Temper Him by Caitlyn Dare

Extended Epilogue

James

"Drink?" Marcus asks, gesturing to the bottle of whiskey and the empty glass sitting on the coffee table before him.

I nod, popping the button on my jacket, and lower myself to the chair opposite him.

"Congratulations again," he says, pushing the glass toward me. "It was a good day."

I raise a brow at him, wanting to save the niceties. "Why did you bring the kids?"

"Bex," he sighs. "He wanted to make his peace with your boy."

"On our wedding day?" I shake my head, thinking of my sleeping bride upstairs in our suite. "They shouldn't have been there."

He shrugs like it doesn't matter. I wish I felt the fucking same about his attempt to ruin Sarah's day. But what she doesn’t know can’t hurt her, and I’ve worked hard to conceal the truth from her.

"Bex's life is about to change in ways he can't even imagine, thanks to you.” There’s a sharp edge to Marcus’ voice I don’t appreciate. “I thought he deserved the opportunity to right some wrongs."

"You say that like you don't want him there."

"I just find it convenient that you managed to get him there instead of your own heir." His brow arches.

My teeth grind as my already simmering anger begins to grow. "Keep Ace out of this.” I shift forward. “He, nor any of my kids, have any place in Gravestone."

"It's in their blood, James.” He lets out a defeated sigh. “When are you going to accept that it's their right?"

The glass leaves my hand before I've even registered the move and shatters against the wall on the other side of the room. He watches as the remaining whiskey sluices down the wall before turning his narrowed eyes on me. “Warren got too close. If you allow something like that to happen again, you may not have a choice.”

"I've worked my entire life to ensure my kids don't have to step foot inside Gravestone… or even know of its existence."

"Yes, they’re going to get to do what they want with their futures—unlike Bexley, who’s about to be condemned to this life,” he spits bitterly, as if our arrangement doesn’t benefit him and the Easton name. “Do I need to remind you that one of your sons is engaged to a Rexford?"

I bristle. He might be my uncle. Family. But right now, it feels like we’re sitting on different sides of this fight. "Hadley has nothing to do with her family,” I warn. “They made damn sure of that."

"You're right. Harrison Theobald has bigger issues to deal with than his daughter, anyway. His son."

I run a hand over my jaw. Gravestone might have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, but this is where it ends. I'll continue to do anything in my power to ensure my kids stay as far away from this world as possible. And if that means committing Bexley to this life, then so be it.

Better him than Ace.

Are you ready to head to Gravestone?

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