Embers of Torment (Power and Passion #2)

Epilogue

Della

Boston – eight months later

T ired, I stood in the middle of my living room and spun in a slow circle. The place looked cold and impersonal, a stark difference from a few hours ago. I picked up my box of picture frames, glass figurines, and other knickknacks I'd left behind and plodded toward the door. After a final peek over my shoulder, I exited this chapter of my life and headed downstairs.

Jace and I had decided to give up our one-bedroom units and move into a two-bedroom apartment together. Although it was more expensive than our smaller units, combining two households into one was cheaper and would save us money each month. We'd deposit our savings into our growing housing fund, which we planned to use to purchase a home in the distant future. And the extra bedroom would be used when we had guests.

Jace's stabbing had put us on a path to those decisions, the incident forcing us to reevaluate our lives and acknowledge how deep our feelings ran for each other. I'd felt like I was losing a piece of myself when I thought Jace was dying, and I couldn't fathom existing without him. Jace already knew where his heart lay but became convinced that our relationship was somehow predetermined. And I had to assign some believability to that concept. After all, having our childhood connection come full circle the way it had seemed too bizarre to happen on its own.

But deciding to live together and executing those plans were two different things. Not wanting to leave this complex, we had to wait months for a two-bedroom to become available. Our new place was the corner unit down the hallway from Jace's old one, and we were lucky to get it since it afforded a breathtaking view of the waterfront and harbor. And now, I was excited to move in.

Stepping off the elevator in my section of our building, I crossed the lobby and spotted Jace walking toward me.

"I was coming to see if you needed any help. Reid and I finished moving all my furniture." Jace took the box from my arms. "Is that it, or do you have more boxes upstairs?"

"This is the last one. It contains some delicate items, so I left it behind rather than cram it on the cart when Sofie and I moved all my stuff earlier." I led the way to the bank of elevators in Jace's wing and pushed the call button. "I'll clean my old place first thing in the morning. It should be easy peasy since I thoroughly scrubbed it two weeks ago."

"I remember. That was when you found those wadded-up tissues behind your couch."

"Yeah, that was gross. It was from my crying spree, which wasn't the best time of my life."

"Mine either. I apologize for bringing it up. Thankfully, those days are gone, and we aren't going back." Jace leaned over and kissed me. "I can't tell you enough how much I love you."

"And I love you." I smiled, grateful I'd found the perfect partner in Jace. Although we both had quirks, he had all the attributes I sought. Plus, he had the biggest heart I'd ever seen. He made me happy and content, which was still mind-boggling, considering how we started.

Reaching the seventeenth floor, we went to our new place and stashed my box in the spare bedroom.

"There you are," Rielle said when we entered the kitchen. She pulled a bowl out of the refrigerator. "We weren't sure which apartment you'd gone to, so I thought I'd wait until you returned. Kendra, Spencer, and Nathan arrived a few minutes ago, and I sent them up to the rooftop to join everyone else."

"Thanks. Nathan's baseball team had a game today, so I wasn't sure if they'd make it to our moving day barbecue." Thrilled by Rielle's news, I was also relieved there were no longer hard feelings between Jace and Spencer. They'd worked that out after Jace and I had gotten back together. Spencer had been livid when he found out Jace and I had broken up and that he was none other than the childhood beast who'd bullied me. It took numerous attempts on our part to smooth Spencer's ire. But in the end, he came around and reluctantly acknowledged that Jace had become a better person.

And, now, Jace and Spencer were friends.

Rielle grabbed a serving spoon from the island and placed it on the plastic-wrapped bowl. "Theo's almost done barbecuing, so I should take his pineapple coleslaw upstairs. Everything else is already there, and we've been feasting on appetizers for the last half hour. Theo and Adam gave your kitchen a workout making stuffed mushrooms, these cute little spinach and artichoke pastry bites, and a fig something or other that I haven't tried yet. You'll be shocked to see the spread they've put together."

"Nah. Nothing Theo and Adam do would surprise me. I've been around them for too long," I laughed. "They did have me going nuts, though. I could smell what they were cooking, and every time I tried to peek, Adam freaking shooed me away. So what is Theo barbecuing? Neither he nor Adam would tell me what they'd planned."

