Briar Valley: The Complete Duet

Extended Epilogue

EXTENDED EPILOGUE

WILLOW

Studying the fa?ade of Briar Valley’s newest log cabin, I jot rapid notes down on my clipboard. Our latest expansion into a neighbouring farmer’s land is proceeding on time.

He sold it to us for a reasonable price after two previous purchases in the last few months. We’re growing once more. Lola’s vision is coming to life.

Ever since Hayden was born, I’ve found myself obsessed with the same dream that my grandma once travelled into the valley to achieve. A peaceful world, providing homes to all who need one, where those who’ve been touched by misfortune can begin anew.

By the time Hayden’s second birthday rolled around last year, we’d taken on hundreds of acres of new land. The more we grow, the more demand we face. Briar Valley has become a nationwide sanctuary for the lost and in need.

“Be careful!” I shout up at the rafters.

Zach pauses while hammering a roof tile into place. “You worried about me, babe?”

“I wouldn’t want you to fall and harm a hair on your pretty little head, Zachariah.”

“Aww.” He winks down at me. “I love you too.”

“Hey! Pay attention!”

While flirting shamelessly, he almost hammers a nail into his right hand. Zach quickly halts before he can seriously injure himself, shrugging it off with a laugh. He’s determined to give me a heart attack one of these days.

“Where is Ryder? He’s supposed to be supervising you!”

Zach chortles as he lines up another nail. “I don’t need supervision.”

“You broke your collarbone falling out of a tree last year, Zach!”

“I was chasing Arianna up there,” he scoffs. “It’s the little monkey’s fault.”

Honestly, he isn’t wrong about that. The chaos that ensues between Arianna, Zach and Hayden all teaming up is going to send Killian to an early grave.

Micah usually joins me as the voice of reason in our chaotic family. Since he opened his third art store last year, he’s taken on several new members of staff, including a general manager. Which means he can be home with us a lot more.

When my phone vibrates in my pocket, I tuck the clipboard under my arm to answer, noting Arianna’s name flashing on the screen above a photo of us at her recent twelfth birthday celebration. It’s my favourite shot of us together.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Mum,” she chirps happily. “Can I go into Highbridge with Johan tonight? We want to catch that new movie.”

“How are you getting there? Your dads are all working.”

“Walker’s going to take us. He’s driving Aalia and Amie to the airport for their flight to Egypt first.”

“Okay well, be safe. And have fun.”

“Thanks, Mum!”

Arianna is already chatting away to Johan in the background before she hangs up. They head into town often to eat, shop or go to the movies. The guys usually take turns chaperoning them if Walker is busy.

I’ve caught Johan giving my little girl heart-shaped eyes for a while now, but Arianna sees him as a brother. They’ve grown up together in Briar Valley and forged a strong friendship over the years.

“Arianna’s off to the cinema,” I shout up at Zach.

He pauses, waving his hammer in the air. “With Johan?”

“Yes, Walker is chaperoning.”

His lips pressing into a thin line, Zach still looks far from pleased.

I return my attention to my clipboard. The guys are all incredibly protective of Arianna in their own ways, their hijinks only worsening as she’s started to grow up. Especially Killian.

He had a meltdown when she came home with pierced ears a year ago after our girls’ shopping trip. And let’s not even mention when she talked about colouring her natural blonde hair. That got her threatened with all manner of things.

“Aalia and Amie are off tonight too.”

“They’re heading home?” Zach hammers in another tile.

“Seems so. I’m happy for them.”

“I never thought she would go back to her home country.”

“It’s where she grew up, Zach. She hasn’t seen her family in years.”

“I know, babe. I just want her to be safe.”

“She will be. Aalia knows what she’s doing.”

After a lengthy court battle, Aalia and her children finally got their citizenship a few months ago. It was a complicated legal battle—we all know how hostile the world can be to refugees, though I’ll never understand why—and she can now finally visit her home again.

“I have to find Killian to go over the plans for the south side expansion. Please be careful!”

