But eventually, we looked back at the applauding men and the whistling women. Even the kids were clapping and laughing.
“Time to go celebrate,” I said.
The “celebration” wasn’t so much a reception as it was heading back to Emily’s high-rise apartment and sharing drinks and food on the rooftop of the building. We had a house we’d move into soon enough, but for right now, we were in more than enough of a great spot. The two kids weren’t taking up too much space yet, and by the time they did, we’d be settled into our own spot.
Even though DOM said to have no connections, no family, no friends, the one thing they may have forgotten to account for was the fact that I did, actually, have a family of sorts. DOM itself. Scott and Liam had become like brothers to me, in no small part because of near-death experiences we’d all shared. Whatever happened to the business, I knew that this wouldn’t be the end of it, not by any stretch of the imagination.
Outside of them, though, I didn’t really have any friends and family. Perhaps that would change in time. I had a feeling Emily would force me to become more social and more outgoing. I would probably even have to do something I fucking hated—attend company parties.
Liam and Kelly were the first to leave with their kids, roughly around nine p.m. It was a sign of parenting, I suppose that they had struggled just to make it this far. There was a certain humor in Scott and Kaylie, despite being the first ones to tie the knot, being the ones who hadn’t had kids yet. I guess Kaylie being in her twenties still gave her an advantage.
Thankfully, the childless couple understood Emily and I would need some quiet time and gave us leave about half an hour later. We tucked our kids to bed, and finally, for the first time since who knew when, Emily and I were by ourselves. We went to the balcony of our apartment, and I put my arm around her and pulled her in.
“Isn’t it funny how this all started?” Emily said.
I kissed her forehead.
“I don’t worry about how we got here, just that we’re here.”
“Sure, but just think of the story this will make!” she said with a laugh.
“Not just,” I said.
I let the words hang in the air for a second.
“It took you pressing me, accepting me, and forgiving me. There were plenty of times that you could have walked away, but you never did.”
“Aww, Burke.”
She leaned up to kiss me.
“I’m never walking away. I’ll always be by your side.”
Now it was my turn to kiss her.
“Indeed. And I’ll always be here for you. Mrs. Reynolds.”
She laughed.
“It’s going to take some time to get used to that,” she said. “But fortunately, it won’t take any time to get used to being married to you.”
I smiled.
I liked it.
I think, with Emily now my wife, I was going to do it a hell of a lot more.
Series Epilogue
Six Months Later
“This is your final mission.”
I sat in the back of a private plane for DOM, one that Scott had chartered for me. It was probably going to be the last time I’d ever be on a private jet, but honestly, I doubted I would miss it that much. Every time I had gotten on a plane like this before, it was to go into the line of fire or to escape it.
“Meet at the cabin in Maine. I will provide further instructions there.”
That was the entirety of the note I’d gotten in my P.O. Box for missions. Even though it had been a good year and a half or so since we’d killed Snake, DOM still existed. We’d agreed to dissolve it, but that had just never happened.
Until now, apparently.
The plane landed in the middle of the night in Maine. It was dark and quiet outside, even given that we’d landed at an airport. I grabbed my bag and had a car waiting for me outside already. I got inside the Tesla, turned it on, and began the long drive to the private cabin.
I’d only come once before, but Liam and I practically had photographic memories. It was how we’d been able to do our jobs so well. It was why we were the only agents that ever became full-time members of DOM.
When I got to the cabin, I did so at roughly the same time that Liam did. He pulled up just as I got out of my Tesla; I wasn’t sure if Scott had planned this on purpose or not, but it worked out all the same.
“Gentlemen,” Scott said, “follow me.”
We did as commanded, moving into his house. It was dimly lit, and a quick glance at my phone showed we had no reception. It really was as if we were going on one more mission. Perhaps I’d missed something.
Something big.
We went down into a basement with a blank table. Scott walked around the table and stood before us. He nodded once.
“Thank you both for coming on such short notice,” he said. “Normally, I would send you the mission details through mail, but I felt it important to have you both here.”
“What’s going on?” Liam said, an edge to his voice.
Scott snorted and bent down to grab something behind the table.
“Your final mission,” he said as he moved, “is to help me drink this Scotch.”
My eyes widened. Scott fucking smiled. Liam laughed.
“I have shut down all of the bunkers and sold off all of our equipment and tools in there. You’ll be getting a