"Theo's grilling bacon-wrapped jalape?os, spicy shrimp skewers, and blackened catfish tacos with all the fixings. Adam made Hawaiian rice pilaf and set up the tables for us by the barbecues. Oh, yeah. They have hot dogs and macaroni and cheese for Lily and Evie."

"Holy moly, that's a lot. Okay, I have to take back some of what I said." I turned toward Jace. "I hope you're hungry."

"I'm starving and ready to go to the roof whenever you are. I've worked up a huge appetite after moving furniture and boxes for the last few hours."

"We can go. I can't wait to eat. I've had Theo's catfish tacos, and they're super tasty. Ooh, I wonder what he made for dessert. It should be just as amazing."

Rielle chuckled as she accompanied us to the door. "Apricot bread pudding with a bourbon sauce."

"Oh, jeez. I think I'm in heaven." Just the thought of all that food had me drooling. My stomach gurgled when we entered the stairwell, causing Jace and Rielle to hoot with laughter at the way the sound echoed.

Jace held the door open at the top of the stairs, then followed us onto the rooftop. He was wide-eyed when we turned the corner, and he saw the colorful assortment of appetizers, side dishes, and main entrees that Theo and Adam had laid out on the counter beside one of the three built-in barbecues. "Damn, you weren't kidding when you said they put together a huge spread. Wow, they even decorated the tables."

"There's no doubting Theo's profession," Rielle chuckled. She scanned the deck, her gaze falling on Lily, who was getting coached by Reid as she prepared to toss a bean bag while Sofie and Evie waited their turn. "I see Lily's having fun playing cornhole. I'm glad she and Evie hit it off. Sofie told me they left their little boy with Reid's mother for the day."

"They had to," Jace said. "Wyatt's a rambunctious toddler, and Reid feared he'd get into too much mischief while we were moving."

"That makes sense." Rielle glanced at the two girls. "How's Evie doing after that terrible kidnapping attempt by her grandmother."

"Sofie and Reid have Evie in counseling, and from what Sofie said, she's doing much better. Her nightmares are less frequent, and she understands that her grandmother and that man, Tyrone Cannon, can't hurt her anymore." I studied Evie, remembering that horrible day at the festival. I'd done everything I could to protect her, yet it wasn't enough. Thankfully, time was a healer, and with Sofie and Reid's love and support, Evie would get through it.

"I'm glad she's recovering. Kids can be so resilient. Whatever happened to the babysitter?"

"Allison moved to Wisconsin to be near her daughter. The threats from Sofie's mother and Tyrone Cannon had Allison too traumatized to stay in Boston, especially since she lived alone. Testifying at their trial and seeing them sentenced alleviated some of her fear, but not enough to keep her from leaving. I understand she's happy and doing well where she is."

"It's awful to have your life upended because of someone's plotting and vengeance. At least Sofie and Reid can relax now that her mother and that man are in prison."

"Yep. Sofie told me the years have been difficult for them, never knowing when or if her mother would show up again. Now they can put that constant worry in the back of their minds to rest."

Rielle sighed and eyed the counter. "I better put the coleslaw with the other food." She left us to join Adam, who was rearranging the dishes.

Jace and I waved at Spencer and Kendra. They were watching the cornhole game as they munched appetizers and lounged in chairs. Nathan was beside them, with an empty plate on his lap, scrolling through his phone.

I nudged Jace's arm. "We should check on Theo and see if he needs help."

"That might be a good idea, although he and Adam appear to have everything under control."

Jace and I meandered along the counter, browsing the array of dishes. Jace stopped, his brows wrinkling as he eyed one of the appetizers.

"Those are figs with bacon and a chili sauce," Adam said, walking up behind us. "Go ahead. Try one."

Jace pulled one off the tray and popped it into his mouth. He closed his eyes and made a humming sound.

"I don't suppose I need to ask if you liked it," Adam said, glancing proudly at Theo.

"No. You sure don't." Jace eagerly reached for another one. "Do you guys want any help?"

"We're good. Theo's taking the last of the shrimp off the grill." Adam spun around to Theo. "Should I announce it's time to eat?"

"Yeah, go ahead. I'm ready." Theo placed the shrimp skewers on the counter beside the platter of catfish. Then he stood with his hands on his hips and surveyed his masterpiece.

"Cool. I'll tell everybody they can make a plate." Adam headed toward the cornhole group.