He absently blows me a kiss. “I will.”

“Don’t be late for dinner!”

With a final worried glance, I begin the trek back towards town. All around me, freshly painted cabins boast their new residents. Families. Single mums. Immigrants. Widowed husbands.

People from all walks of life, regardless of their differences, have found refuge here. And that fact alone makes all the hard work, investment and sleepless nights worth it. We’ve built something truly special here.

I just wish Lola were alive to see it.

And I hope that she’s proud.

By the time I’ve made it back to our cabin at the centre of town, a thin sheen of sweat peppers my forehead. The walk took me longer than usual after being stopped by smiling faces along the way to chat. I had to decline at least ten cups of tea.

Killian isn’t waiting in the kitchen like he should be. We have a whole box of paperwork to pour over. I’m about to call him when the front door slams open and closed.

“Kill?”

“Mummy!” Hayden bellows.

Throwing the kitchen door open, he barrels inside to wrap his short arms around my legs. Hayden looks more and more like the twins with each passing day. His soft brown locks are haphazardly piled on top of his head, forever pointing up in all directions.

With brilliant green eyes that resemble cut emeralds, he stares up at me with a beaming smile that takes my breath away. My little miracle baby. We didn’t realise our family was incomplete until he came along and made us whole.

“Hi, baby.”

He yawns dramatically. “Missed you!”

“Missed you too, kiddo. Have you seen Daddy around?”

“Behind,” he mumbles.

Right on cue, the door opens and closes again. I can hear Killian puffing for breath from here. He must’ve chased Hayden all the way home. The kid loves to give his old man a run for his money.

“Hayden Clearwater! How many times do I have to tell you?—”

Bursting into the kitchen, Killian’s as stunningly rugged and downright handsome as the day we met. Granted, his shoulder-length, blonde hair is sprinkled with silver now, his eternally-tanned skin bearing more wrinkle lines than before.

Not a single day has passed, besides our wedding day, when he isn’t wearing a flannel shirt and ripped blue jeans. I’ve told him off until I’m blue in the face for dragging mud inside on his work boots, but he still traipses through the cabin in them.

“Lost something?” I ask sweetly.

He pulls up short, his heavy frown morphing into a heart-stopping smile just for me. I accept the quick peck to the cheek he offers before he turns his attention to the giggling three-year-old hiding behind me.

“You can’t just run off like that, Hay! What if Uncle Ryder was driving one of his trucks through town, huh?”

I place a hand on Killian’s firm chest. “Alright, Kill. Ease off.”

“I don’t want him to get hurt!”

Hayden juts out his bottom lip as he peeks around me. “Sorry.”

Sighing, Killian scrubs a hand over his face and beard. “It’s… fine. Just listen to me next time, okay?”

Hayden nods then darts around me to hug his father. Killian’s eyes close briefly as he cuddles his boy close. He worries far too much. Briar Valley is the safest place on Earth—we haven’t seen trouble here in years.

“You still want to go over those plans?” Killian asks. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Let’s get started on dinner instead. I’ve stared at enough paperwork for one day.”

He chuckles throatily. “Yes, ma’am. Where do you want me?”

“Peeling potatoes, mister.” I turn my attention to Hayden. “You want to help Mummy cook?”

He breaks out into a toothy grin. “Yes!”

Watching Micah rinse off the final plates, I swirl the red wine in my glass. I’m sitting up on the countertop, legs swinging as we unwind for the day. It’s our routine to find a quiet moment just for each other when no one else needs our attention.

“Ivan seems really promising.” Micah stacks the dishes in the dishwasher. “We had a supplier issue with our canvas totes, and within the hour, he had it resolved and secured a discount as an apology.”

“That’s great, Mi. I’m glad he’s working out.”

“It’s just nice to be home more.” He sticks a dishwasher tablet in then sets the cycle to commence. “I feel like I missed out on so many bath times and family nights while the business was getting established.”

