Southern Secrets (Southern #7) - Natasha Madison Page 0,86
had forty-seven cents to my name. Next month, I’ll have five point seven million dollars."
My mouth opens in shock and then closes. "You could have nothing, and I would still love you," I say. "The thought of losing you." I swallow the huge lump, I close my eyes and the tears run over. "I don’t ever want to feel that again. I won’t survive," I say the truth. "Losing you would be like losing me."
"You won’t lose me," he says. "Unless Liam put a bullet in me, I was coming back to fight for you." He wipes a tear away. "I was going to fight for us, and I wasn’t taking no for an answer." His hand goes around my waist, and he picks me up. "Now, let’s go take a shower. I haven’t touched you in over four days, so I have a lot of catching up to do." I don’t say anything to him. I let him carry me to the bathroom, and I savor every single second of it.
Epilogue One
Asher
Six months later
"Mr. Asher Normand." The man on stage calls me, and I walk up the four stairs toward him. He holds out his hand for me to shake and holds what I’ve been working toward. I smile at the guy and then look out into the crowd.
The cheers are so loud it’s making me blush. "You’re a popular guy, Mr. Normand," he says.
"My family takes it a bit overboard," I say, shaking my head as I walk down off the stage and toward my seat. My foot moves up and down as I wait until the end of the ceremony before I can get up.
Amelia is the first one I see as she gets on her tippy-toes and kisses me. "Congratulations, officer.”
“Stop hoggin’ him," Ethan says, pushing her aside. "There he is, my big brother." I laugh at him as he hugs me. "I’ve never had a big brother. It’s also gross you’re dating my sister." He fake vomits, and I push his shoulder. Since we found out that we have the same father and are half brothers, he’s become my best friend. I have to wonder if we would be best friends regardless.
"We are so proud of you," Kallie says with tears in her eyes. She has stepped up and welcomes me with open arm. She treats me exactly as a son. I turn and see Jacob with his own tears in his eyes.
"I knew you could do it," he says to me when I walk to him, and he hugs me. "Proud of you, son." I hug him, my own tears coming to my eyes. He has taken me under his wing and has been the father I’ve never had. Beau has been the shining light and has been there for me every time I’ve needed him. And with my father in jail and fighting everything, I’ve needed him. He got life in jail for all of his crimes, and little did we know we were just scratching the surface. They also found out that he burned two of his houses down, committing insurance fraud.
"Can I have my guy back, please?” Amelia says, and I shake my head. "Besides, we have to get home and celebrate," she says. "Everyone is waiting at the bar."
"Okay, I have to stop at home and get Emily and the kids," Ethan says, walking out. "They made Uncle Asher a card."
"Don’t forget my girl," I say, and he groans out.
"Stay away from my daughter." He points at me. “Last time, she didn’t even want to let you go."
"She’s got great taste." Amelia wraps her arms around my waist. "But she better keep her mitts off my man."
"She’s three," Ethan says, laughing as he gets into his truck.
We get into the truck with Jacob and Kallie and make our way over to the bar. The parking lot is already full.
"This better not be for me." I glare over at Amelia, who just shakes her head.
"It’s a going-away party for Reed, too," she says. "I can’t believe he’s leaving tomorrow."
"Another family member joining the military," Jacob says. "Casey is going to go nuts."
"Olivia might enlist with him," Kallie says of Reed’s mother.
We get out and walk into the bar, and everyone cheers. I raise my hand and walk in, shaking people’s hands until I get to Billy, who just shakes his head with his hands on his hips. "Well, I guess you quit." His eyes glisten with tears as he hugs me.