Vivi

Bonus Content

"The Last Weekend of Freedom"

River

"You're the best," Forest claimed over the phone as I pulled into my driveway.

"You're only saying that because I got up early to deal with your messy business so you could take Iris to the zoo," I accuse as I turn off the car and open the door with the phone to my ear.

"And you only agreed to leave your fiance's bed for your niece," he shot back.

I rolled my eyes because it was true. I tried to stay away from the particularly messy side of our business because it left stains on my shirts and took me longer to get home without them. And even though Ivy could watch a man bleed out without having an episode now, I made her a promise years ago.

"Papa!" I heard Iris shout in the background.

We all thought our uncle was crazy protective with Malia and Mila and then our other uncle with Tori, but it made complete sense to us when Iris was born. My father, who had two sons, melted when his granddaughter was placed in his arms. Tears literally welled in his killer eyes.

But what got me was seeing Ivy hold her. Which is five steps too far right now. Our wedding is in a week. And as the saying goes its marriage and then babies in the carriage.

"Well, I've got to go," I let Forest go when I hear Iris mumble something about the lions.

Opening the front door, I'm greeted by Rocky.

"Hey, buddy," I greet, stroking his head as his tails wag.

Rocky was Ivy's twenty second birthday present. I've been paranoid about her safety since Dean got involved with the Columbian and got her a guard dog as a present. Rocky is a huge black German shepherd that is hellbent on protecting Ivy. They're attached at the hip most of the time.

"Where's the Poison, buddy?" I question while looking around the still room.

Paranoia rises in me, like it does every time I don't immediately see Ivy safe and sound. But when Rocky trots off into the direction of the kitchen, I ease and follow him.

When I round the corner, I get deja vu. Ivy's in a towel, her hair tied back, and a mask painted on her face as she eats chips. Rocky nudges her hip and she reaches her free hand down to scratch an ear.

"Is this going to be a reoccurring thing?" I echo with sly smile and she spins around.

She raises an eyebrow at my playful attitude and the fact that I just quoted the same thing I said the last time I caught her doing this.

"The mud or the towel?" she plays along with a smirk.

I act like I'm thinking it over while I take off my watch and place it in the kitchen counter between us before answering with a nod, "Both."

"Yes," she answers, deterring from our trip down memory lane.

"I knew it," I say with a roll of my eyes and a sigh.

"You knew what?" she asks with a suspicion in her eyes.

"I knew that your husband would come home to this even then," I confess.

She crosses her arms as I move to stand right in front of her.

"Did you know I'd let him ruin my perfectly painted face mask?" she questions while running her finger along the top button of my shirt.

I bare my teeth in a cocky smile. "Lucky bastard."

Ivy

There are so many words for the way I've been feeling. Bliss. Contentment. Peace. And yet none of them truly capture the absolute serenity I feel.