“Hey.” I reach out to touch his arm. “You’ve always been around for the important stuff. Besides, we all know how important selling your art is.”

His mouth curves down with obvious regret. “Not as important as family.”

With the kitchen taken care of, he dries off his hands then approaches me. I let my thighs part, inviting Micah to step between them, his legs pressed up against the kitchen cabinets. Malachite eyes that were once filled with sadness now stare up at me with peace and contentment.

“Thank you for supporting me while I figured things out, Willow.”

Micah rakes his teeth over his lip, somehow still nervous despite all our years together. Putting my wine glass down, I move to stroke his jaw, tracing the defined bone.

“I will always support you, no matter what. You’re my husband.”

“How did we get so lucky to have a wife like you?” He smiles tenderly.

“I could say the same thing about you three. We’ve found our happiness, Mi. And for that, I’ll always be thankful.”

“I think we worked hard enough for it, angel.”

Memories of the turmoil and pain we endured to get right here resurfaces, and I let the pain flow through me. I don’t have to pretend the bad times didn’t happen. Without all that we suffered, I never would’ve found my home.

I’m thankful for the pain.

The trauma.

The grief.

While I’ll never forget what I weathered at the hands of Dimitri Sanchez and his sadistic traffickers, I can now look back on the ordeal with acceptance and a sense of peace. There’s no undoing the past. We can only choose to live with it and rebuild.

Yes, the case is still ongoing. I secured my abusers’ convictions and laid my past to rest, but even now, there are still women out there seeking justice. Huge, international trafficking rings aren’t dismantled overnight.

“We earned our happy ending, huh?” I laugh quietly.

Micah strokes a loose curl back from my face. “I’d say so.”

Leaning in, he teases his lips across mine. Featherlight. Coaxing. Micah’s always been the gentler twin, and years haven’t hardened his soft soul. He’s still the tender-hearted man who found me dancing in a rainstorm, kissed me in a cornfield, and gave me his virginity on a mountaintop.

Killian will always be my protector.

Zach makes me laugh every single day.

But Micah… he’s my safe place. Now and forever.

Lips parting, I let my tongue dance with his. Exploring my mouth like it’s our very first time all over again, he kisses me with such passion and care, it’s no wonder I seem to spend my days falling for him all over again.

Arms winding around his neck, I shift to the edge of the countertop, needing to feel his body against mine. My legs wrap around his midsection, pulling us flush together, while his hands move to grip my hips.

Micah groans into my mouth, his tongue sliding against mine. I can taste the richness of red wine still serenading his taste buds. We finished a bottle over dinner, laughing and joking together as a family.

“When’s Arianna home?” Micah whispers.

“Walker texted. They’re going to be another couple of hours yet.”

“Then I’ll take advantage of having you all to myself.”

“Please do.”

Lips securing back on mine, his tongue resumes plundering my mouth. His kiss has intensified, losing its gentle edge. Now he’s hungrily sucking on my lower lip, the bite of his teeth sending heat sizzling down my spine.

I quickly reach down to grab the hem of my loose sweater, breaking our kiss to pull it over my head. I want to feel his skin against mine. My husband. The man who held me in my lowest moments and taught me how to put myself back together again.

“Fuck, angel.” Micah’s eyes sweep over my lace bra. “You’re as beautiful as the first time I saw you.”

“Shut up and kiss me, husband.”

He chuckles. “And as bossy too.”

“Well, some things never change.”

Lips moving away from mine, he trails kisses along my jawline and down the slope of my neck. His mouth lavishes my throat with attention—kissing, sucking, leaving the lightest of bites that set my blood on fire.

Between our busy schedules, it isn’t often that I get Micah all to myself. His twin and cousin demand my attention once the kids have gone to bed, then we pile into bed altogether, the huge mattresses spanning the entire bedroom.

“Shall we go upstairs?”

“Hayden,” I gasp.

“He’ll be asleep by now.”

“And I don’t want to wake him up.”

