The Sound of Secrets (The Monsters Duet #2)

Epilogue

The private jet sat quietly on the tarmac. It used to take my uncle all over the globe to meet with world leaders and business giants, and now it was used to fly emergency aid and medical professionals to war-torn and disaster-riddled regions. I’d flown on the luxury airliner many times, but never by myself. I’d also never planned a one-way flight with no return in sight.

My Aunt Channing sniffed next to me. She was doing her best to hold back tears and control her emotions. However, she was currently six months pregnant with a surprise third baby, and her hormones were all over the place. My two little cousins, who felt more like my little brothers, clung to each of my hands asking if they could run and play with all the shiny, dangerous things dotting the airfield. They were still too young to understand I was leaving for a long time and would no longer be around to play with them. There wouldn’t be any more bedtime stories and cartoon marathons. In the process of growing up, I was going to miss them doing the same thing. I couldn’t even promise my aunt I would make it back in time for the birth of her first little girl. The timing was going to conflict with my midterms, and I was worried that if I ran home from college in a different country as soon as I started, I might not have the willpower to return. I fought long and hard to get my uncle and father to let me study abroad. I refused to let all my effort go to waste.

Initially, I toyed with the idea of going to an art school because I could stay close to home and remain wrapped in the Halliday protective bubble. Everyone thought I would be more fragile after I was kidnapped by my grandfather. For years, my family treated me like I might shatter at the slightest challenge. Rather than fall apart, I wrapped myself in armor and turned into a warrior. I refused to be gullible or optimistic ever again. The world was harsh and cruel. I didn’t want to be a victim for the rest of my life. I took control of my mental health so I wouldn’t fall victim to my own mind like my mother and grandmother, and I took control of my own agency so that I would be more than a Halliday like my father and uncle. I also had no interest in following in my uncle’s footsteps. I didn’t want Halliday Inc. to rule my whole life.

However, in my senior year of high school, my Uncle Alistair convinced me to do an internship at the company, just to see if I was really willing to walk away from my legacy. To my surprise, while I still hated the real estate side of the business, I loved the design and project planning part that he integrated when he took over. I followed Bellamy around for a full year and decided I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. She reminded me a lot of my uncles — after they softened and fell in love. She was smart and ambitious. She demanded respect and recognition. I wanted to emulate all the points she had that I found lacking in myself. So, I decided to go to one of the top business schools in the world. I initially picked HEC in Paris. However, when the fight about moving overseas started, I compromised and landed on IESE Business School in Spain. They also had classes in the US and Germany, so if I really got homesick, I could transfer with ease.

I shook the boys loose and hugged my aunt. I patted her back and whispered through the emotion clogging my throat, “I won’t be gone forever. You and Uncle Win will always be home for me.”

She sniffed again and squeezed me as tightly as her round belly would allow. She was a wonderful aunt, but I got to watch her be an even better mom over the years. I was endlessly thankful I had her in my life. She did her utmost to heal broken hearts, and she was the reason the name Halliday had an entirely new meaning. Now, when that name was mentioned, it brought to mind a loving, caring family unit. One that was deeply involved with charity and giving back. They were invested in preserving the arts and helping to end strife and suffering on a global scale. Win was still an intimidating figure, but now he fought for others instead of himself.

“I’m just… going to miss you so much. You haven’t even left yet, and I feel an empty place in my heart.”

She took a deep breath and pulled away so she could look me in the eye. I was significantly taller than her now. She ha d to tilt her head back to stare at me. “I hope you know how proud of you I am. How proud we all are. All I want for you is to be happy, Winnie.”

I tucked some of my hair behind my ears and forced a small smile. “I’m working on it.”

Over the years, I’d watched her and Uncle Win marry in an extravagant and legendary ceremony, and my father and Uncle Alastair also fall in love. My dad met a surgical assistant who was unbothered by his scars and slowed mental response. At first, I was convinced she was an opportunist after his money, but regardless of how awful I treated her, or how hard Win made her life, she stuck around and was determined to be with my father. They eloped, just like he and my mother did back in the day, which made me realize if I wanted to keep him in my life, I needed to root for his happiness. I got a pretty awesome stepmom out of the deal and was certain I would add half-siblings to my ever-growing family within the next year.

