These Vicious Games (Seattle Undeground)

Epilogue

Many years later…

“You let me know, babygirl and we will fucking leave.”

“Daddy.” Hope smacks me.

“I don’t fucking like him.”

“You don’t like anyone, dad.” She rolls her eyes.

She isn't wrong. I look over my shoulder at Rosemary. “Promise me you won’t get married.”

She sighs, pushing her brown and blonde streaked hair back. “Dad.”

“I might be old, but I can still kill people.”

“Dad.” Hope steps on my shoes and I hear Rosemary laugh.

Three perfect girls I didn't deserve, but nonetheless got and now the universe wants me to give one of them away? Fuck that.

Out of all my kids, Hope looks like me, but she's a mixture of her mother and I. Rosemary looks like a mix of us but acts like me. And Iris, I’m locking her up on the island because she looks and acts just like her mother.

Speaking of the island, we don't live there permanently anymore. With the girls and they’re activities, it wasn't possible. But once Iris goes off to college-because no, I won’t lock her up- Constance and I will be making it our home again.

I’m knocked out of my thoughts when my middle child shoulder bumps me, “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go play the boring ass here comes the bride song.”

My heart sinks as I look at my eldest daughter. “Hope.”

She looks up, blinking tears back. “Yes, Daddy?”

My fucking heart hurts. I have to give her to another and hope he can protect her like I can. I’m fighting every urge to grab all my girls and run. “I’m so proud of you.”

She smiles. “I love you, Daddy.”

I blink, hardening my jaw as I place a kiss on her head. And then we’re off. I’m walking her down the aisle as that fucker Jeremy waits for her, smiling. I kiss her cheek but don’t let her hand go.

“Who gives this bride away?”

I narrow my eyes at Jeremy. “Daddy, please,” Hope whispers.

With a sigh, I say, “Her mother and I do.”

I lean into Jeremy’s ear. “But I will kill you if you hurt my daughter.”

Once the wedding is over, I allow my grumpy self to come to the surface.

“Jeremy is a good kid.” Constance says, lacing her arms around my shoulder as I look over the city.

“I don't want to talk or even think about it, Little Bird.”

“Two out and one to go and then it’ll just be me and you again,” she whispers.

Not going to lie, that idea gives me pleasure, but only for a moment because my eyes land on a picture of Francis and my kids.

Constance walks over to it, a small smile gracing her lips. “He would have been worse than you today.” She laughs, setting it down. “Those were his babies.”

“I miss him.” I voice for the first time since we lost him to old age.

“Me too, but he wouldn't want us to be sad today, he’d want us to celebrate.”

“I can think of a few ways to celebrate.”

She giggles, kicking her shoes off and begins running away like my prey, and like the hunter I am, I chase.

THE END