Micah reaches behind me to grab my bra clasp. He drops the pile of lace to the kitchen floor, his attention fixed on my breasts. Taking one in each hand, he softly squeezes, his lips securing around a hardened nipple.

The light graze of his teeth causes me to moan. He sucks my bud into his mouth, applying enough pressure to send my desire into overdrive. I want to feel him covering every part of me, leaving no inch of sensitive skin untouched.

Pushing his shoulders, I encourage him to release me and step back. Micah follows the silent command, letting me hop down from the countertop. I quickly unbutton my jeans then push the worn denim down to pool at my ankles.

“Strip,” I demand.

“Right here?” He cocks an eyebrow.

“Do you have something better to do?”

“Not at all.” He unveils a smirk that suspiciously resembles his twin brother.

Drinking my fill, I watch him strip off his paint-flecked clothing. In the store, he still wears his comfortable clothes, never one to draw attention to himself. But his body is hard and defined beneath his casual attire, lined with muscles I’ve memorised across nights like these.

“I want to taste you,” Micah declares, his gaze searching over me. “Go and lay on the kitchen table, angel.”

“The table?” I laugh.

“Yes. Move it.”

Feeling giddy, I approach the hand-carved wooden table that Killian spent weeks lovingly crafting. I’m sure he didn’t build it for this purpose—surprisingly, this is the first time it has seen any action.

With everything from dinner cleared away, I’m free to climb up on the smooth surface, laying down on my back. Micah pulls a chair out of the way so he’s positioned at the end of the table, grabbing my ankles to pull my butt to the edge.

“Perfect,” he murmurs before his tongue sneaks out to wet his lips.

Gooseflesh rises on my legs as he pulls the cotton panties from my body, taking his time to torturously slide them over my thighs. I’m already shaking from anticipation. With the panties discarded, he’s free to peruse my entire bare body on display.

“My gorgeous wife,” Micah says dreamily. “Open wider, Willow.”

No longer shy, I spread my legs open, propping a foot on each corner of the table. I’m completely exposed. The vulnerable position sends my heart rate skyrocketing. Years ago, something like this would’ve triggered me. But not now. I trust Micah with my life and soul.

Knees bending, he brings himself eye-level with my centre. Warmth is already pooling in my core, but the moment his head moves between my thighs and I feel his tongue slick across my folds, I almost jerk off the table.

“Mi!”

“Hold still,” he orders, hands clamping down on my hips.

I don’t even have any bedsheets to fist as he laps at my core like I’m his dessert. His mouth is hot and attentive on my clit, making my nerves sing. Tongue swiping over my pussy lips, he licks and sucks in a well-rehearsed rhythm.

A breathless moan escapes me as he breaches my entrance with a finger, pressing deep into me. Paired with his tongue lapping at my clit, the sensations become overwhelming, and my back arches off the wooden surface.

“Oh God!”

“Hush, Willow.”

Pulsing his finger inside me, he rolls my bundle of nerves beneath his thumb, stroking in time to the thrusts of his wet digit. I can’t keep my mewling silent.

The kitchen door opens, causing Micah to startle. He pulls upright, his lips shining with my juices. Zach steps into the kitchen, mouth hanging open at the scene unfolding before him.

“Am I interrupting?” He waggles his eyebrows slyly.

“Little bit,” I squeak.

Clapping his twin on the shoulder, Zach takes his time looking over me, not in the slightest bit bothered that we’re both naked in the kitchen. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve been caught like this.

“Join us or get out,” Micah mutters. “But I have a job to finish.”

“Oh.” Zach’s eyes sparkle with amusement. “By all means, go right ahead.”

Ignoring his brother still lingering behind him, Micah returns his mouth to my cunt. This time, he pushes two fingers inside me, stretching me wide with each pump of his hand. I lock eyes with Zach, writhing and moaning, my entire body lit up with pleasure.

Still grinning, Zach moves around the table, already rushing to unfasten his belt. Anticipation rolls down my spine as he stops on my right side, pushing his jeans down low enough to pull his thick shaft free.

