Beautiful Fiend: EPILOGUE

A year and a half later…

The pre-fight anxiety never gets easier, and the hits in the ring never get less painful.

Every new win is a step closer to making everyone around me proud, to earning more money, and to helping the ones I love.

Fame, or whatever people like to call it, doesn’t really make me feel anything. People recognize me when I go to a gym or if they’re fans of MMA and bump into me on the streets.

Interviewers are not from the same place as me anymore, and they often want to know about my past. What it was like where I grew up. They want to know what the scar of a crown on the side of my neck means and if I was ever affiliated with a gang.

I ignore them. People don’t care about us when we’re in our shitty town. Why would they care now, apart from gossip?

I also often get some screen time when I go watch a fight. The camera pans to me in the crowd to put me on the big screen. But at the end of the day, I’m not really recognizable yet to the average Joe.

It might all change after tonight.

After over twelve months of fighting my way from more minor to bigger leagues, Taylor finally got me a fight for the Contender Series. I just need to win by TKO, KO, or submission, and I’m in. One win, and I will get a UFC contract.

I’m so fucking close as I punch my opponent in the head, and she falls to the floor.

I’m on her instantly, but so is the ref. He forces me to back off when her arms don’t come to defend herself, and waves his hands in the air, announcing the TKO.

Cheers explode around me.

The lights are much brighter in UFC venues. The crowd is much louder, and my name is so distinct from their mouths. Despite everything, I always look for his face in the crowd. Sometimes I even imagine it. Tonight again, I was sure I saw him just before I knocked out my opponent. Just like I did that night on the North Shore.

But I can’t see him now. He’s not really there, and I know it.

No, Caden King is serving a life-long sentence in prison for first-degree. Nowhere near Las Vegas, where I am fighting tonight, and nowhere near my apartment in New York City.

He won’t be here tonight like he wasn’t in the many other fights I’ve won.

Dickie is still there, in my corner, holding my waist when they pull my hand up. The feeling never gets old, even though everything feels a little duller since Caden was put away.

I never got a chance to see him again. He refused to see me when he was being tried, and Xi had promised him he’d keep me away. He never put me on the visitor’s list and won’t take my calls when I phone the prison.

Talks of contracts, champagne, and random people partying are what I find in my changing room as I come out.

Taylor and Dickie stay true to themselves, congratulating me while keeping me humble. I don’t really need it. Nothing can truly make me happy anymore. Not when I had the ultimate joy at the tip of my fingers. Love in my clutches, and it all went away because the man I love sacrificed himself for me.

Everything around me, I owe it all to him.

UFC flies us back to New York City in a private jet, and I’m moody the whole way.

“Come on, Bil’s,” Taylor laughs softly. “Just enjoy it. You don’t ever have to take it again.”

“This is rich people shit,” I mumble. “No one needs a fucking private jet. Think of the environment.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re part of the rich people now,” Dickie cackles.

I rarely touch my money. There’s too much for one person, so I send a lot of it to my mom. I got her out of the trailer park as soon as I could and checked her into a psychiatric hospital. She spent six months there. After that, I got her a cottage in the middle of nowhere, since that’s what she wanted.

My dad and sister refuse to take any of the money I offer. I think it’s because that would mean leaving the North Shore Crew behind, and their gang is their reason to live. They don’t want to let it go.

Which is fine. I bought myself a nice apartment. I spoiled myself on some nice vacations with Emma and Xi. Mainly, I put it all into a savings account for Caden. What if he gets out one day? I don’t want him to have nothing left to his name.

Not after what he did for me.

Five months ago, I sent some money to his sister and asked her to get him a new attorney. I never heard anything else from her except when she gave me her bank details.

We land in New York City around four a.m., and I get in a taxi to my apartment in Brooklyn. I don’t live anywhere fancy. I would have felt weird to suddenly buy a penthouse. My place is nice, in a decent neighborhood, but I don’t need anything gigantic.

I walk into my two-bedroom apartment and lock the door behind me. Letting out a long huff, I make my way through the dark hallway and enter my living room, dropping my bag before I even turn the light on.

When I flick the switch, my heart completely stops, and I fall a few steps back from the shock.

“You think they’d give such a famous fighter a little more protection,’ he smiles.

It’s not the wicked one. It’s the same smile he showed me when I gave him a chance. The smile he reserves for truly happy moments.

“Caden,” I gasp.

His hair is the same black mess on top of his head. His eyes are eating me alive like they always used to, calling my soul and demanding I respond to him.

“Hey, little bee,” he says, standing up from my sofa.

“Oh my god!” I cry out as I run to him. I fall into his arms, tripping on my own feet, and he catches me.

He holds me so tightly against him, I can’t breathe. I do the same, my arms wrapping around him, my heart beating in unison with his.

“I don’t understand,” I cry on repeat. “I don’t understand…”

He pulls away in the slightest, only enough to slam his mouth against mine. We devour each other, but he’s the one who steps away and looks around.

“What are you doing?” A small laugh escapes me as I watch him look for something in the living room.