There were oohs, ahhs, and a string of compliments as Sofie and Rielle fixed plates for Evie and Lily, and the rest of us eagerly followed. The girls were seated on two loungers with a small table between them. The adults filled the three tables Adam had set up in a triangle configuration. Adam, Theo, Jace, and I were at one table. Sofie, Reid, and Rielle shared another while Spencer, Kendra, and Nathan occupied the third.

During a break in the conversation, Rielle leaned toward our table. "Theo, I need your recipe for the shrimp. Lily's a picky eater and surprised me by choosing it over her hot dog. I even saw her sneak to the counter for seconds." Rielle glanced at Lily, catching her stuff another piece in her mouth. Laughing, she turned back to Theo. "Told you."

"Thank you. It's a sign my dishes are a hit when the kids devour them," Theo chuckled. "Remind me before you go home, and I'll write the recipe down for you."

"Perfect, thanks."

"Hey, speaking of the little creatures, guess how many species of edible shrimp there are," Adam interjected. Met with silence and blank expressions, he focused on Rielle. "Go ahead. Take a guess."

"Hmm. I don't know." Rielle squirmed in her seat, looking uncomfortable under Adam's unrelenting stare. "Thirty?"

I brought my napkin to my mouth to hide my grin. I enjoyed it when I wasn't on the receiving end of Adam's quizzes.

"Nope, sorry. There are over three hundred. Guess how long they live."

"Adam," Theo said, trying to hold back a smile as he touched Adam's arm. "Not everyone is a walking trivia book like you."

"Fine," Adam huffed. "Forget the question."

"No, it's okay," Reid piped in. "Go ahead and tell us. I want to hear the answer."

Adam frowned at Theo. "See? Some people are interested." He puffed out his chest in a dramatic display. "Their average lifespan is nine to eighteen months, although the North Atlantic Shrimp can live up to eight years."

"Well, that was an unusual piece of information," Reid acknowledged. "Thanks for sharing, Adam."

"Yeah, it was noteworthy, all right. Next time I go to a seafood restaurant, I'll have to ask what species of shrimp they have so I'll know how old it is," I said between peels of laughter.

"God, you're a witch," Adam declared with one of his famous eye rolls. He waded up his napkin and threw it at me. The paper bounced off my forehead and landed in Jace's coleslaw.

I lost it at the expression on Jace's face, laughing so hard I snorted. The tables went silent. Seconds passed, and then it was like a chain reaction. One person giggled, then another, until we sounded like a bunch of lunatics.

"I swear. There's always chaos whenever Della and Adam are together," Sofie teased when the laughter waned.

"Me?" I said, somewhat startled. "It's Adam who does it. Besides, it's Morgan Systems' fault. They hired Adam. If Reid's parents hadn't done that, he and I would have never met and wouldn't be subjecting you guys to our craziness. So, see? I'm not responsible for any of it."

"Hold on. Ree's the one to blame if you want to use that logic." Jace pointed at his cousin.

"Hey! Don't drag me into this."

Laughing, Jace threw his hand in the air. "Hang on, Ree. Let me explain. When Adam and I graduated from college, you emailed me an employment advertisement you stumbled across for Morgan Systems. You hoped I'd apply, get the job, and return to Boston. However, Adam was better suited for the position, so I forwarded the information to him. He applied, got selected, and moved here. Then Della and Adam met when the company hired her a few years later."

"Ah-ha! Rielle's the culprit," I blurted. "Think about it. Jace and I got together because of Adam, which wouldn't have happened without Rielle's intervention." I looked pointedly at Rielle, although I could feel my cheek twitching as I forced back a smile. "See what you started?"

"I'm not sure about that one." Jace placed his hand on my thigh and lightly squeezed. "I already intended to look for you, remember? That's one of the reasons I moved back to Boston."

"True, but I wouldn't have known the new you that way. I think you would have pissed me off by showing up, and I would have told you to leave me the hell alone."

"Yeah, maybe so. In that case, I have to agree. A toast to Ree for helping me rediscover my soulmate and fall in love." Jace raised his beer to a round of cheers.

Rielle blushed and reluctantly lifted her glass of Theo's homemade watermelon lemonade. "Okay, but I still think Reid's parents are responsible."

