
Ben and Drew and Bridge lined up ahead of me as we climbed down to the beach. Drew was having a hard time with the sand. The rest of us had dressed casually. He had dressed down more than normal, but his entire attire said he didn't exactly rough it much.
Drew stuck tight with us. "So you lads were right. Ben I'm sure that makes you happy."
Ben grinned back. "God, I do love to be right. But why am I right this time?"
"You know, about taking down Jameson, both of them. That was the best method. You had it worked out from the beginning."
Ben shrugged. "No, I didn't. But we got lucky, and I know East. And he knows Nyla. So either way, we were going to be okay. I'm just horrified that Emma got hurt because of it."
Bridge stopped moving. Which meant Ben crashed into him, Drew crashed into Ben, and I brought up the rear.
"Which one of you fuckers is still bringing up her name?"
Ben's voice dropped. "All right, the only one we have left to deal with is Middleton."
I piped up. "I’m already running a search history on his personal life, girlfriends, former buddies, anyone who might be willing to talk. We'll get whatever leverage we can and then move on from there.”
Bridge nodded. "I've already got an eye on his financials, so we can reconvene to go over those."
Ben sighed. "You know Emma's going to want to help."
Almost as if she'd been expecting us to mention her name, she came running over from the bonfire.
“I heard my name."
Ben’s jaw went tight. "Well, we were thinking for the next one we don't need you on it."
Her eyes went wide. "What? Toby was my brother. I was the one contacted. I gave you your initial clues, everything I had."
Ben sighed, but Bridge clearly wasn't budging.
"You can't leave me out of this," Emma insisted.
We all exchanged glances. "Emma, it isn't safe for you," Ben said softly.
"What? After everything I've helped you with, you're trying to lecture me that it's not safe? Besides, you aren’t actually my brother, so I can do as I please."
Bridge just gritted his teeth, and I could see the muscle in his jaw ticking. "We can't let you engage in this anymore. You were really hurt."
"Hey, stop trying to hurt me more. This is all I have."
Ben smiled softly at her. "It's not all you have. We can't let you be part of this. It's not what Toby would have wanted."
"I can't believe you're doing this to me. I will never forgive you."
Ben held up his hands. "I'm sorry Ems, but it's the way it has to be. We've all had too many close calls. The last thing I want is for you to have another one."
She shook her head and then turned her full blast of rage at Bridge. "You did this. I swear to God, one day I will make you pay for doing this. Denying me my vengeance on the man who made sure my brother wasn't here today. Do not end up on the wrong side of this."
Bridge shrugged. "I already am. Sorry princess, but you don't get to play in the big leagues."
Epilogue 1 East
"She does look good with a baby, doesn't she?" my mother asked.
Nyla held my
