“Can you imagine the state of affairs if foreign countries weren’t able to? It’s a right mess enough as it is. But, yes, to answer your question, it will remain out of the news. The von Habsburgs will want it that way, perhaps even more than the prime minister. By way of the Queen, of course.”
“In that case, I suppose I won’t tell Linc what happened. I have to tell him something, though, considering I went off to lunch and haven’t returned.”
“He is aware. However, I do encourage you to contact him, like Teagon, whenever you’d like.”
“Cortez?”
“Yes, my love?”
“Never mind.”
He smiled and cupped my cheek. “You’ve made a life for yourself in London.”
“Not a life, but I do enjoy my work at Whitby Press. And at the hospital. I’ve been volunteering, but I suppose you already knew that.”
“I think we can figure out a way to divide our time between here and there. We can also reside primarily in London if that’s what you’d prefer.”
“You wouldn’t mind me going off to work every day?”
“I will proudly and happily support whatever it is you would like to do, Kensington. I love you.”
“What about you and your work?”
“To be honest, I am ready for, as they say, a desk job.”
“What does that entail?”
“Letting the younger crowd get their hands dirty while I orchestrate from my solarium.” He waved his hand in a sweeping motion over the pool. “To answer your question in a serious way, it doesn’t matter where we live, my darling. As long as we are together, I can be at home anywhere.”
Epilogue
Rile
We were married in the small chapel on our estate on Mallorca in October, exactly one year after I first held Kensington in my arms,
My family was in attendance, which included my parents, my brother and his family, and my uncle and aunt, the King and Queen of Spain.
Kensington’s father was with us along with other members of her family, including the royal ones. She marveled at how I’d managed to get her great-aunt there without the fanfare usually afforded reigning monarchs. In the case of our wedding, I told her, there was no royalty with us, only loving aunts and uncles.
I’d asked her more than once about not inviting her mother, but after the one conversation Kensington had had with Kiki, I knew it would be a long time before that relationship would be reparable.
Every member of the Invincibles team was with us, including my partners, Decker, Edge, and Grinder, and their wives and families. Kensington insisted we also invite Casper, Ink, and Crash. And I insisted we invite Linc Mulrooney.
Quint and Darrow Alexander flew over from Texas, and Quint’s father, Z, the man who had once been the chief over most of the Invincibles, came too.
He was very put out with me when he heard I’d made an offer to Angel to join our team, but as a wedding gift, promised not to rail at me about it today.
Tomorrow after our remaining guests departed, we were leaving to return to Fregate Island in the Seychelles, where we would stay until after my birthday in November. When we returned, both Kensington and I hoped we would be well on our way to starting our family.
We’d spent more time on Mallorca in the last couple of months than I’d originally anticipated. Decker flew over and set up offices for both Kensington and I to be able to work remotely. She even attended the Whitby weekly staff meetings via video conferencing.
“Cortez, may I have a word?” asked my second cousin once removed.
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“I want you to know that I couldn’t be happier for you and my grandniece. You make a beautiful couple.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
She put her hand on my arm. “However, if you keep her here, in Spain, and not in London where I can see the two of you regularly, I shall be very unhappy.”
“I promise we will spend a great deal of time in London.”
“Very well. You may thank me now, Cortez.”
“Thank you again, Your Majesty.”
“What are you thanking me for, exactly?”
“For joining us today and—”
My mother wrapped her arm in mine. “My cousin is suggesting you thank her for her brilliant match-making abilities.”
The Queen winked. “I told you he’d find his way.”
The next morning, before we left on our honeymoon, Kensington asked if we could take a walk together to the cemetery. She’d taken flowers from her bouquet that she laid on Celestina’s grave.
“Thank you,” she whispered, tracing the letters carved into the stone with her fingertips. “I’ll love him forever.”
“Goodbye, my love,” I heard Celestina’s voice for what I knew would be the last time.
Kensington closed her eyes and smiled. When she opened them and looked at me, I saw her tears.
“What is it, my darling?”
“She told me that you will love me forever too, and then she said goodbye.”
We walked back to the house, hand in hand, laughing to ourselves when Kensington said that, like the Queen, Celestina also had brilliant match-making skills.
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Smoked
I held my breath when the doctor came out the double doors with a grim look on his face.
“Siobhan Gallagher’s family,” the nurse with him called out. I stood and walked toward them.
“That’s me.”
“Your name?”
“Broderick Torcher.”
The doctor cleared his throat. “The surgery was successful, and Miss Gallagher is in stable condition.”
I let out the breath I’d been holding, sensing there was a “but” coming. Sure enough, his next sentence confirmed it.
“There was brain trauma associated with her injuries…”
I felt the bile rising in my throat.
“Miss Gallagher has suffered a series of small strokes. Her speech and some movement has been affected, as well as her memory.”
“Give it to me straight, Doc. What do you mean by ‘affected’?”
“As with any stroke, when the patient first regains consciousness, the symptoms are typically at their worst. Some regain full mental and physical capacity immediately. Others, it takes longer.”
I took another deep breath, restraining myself from grabbing the man by the throat, putting his back to the wall, and insisting he answer my fucking question. Instead, I spoke slowly. “What…exactly…is…her…mental…and…physical condition?”
“Miss Gallagher is having trouble controlling movement on the left side of her body, but she does have function. We expect this to improve relatively quickly.”
“What are you leaving out?”
“Miss Gallagher appears to have no long-term memory.”
“How quickly do you anticipate that will improve?”
“It would be premature to give you any definitive answers.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, wishing I could turn around, walk out of the hospital, and never look back.
“What is the nature of your relationship with Miss Gallagher?”
“Work colleagues.”
The doctor raised his brow and looked at the nurse, who opened the folder she had in her hand and shuffled through the papers inside. She handed him a sheet containing the information I assumed he was looking for.
“You’re listed as having her medical power of attorney.”
“That’s right.” The reason why was none of his business.
“It’s unlikely she’ll remember you.”
“Understood.”
He studied me for a moment. “Do you have any other questions?”
I shook my head.
“You may see her now. If you’d like, the nurse can escort you to her room.”
If I’d like? There’s nothing I’d like less. However, this wasn’t something I could walk away from. Siren wasn’t someone I could walk away from either.
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Also by Heather Slade
UTLER RANCH
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