“Looking for your boyfriend’s belongings. Although there better be no other fucker in your life.” Of course, that’s his number one priority. “‘Cause I’m back, and I’m not scared to go back to prison if anyone else touched you while I was away.”

I shake my head. “No one.” I grin, still not believing what’s right in front of my eyes.

‘Ever?”

“Ever,” I confirm.

“Mm…” He bites down on his lower lip. “This pussy must have been missing me so much, baby.”

He takes a dangerous step toward me, as I take one back. “Wait. You…how?”

“Explanations later,” he says faintly. “Right now, I want my girl.”

“But how did you get out?” I take another step back as he keeps advancing toward me.

“Billie, baby,” he says in his mocking voice. “I know I’ve been gone for a long time, but did you forget who calls the shots?”

I pinch my lips, tilting my head to the side and putting my hands on my hips. “Excuse me. I’ve been very independent without you. You can’t just come back and order me around.”

“That’s very funny,” he chuckles, that sinful smile back on his lips.

“It’s not a joke,” I defend as I take yet another step backwards, only to hit the wall behind me. He brings his arms on either side of me and looks down at me.

“Do you know what I was secretly hoping for? For you to have moved on.”

“Moved on?” I choke.

“Yeah. Just so I could convince you all over again. Just so I could assault your tight little body and remind it who it belongs to. Oh, little bee, I’m going to spend hours teaching you how to take me again. I will use and abuse you until you’re nothing but my little slut. All. Over. Again.”

I gulp, my heart kicking at my ribcage. My entire body is on fire from his words alone. A year and a half is a long time. A very long time. My lower belly is twisted, and my legs are practically shaking as I feel the wetness invading me.

“Maybe I don’t want you anymore,” I lie, in a whisper. “Maybe…maybe I don’t want you to touch me.”

Caden loves the chase. He likes forcing his way. Isn’t it just so convenient that I love when he forces me?

“Oh yeah?” he growls low. “You don’t want me to touch you?”

I shake my head, trembling when one of his hands caresses my inner thigh. Despite wearing jeans, I feel his touch all the way to my core.

“Officially a UFC fighter, and you still wear your simple jeans and tank tops, huh? How humble. And that fucking ponytail.” He lowers his head, burying his nose in my tied-up hair. “Mm,” he delights. “The same shampoo. You know that’s my favorite smell.”

“I’m still the same person,” I squeak past the need building inside me.

“Me too,” he says wickedly. “And do you know what that means?” His hand between my thighs gradually trails higher.

I shake my head.

“It means I still don’t give a shit what you want. You’re mine, little bee, and you’ll take everything I fucking give you.”

He harshly cups my pussy, and I cry out in pleasure.

“Exactly what I wanted to hear.” His voice is barely above a growl now. He undoes my jeans at the speed of light, and I do the same with his. Our tops are next, and before I can do anything else, he grabs the back of my legs, lifting me up and settling between my thighs, crushing me against the wall as I wrap my legs around his waist.

The tip of his hard dick touches my wetness, and we both release a satisfied moan.

“Fuck,” he hisses. “You’re not ready. I’ve waited so long for this.”

“Me too,” I whimper as I start rubbing myself against him.

“Let’s do a quiz. I want to hear my name on your lips when you answer.”

I nod, dropping kisses everywhere I can reach.

“You couldn’t get with anyone else while I was gone. Could you?”

“No, Caden,” I shake my head.

“Because you belong to me.”

“Yes, Caden,” I nod, desperately moving against his dick. “Please…”

I’m not done begging as he slams into me. I scream in both pleasure and pain. I feel so tight. It’s been too long.

“Who do you belong to, Billie?” he says as he stays buried deep inside me.

“You…”

He starts moving, grabbing my ponytail, and pulling my head back.

“What’s my fucking name?” he snaps, thrusting harshly.

“Caden!”

“So, who do you fucking belong to?”

He slams harder, his movements accelerating and becoming harsher by the second.

“You, Caden!” I cry out. “You…fuck…fuck…it’s you!”

He keeps fucking me against the wall, grabbing my legs around his waist and moving them until they’re by his shoulders. I’m folded in half between him and the wall. He’s so deep inside me that I can barely breathe.

“I have a secret for you,” he rasps against my ear. I’m panting, stuck in ecstasy, barely able to hear him.

“W-what…” I moan as he thrusts at an angle that perfectly hits my G-spot.

“I belong to you too. You’ve been on my mind every single day I was in that hell hole, Billie. You’re the one who kept me alive. You’re the reason I didn’t lose whatever little sanity I have. It was all for you. ‘Cause I fucking. Belong. To. You, Billie Scott.” He punctuates his words with harsh thrusts.

“I love you,” I scream as I explode around his dick, feeling my entire body float into nirvana.

“I love you too,” he grunts, coming inside me.

He pauses after, his forehead falling on mine. One of his hands comes to caress the scar on the side of my neck; the Kings’ crown that Jade marked me with. There’s a moment of silence as we both seem to be remembering that night.