“He did invite me,” he explains cheekily. “Are you going to take us both, babe?”

“Always,” I purr back.

Turning my head to the side, I part my lips and loosen my jaw. He takes the invitation, moving closer until he can push the head of his cock against my mouth. I greedily suck his hard length in.

“That’s it, babe.”

Zach grunts, a hand moving to fist my loose curls. I try to focus on taking him into my mouth and sucking deep with each movement, but the pressure of Micah’s lips on my pussy is frying my brain.

Taking control, Zach begins to pump his hips. I let him set the pace, too overwhelmed by the multitude of sensations to do anything else. He fucks my mouth, thrusting slowly at first, letting me adjust to the feel of his dick filling me up.

Just as Micah scissors his fingers inside me, causing stars to burst behind my eyes, Zach’s cock nudges the back of my throat. Between the two of them, I can feel an orgasm coming. It’s too overwhelming to hold it back.

“Come for us, Willow,” Micah urges.

One more swipe of my clit and I’m gone for. The release comes hard and fast, surging through me. Zach’s length in my mouth silences my cries, his erection thickening at the muffled sounds of my climax.

The pressure between my legs vanishes as Micah’s head lifts, my clit twitching as I watch him lick his lips, marked with my release. With his hard cock standing proud, he wraps a hand around his shaft, slowly working over the engorged length.

I know what’s coming as he manoeuvres, able to position himself perfectly as I’m perched on the edge of the table. Spreading my legs wider, I invite him in, aching to be filled. I want to feel him sheathed inside me.

“You want us both to fuck you?” Micah asks with a raised brow.

With a mouthful of his twin’s cock, all I can do is blink and hope he reads my pleading expression. Thankfully, Micah knows me inside out. He can see how desperate I am to take them both right now and wastes no time inching into my pussy.

“Fuck, angel. You take me so well.”

Saddled fully inside me, his head throws back as he growls deeply. The slight movement gives me a clear view of the kitchen doorway. Lost in my orgasm, I hadn’t seen my third and final husband sneaking into the room.

Leaning against the closed door, Killian watches the show with his corded arms folded over his chest. His breathing is heavy, and the fire burning in his gaze betrays how turned on he is by watching us three.

As Micah pulls back only to slam into me once more, I can’t focus on anything but the feeling of complete fullness. Zach’s movements are growing frenzied, his cock roughly sliding in and out of my mouth, chasing his own eruption.

Each time he pushes past my lips, his twin brother surges into my pussy. The two of them seem to have synced up without having uttered a word. The coordination is making my brain cells short-circuit as I lose myself to the moment.

“I’m going to come in your perfect mouth, babe,” Zach grunts. “And I want you to swallow every last drop. Got that?”

I tighten my lips around his shaft in response, more than ready to fulfil his desires. Micah pistons into me just as Zach manages a final pump, his length pulsing in my mouth with the first spurts of his release.

I let him fill my throat with his hot seed, obediently swallowing every drop just as requested. Zach watches in awe, his green eyes wild and breathing ragged. When he pops out of my mouth, I make a show of licking my lips.

“That’s my perfect girl,” he praises. “Maybe my twin will make you come again now, hmm?”

“Please,” I moan.

“You heard her, Mi.” Zach nods to his brother.

Returning his hand to my clit, Micah resumes applying pressure as he picks up the pace. He’s hammering into me now, the table starting to groan with each lurch of his hips. I’m surprised Killian hasn’t pushed off from the door to yell at us all.

His cock tucked back into his boxers, Zach turns his attention to my chest. He takes my left breast in hand, fondling the soft swell while running his thumb over my right nipple in teasing circles. The extra stimulation hits me right where I need it.

Between the gentle touches he’s lavishing on my breast and nipples and Micah’s hips undulating with each hard stroke, I’m a mess of over-stimulation. The knowledge that Killian’s silently watching and enjoying every last panting gasp sends me hurtling to the edge once more.

