Page 279 of Boys Who Hunt

EPILOGUE

Heath

I sighand put my phone away. “Why did I even say yes to this?”

Ivy throws her arm around my waist and drags me along. “C’mon, you’ll be fine. It’s just a family dinner.”

“You don’t know our history,” I say.

“My stepdad literally tried to kill me,” she says.

I nod. “Okay, fine, you win in the shitty family category.”

She winks. “Your family loves you. Even if you don’t see it.”

“I’ll just sit it out.” As we make our way to the restaurant, I keep tugging at my clothes. “Jesus, are these suits supposed to feel so tight?”

“No, your muscles are just that big,” Max says, licking his lips like he wants to take a bite out of me even though we’re all wearing the same thing. “You look handsome.”

I grab his chin and make him look even more. “And you look appetizing. Might take a bite out of you later after dinner.”

“Oh …” He blushes. “I’ll be your dessert.”

“Don’t go playing around without us,” Silas says.

“Family time first, then playtime,” Ivy says, winking.

“Playtime? Now you’ve got my attention,” I say, raising a brow as I pull both of them close. “I have a closet full of toys back at home that I can’t wait to use. On both of you. Maybe at the same time.”

“Dude, we’re in a casino. People can hear you,” Silas grits.

“So? I don’t care who sees,” I say, squeezing them against my pecs. “I fucking love these two.”

“Don’t claim her all for yourself,” Silas says, throwing me a look.

“Claim who?”

I come to a full stop from the sound of that voice, my whole body vibrating as though time has ceased to exist.

Cecelia stands in the doorway to the restaurant area, her arms casually folded, her blue-studded dress gleaming like the smile on her face.

“Cece,” I mutter, completely overwhelmed.

“We’ll let you two talk,” Silas says, dragging Max and Ivy away from me.

“Hey, little brother,” Cecelia says, tucking back her curly blond hair. “Missed me?”

“You’re here.” I’m still in disbelief. “How?”

“Mom and Dad begged me to come back. At least for a week or so.”

“Wait …begged?” I frown. “I thought Mom and Dad sent you off to that boarding school.”

She rubs her lips together, then sighs. “I’m sorry, Heath. They were lying to you.”

My fist balls. “Why?”

She averts her eyes. “Because I wanted them to. I asked them not to tell you.”