Uncle Alistair was also head over heels for the woman who had been his sworn enemy. He’d been chasing after Bellamy for the last two years and had yet to thaw her icy exterior. She thought he was too young and that he needed to focus on his career. Her continued refusal broke his heart, but he said he couldn’t give up on her. Initially, we thought it was all talk, but he even stopped sleeping around and living so carelessly. Bellamy was my idol. I could only encourage him from behind and hope he changed her mind.

I bent to pick up the only bag that hadn’t already been loaded on the plane. This one had my personal stuff that I would need to survive the long, lonely fight with my sanity intact. I knew if I asked the pilot to turn around and bring me back, he would do it without question. I needed the distraction to prevent that from happening.

My uncle’s scarred hand reached out and took it from me. He told his boys to tell me goodbye and waited while my aunt hugged me again before she burst out into body-wracking sobs. Once I wiggled free, Aunt Channing took the boys and stood near the family SUV with Rocco and the rest of the security team. I waved to the bald man who was there to see me off as a member of the family, since he no longer worked for my uncle in a professional capacity. He was basically Win’s bestie and a surrogate uncle to me these days. He wasn’t around as often as when he did security, but at least now when I saw him, he seemed happy and less stressed. He waved back, and I could’ve sworn he had to wipe a tear away from under his dark sunglasses.

The rest of my family had said their goodbyes at a private party the night before. My dad wanted to come to the airfield, but was afraid he might have an episode and take away from my farewell with everyone else. I understood his absence was in my best interest. And Uncle Alistair was working. He was always working. He’d taken the ball from Uncle Win and ran with it. He didn’t feel bad about missing this send off because he had business in Europe regularly and planned to see me in Madrid in just a couple of weeks. He was going to help me get settled and take care of anything I couldn’t handle on my own. I didn’t ask Channing and Win to come with me because I knew it would be hard for them to leave, and it was risky for my aunt to travel. I wanted to prove to everyone I could handle this move on my own. This was my choice, and I needed to embrace every aspect of it.

I grinned at the sight and followed my Uncle Win’s broad back to the stairs leading into the jet. I felt like his broad shoulders and rigid spine were always in front of me, showing me the right path. He stood in front of me, unbending and unrelenting, daring the rest of the world to try their best to come at me. I always felt safe standing behind him.

But it was time I put one foot in front of the other and found my own way. I couldn’t hide in his shadow forever.

He handed my bag to one of the flight crew and turned to look at me. His hair was mostly silver and dark gray now, but he wore it well. He always looked distinguished and a bit like royalty.

He aged well and happiness suited him better than being a billionaire ever had.

“You can come home at any point.”

His voice was gruff and full of affection.

I smiled at him and blinked back tears. “I know I can.”

“If you need anything…”

“I’ll call you.”

“If anyone tries to start shit…”

“I’ll handle it. I’m not a scared little girl anymore, Uncle Win. You raised me well.”

I was proud of the woman I’d become under his guidance and care. I’d grown up with astounding privilege, but the thing that really separated me from others was having Win Halliday as my primary guardian. He gave me every tool I needed to become someone special.

He sighed, then bent down to wrap me in a tight hug. I felt how reluctant he was to let me go. In my ear he muttered, “I hope you find whatever, or whomever, it is you’re looking for, Winnie.”

He kissed the side of my temple and pulled away.

I couldn’t help but give him a lopsided grin. “You’ve always understood me better than anyone else.”

Of course he wouldn’t miss that the last sighting of Kyser Kent had been in Barcelona. He was playing for a secondary football league under a different name. I didn’t pick a school in Spain for that reason alone, but it did tip the scales in that direction. I’d never been able to forget the boy who saved me.

“I’ve got your back. Whatever happens, whatever you want, I’ll support you until my dying breath. I love you, Winnie. I would have lost myself and any chance I had at finding love without you. I owe you everything.”

“We’re even. I owe you my life as well.”

I clutched his hand until we both let go.

It was time.

One God had fallen. Now another would rise in its place.

The End