What strikes me, though, is how far we’ve come. “It’s all behind us,” I whisper reassuringly. “It’s just you and me now.”

Caden inhales deeply, taking in the truth.

“You’re my everything,” he murmurs.

I’ve never believed him more than I do now.

We settle on my balcony afterward. It’s a warm evening, the end of August, and I’m only wearing his t-shirt with nothing else. I just went to get him a bottle of water and observe him as I walk back. His gaze is lost on the view, watching the city from the fifteenth floor.

It’s only now that I realize, even though he hasn’t truly changed, he looks more tired. Older. Like he’s got more experience and isn’t just the unhinged boy who ruled the North Shore. He’s a little bulkier too, and has more tattoos.

I can’t wait to discover him all over again. To spend every waking minute loving him like he deserves to be loved.

He turns around, probably sensing my presence, and smiles at me. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Enough to remind myself yet again how much I love you.”

He lets out a small laugh and grabs the bottle from me. He’s topless, wearing only his jeans, and I relish in observing his prominent abs.

“Caden,” I say as I sit down next to him on the small sofa I keep on the balcony. His eyes are back on the city now. “How did you get out?”

“The city is so bright and loud,” he simply replies. “So many people here.”

Realizing he’s ignoring my question, I rub my hands against my face. “Caden, please tell me you didn’t break out of prison,” I exhale.

“Of course not,” he snorts. “It was all thanks to you.”

“To me?” I say, rearing my head back.

“My sister got me a new attorney with the money you sent. Just like you said.”

“She did? She never said anything.”

“I told her not to. I didn’t want to give you false hope. Our new attorney asked to reopen the case based on the fact that they hadn’t looked at all the evidence. She got the judge to open the investigation again, and they found that the marks around Sawyer’s neck didn’t match my hands. Not only that, but it was most likely women’s hands. My attorney appealed my sentence, and a month later, here I am. Free. All charges dropped. All thanks to you, little bee.”

I gulp, swallowing anxiety and sadness. “It should have been me in there in the first place. Even if you had been freed and decided not to come back to me, it was the least I could do.”

“You’re the first person I came back to. I got out yesterday afternoon.”

“You got out yesterday?” I choke.

“Yeah.” He nods, finally turning his head to me. “I called Xi for your address. Took Kay’s car, and I drove here.”

My mouth falls open. “You’re crazy.”

“For you? Always.”

My cheeks burn as I understand my heart never got over Caden King.

“So what now?” I ask, a shyness coming over me as I look down at my hands, picking my nails.

“Now I try to start all over again. I will probably have to get a job or something. Save some money so I can finish college.”

“I meant…us.”

“Us?” he chuckles. “There is no thinking needed when it comes to us. I am never letting you go. Ever. Again.” His eyes are hard when he grabs my hands and stops me from avoiding his gaze. “You’re mine. How could you ever think I’d choose any path in life other than the one that leads right to you?”

Happy tears spring to my eyes. I suddenly feel silly for thinking otherwise. “You need to move here,” I say. “I’m away often, and the little time I have, I spend it in this apartment. I want you here with me.”

“If that’s what you want, then I’ll be here. I’ll be the best stay-at-home boyfriend the universe has ever had. Anything else?”

“I want you to finish college and become a math teacher like you always dreamed.”

“Done. What else?”

“Marry me one day. When you’re ready.”

His brows shoot up. “Marry you?”

I nod, biting my lower lip. “You know I want that stupid, typical dream of a husband, a nice house, and kids. You’re mine. I want you to myself, forever.”

He licks his lips, a smug smile spreading on his face. Grabbing the water bottle again, he gets down on one knee in front of me.

“I don’t have anything to my name right now, but I promise I will get you the beautiful ring when I’m back on my feet. Fuck, I’ll get you the entire world.” He undoes the cap and removes the sealing ring attached to the plastic bottle. “Billie Scott, will you marry me and become Billie King?”

“Caden,” I burst into a blissful laugh as he presents the small plastic ring to me. It’s way too big for my finger, of course, but I don’t care. “Yes…give me the fucking world already.”

He puts the oversized plastic piece over my ring finger, and we kiss passionately before exploding into laughter again.

We talk all night. About everything like we used to. His time in prison, where he said he’s feeling lucky to have come out without being sexually assaulted. My time as a fighter. He says he followed all my fights one way or another. Either smuggling phones in or anything else he needed in there to know what I was up to.

We talk about our future. It takes me hours to convince him to accept the money I put aside for him. I ended up having to tell him I’d give it to Xi if he wasn’t going to take it for him to finally say yes.

We’re cuddled together, watching the sun rise on the city, when he whispers to me, “The sun is shining again.”

I smile at him knowing exactly what he means. I take in his gorgeous face. It’s always been too beautiful for such a wicked man. He’s my wicked man, though. And I’m starting to realize we’re truly reunited. For good.

I play with the big plastic ring around my finger, knowing I won’t be able to keep it there but loving that I know I will be the wife of the man I love.

“The sun is shining again,” I confirm in a murmur. “Despite everything.”