“Let go,” Zach breathes. “Come all over my twin’s cock, Willow.”

“Yes!” I shout out.

Clenching tight around Micah, I feel myself detonate. The kitchen fades away with the force of my orgasm, vision blurring and core clenching tight. I’m plummeting through a delicious nirvana, my entire body humming.

“Willow,” Micah rumbles.

My climax must send him into his own release because he spasms above me, mustering a final pump before crying out. Warmth rushes into me in a satisfying spill. I pant for breath, sweat-slick and spent as Micah slumps over me.

“Damn.” Zach chuckles. “I do love seeing our wife get so thoroughly fucked, she doesn’t care where the hell it happens.”

“He started it,” I say, trying to catch my breath.

Laughing roughly, Micah braces himself over me, his own chest rising and falling in rapid succession. The sly son of a bitch doesn’t even deny it. This is the side of Micah that no one but us will ever see.

“As fun as watching is, I’d like my turn with our wife too.”

Killian’s voice is a low, toe-curling growl. The twins startle, finally noticing him lingering at the back of the kitchen. He steps forward, his blue jeans tented at the crotch.

“If she isn’t too sore, that is,” he adds.

I eagerly watch him, desperate to lay my hands on his body. “Sit down, Kill.”

Grinning devilishly, Killian unfastens his jeans then shoves them all the way off along with his boxers. No one could ever accuse the man of being shy. Naked from the waist down, he takes a seat.

Micah steps out of the way to let me sit up. I don’t care that his essence is trailing down my legs. These men belong to me. All of them. Always. I want them to know how proud I am to call them mine.

Hopping down from the table, I saunter over to Killian. I’m rumpled and messy from the twins’ ministrations, but it doesn’t stop him from greedily running his bonfire-lit gaze all over me.

“You look fucking incredible right now, wife.”

Smiling, I hover over him, a leg on either side of his seated body. The long, rock-hard promise of his erection brushes against my entrance, a mere breath from where I want him.

“Did you like watching?”

“You put on a hell of a show,” he returns smugly. “Who wouldn’t like that?”

“It’s rude to spy, you know.”

“Not spying when I own this ass.” Killian’s hand grabs a handful of my backside, roughly squeezing. “They should be grateful I’m letting them touch what’s mine.”

Moving his hands to grip my hips, he retakes control by pulling me down onto his lap. The sudden movement causes me to impale his cock, the generous length sliding inside me in one fast surge. I cry out, my hands moving to his shoulders to steady myself.

“Fuck! Kill!”

“Perfect,” he says gutturally. “That’s it, baby. Take all of my cock.”

My awareness of Zach and Micah watching us fades away. All I can focus on is Killian—his touch, his breath caressing my skin, every place his skin touches mine, the fiery electricity that hums where we’re joined.

I’m overwhelmed by him. I have no choice but to surrender to the lifting of his hips, spearing my pussy with each upwards pump. He’s so deep inside me, I can hardly hold my head upright, succumbing to the feverish tempo.

Exhausted and sated, I didn’t think I had another orgasm in me. But Killian always has to have the final word. Even in the bedroom, he’s no different. He manoeuvres me on his crotch, ensuring each motion touches the spot within me that will send me flying again.

“Please,” I whine.

“I know, baby. I want to see that pretty mouth of yours cry my name like you did theirs.”

Desperate to come apart around him, I begin to match his strokes. Each time he shifts up into me, I bear down, meeting him pace for pace. We collide spectacularly, spurred into a frenzy by the other.

Killian’s mouth returns to mine—swallowing every last satisfied sound he’s coaxing out of me. Even my moans belong to him. My soul was stamped as his from the moment we locked eyes and he refused to let me die.

He gave me a home.

A family.

A chance to begin again.

Arms curled around his neck, I plaster myself to his body, riding each wave rolling in. Every fresh burst of ecstasy pushes me closer to that tantalising cliff all over again. He’s determined to coax one more out of me.