Sofie smiled at Reid. "We'll have to tell your mom what she did."

"She'll be delighted to hear it," Reid laughed. He lifted his bottle of pale ale. "Another toast. This one to my parents, Wallace and Virginia Morgan, who always recognized the goodness and potential in the people they met."

There were shouts of agreement and laughter as we raised our bottles and cups.

I leaned toward the table on my left when everyone settled down. "Rielle," I called out, trying to gain her attention.

"Hmm?" she said, spinning in her chair.

"I never asked. Where's Alec?"

"Oh, he's working."

"Is he stopping by afterward?"

"No." Rielle peeked at Lily, then lowered her voice. "I didn't mention the barbecue to him."

Startled, I asked, "Why not?"

"Because I'm having second thoughts about our relationship."

"Really? What happened?" I glanced at Jace, who must have overheard what Rielle said because he turned around.

"He didn't do anything, did he?" Jace frowned.

"No, no. It's nothing like that. Alec is a fantastic guy. It's just. Well… This may sound silly, but I don't feel the excitement I was hoping for when we're together. That's why I stopped dating him years ago. I thought this time would be different, but it hasn't changed. And if I'm going to be in a long-term relationship, I need that spark."

"You mean like the one you get every time you see Heath?" Jace teased, his voice overly loud.

Rielle's cheeks pinkened, and she sucked in a breath. "I do not. And tone it down. Kids tend to repeat things they overhear, and that's the last thing I want that jerk to think."

"Isn't that your neighbor?" Sofie chimed in, looking puzzled. "I thought he fixed up the house and sold it. Did he list the price too high, and no one wanted to buy it?"

"That would be a better scenario than the reality. At least it would be fixable." Rielle tossed her napkin on her plate, then crossed her arms, her mouth forming a tight line. "The jerk decided to move in…permanently."

"And Ree is pissed about it," Jace chuckled.

"It's not funny!" Rielle gave Jace the evil eye, then sipped from her glass. After setting it down, she plastered a smile on her lips that failed to hide her irritation. "Apparently, my new neighbor and his wife were in the middle of a divorce when his father passed away. My friend, Millie, told me the wife got their primary residence, and he got their vacation home, which is out of state. Since his business is here and he doesn't want to relocate, the jerk decided to keep the house next to me and move in."

"Oh, I had no idea." Sofie cocked an eyebrow at me. "Della didn't tell me the situation had changed."

"I didn't say anything because it's become safer to avoid the subject. Any mention of the guy's name tends to rile somebody up." Joking, I added, "Now that I think about it. I bet Rielle gets infuriated by his presence because she secretly likes him." I dodged to my right when Rielle's hand snaked out to smack my arm.

"I detest the man." Rielle gave me a warning glare. "And I don't need you giving me a hard time. It's bad enough that I have to hear it from Jace. The guy is a piece of work. It's as simple as that."

"Hey, I like him, and his name is Heath, in case you forgot," Jace teased.

"I'm aware of what it is, but jerk seems more fitting. And I don't understand how you can be friends with him."

"Heath's a decent person. I have no issues with him, and it would be helpful if you gave him a break since he isn't going anywhere."

"Yeah, right," Rielle scoffed. "I give what I get. He hasn't been pleasant to me either." Rielle scooted her chair backward and stood. "Where's the dessert? I need something sweet."

"I'll get it," Adam said, jumping from his seat. His eyes darted between Rielle and Jace before asking, "Is anyone else ready for some apricot bread pudding?" Hearing several yeses and seeing a bunch of nods, Adam hurried toward the counter.

"I'll help you." Rielle gave Jace a mock scowl and then went to join Adam.

Laughing, Jace called after her, "I love you."

"I love you, too… most of the time ," Rielle said snarkily without turning around.

I had to laugh at the way those two bantered back and forth and was glad they'd had each other when they were kids. Reflecting on our lives, it still seemed unreal how our childhoods had intertwined. Sadly, Jace and I carried the scars from those years into adulthood while the need for resolution tore at our hearts.

In the end, Jace transformed my ache for revenge into forgiveness, and his desire for redemption became fulfilled. What had started as hate morphed into love, proving to me that anything was possible.

Scanning the faces of our family and friends, I had to acknowledge. Jace and I were indeed fortunate.

THE END