Killian’s head lowers, his face hiding in my chest as his lips skate over my breastbone. I can feel how unsteady his breathing is. We’re both close. Trapped in our own little secluded bubble.

“Kill,” I mewl. “I… Please…”

“Are you coming for me, baby?”

“Yes! Yes!”

Letting the rapture creep over me, I feel his muscles tense. Clinging to Killian as our climaxes collide, I fall through each iteration of sweet agony. The feeling of him swelling inside me only adds to the riotous explosion consuming my senses.

I go limp against his muscled frame, unable to move an inch. Suddenly exhausted, I’m trembling all over. My body feels strung out, satiated in the most exquisite way from all the pleasure lavished onto it.

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” Killian murmurs.

“Mm,” I mumble unintelligibly.

“I’ve got you, baby.”

Lifted into his arms, I crack open an eye long enough to see Zach and Micah following us. With the three of them doting on me, I don’t know how I’ll ever be happier than I am at this moment, with my perfect family.

The world tried to tear us apart.

But we didn’t let it.

In the end… we won.

The shrill sound of a ringtone pulls me from unconsciousness. I’m smothered in warmth. Someone’s curled up behind me, their body melded to mine, while I make Micah into the little spoon by hugging his back.

Quiet falls once more, and I tune back in to the sound of heavy breathing. Based on the light snores, it’s Zach snuggling me from behind. Killian prefers not to cuddle up with the twins and usually takes the other end of the bed or one of the spare rooms.

Just as I’m about to fall back to sleep, the sound comes again. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Micah groans in his sleep, but Zach is out like a light. Not even the devil could wake him from his slumber. Cursing under my breath, I peel myself from his arms.

My phone is plugged in on the bedside table. Leaning over Micah, I flip it over, finding the screen lit up with an incoming call. It takes a moment for the name to register. Why on earth is Hyland calling me?

I haven’t heard from Ethan’s old teammates in the Anaconda team, my former protection detail, in years. Sabre Security has continued to reach new heights ever since, heading up the investigation into the trafficking ring Dimitri Sanchez left behind.

“Hyland?” I whisper in greeting. “Is that you?”

“Willow,” his deep voice rushes out.

“What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry to be calling you so early.”

Worry bubbles up within me. “Are you okay?”

“Ethan isn’t picking up the phone. We’re in trouble.”

Sitting upright, I cover my bare chest with bedsheets. “What kind of trouble?”

“The dangerous kind. We need a place to lay low. I hate to ask, but we’ve been backed into a corner and?—”

“Hey,” I interrupt. “You don’t have to explain. There’s always space for you in Briar Valley.”

He blows out a sigh. “Thank God. I’m sorry to do this to you. If I had any other choice, I’d keep you out of our mess.”

“You know we’re off-grid here. It’s safe.”

“That’s what I was thinking. Listen, we’ll be there in a few hours. Is that okay?”

With one hand, I start shaking the guys awake. Micah jolts up first. When he sees me on the phone, he sets to work waking his twin up.

“Of course. We?”

“The whole team,” Hyland clarifies. “And… we’re bringing someone else with us too.”

“A client?”

He clears his throat. “Not exactly.”

“Seems like we have some catching up to do,” I tease gently. “You at least going to tell me her name?”

Hyland chuckles softly. “It’s Ember. She’s the one in trouble. We’re still working on the trafficking operation in South America… and we’ve kicked the hornet’s nest.”

Unease rolls over me, hearing how Sanchez’s legacy continues to impact countless victims still suffering the consequences of that bastard and his vast web of associates.

“No trouble will find you here. I’ll see you in a few hours, okay?”

“Thanks, Willow. I owe you big time.”

The line clicks as it disconnects. I’m left staring at the phone clasped in my hand, trying to make sense of the alarm bells ringing in my mind. Something is trying to resurface—a vague memory of years long past.

Ember.

Why do I know that name?

The Anaconda team’s story will begin in Fractured Future - a brand new, dark why choose romance coming in 2025.