She nods her head and then lays it on my shoulder, wrapping one of her arms behind my back.  She continues to run her fingers against my chest while she thinks, and the whole time, I fight my body.

“So now that you know?  Do you want to go through with your threat to take her for everything she has?  Or do you want to talk about other options?  I think I have an idea you might be open to.”

I think about her question for a moment.  I’ve been asking myself the same thing since we left the hospital.  It’s like running in a constant circle.

“I really don’t think I want their money.  Now especially.  She’s an evil bitch, Em.  I don’t want to do something out of spite and vengeance that has her coming after us later just because she thinks we’re sitting on her pile of money or something.  I think I’m going to have Jefferson draw something up that I sign them over with the stipulation that none of them can contact us again.”

She doesn’t say anything for so long that I wonder if she has fallen asleep.

“Can I suggest something else?  You can do whatever you need, baby, and I’ll support you one hundred and fifty perfect, but what about selling and donating your money?  I know that you’re struggling with what accepting this money means to all that you’ve overcome, but taking the money that is owed to you will not make you one of them, Maddox.  I was looking into the Semper Fi Fund, and I think this might be a good charity for you to donate to.  Your family played such a gigantic part in how you’ve lived your life for the last twelve years.  Especially after your injury—when you needed them the most.  What a better way to kind of help karma out than to take the money from the three people whom didn’t support you when you needed them the most and give it to a charity that will help other fallen marines when they might not have anyone either?”

I’m intimately familiar with how important the Semper Fi Fund can be to an injured member of the military.  I wouldn’t have been able to pick up the shattered pieces of my life if it hadn’t been for their funding, resources, and help in transitioning into my new life.

“God, I love you, Em.  I didn’t even think about that, but I think it’s a great idea.  I’ll make sure that it’s in the paperwork from Jefferson.  Complete sale of my shares in Locke Oil and all money be donated to the Semper Fi Fund.  But I’m making sure he also includes that they can’t contact us or any of our children.  I just want it done.  I’m sick of the baby steps, Em…  You told me once that we had to learn to walk again before we could run.  Well, angel, it’s time for us to run.”

I feel her cheek move when she smiles.

“You’re right, baby.  I’m ready to run,” she whispers.

Epilogue—Maddox—Five Years Later

“Stop squirming, Emersyn,” I rasp in her ear.

“Don’t you give me that tone, Maddox Locke.”

“Watch that sass, Emersyn Locke.”

She narrows her eyes and then closes them tight.  She’s been making that same face for the last thirty minutes, and every time I tell her to stop wiggling that sexy ass around, she throws her sass back in my face.  I can’t wait to spank her ass later for it.

“Almost done,” Rex says.

I look over her body and give him a nod.

“You said that ten minutes ago,” she reminds him.

“Yeah.  Then you started acting like a baby,” he laughs at her, returning to his task.

“Watch it, Em.”

Her eyes snap open again and I laugh.  Oh, it’s going to be a fun night.

Bending over so that my lips are against her ear, I promise, “You’re lucky I got a babysitter for the whole night.  By the time I finish, you’re going to be knocking the frames off the walls with your screams.”

“Ugh!”

I laugh again and she rolls her eyes.

“You two need to get all that shit out of your system before you come in here next time.  Fuck, man.  My girl’s out of town for another week and I have my two horniest motherfucking clients in my chair again.  Every damn time.”

“Hey, watch your shit,” I snap.

“Watch my shit?  You’re the one saying the shit.  Not my fault my ears work.”  He looks down at Emmy, pulls his gloves off, and stands. “All done.”

“Good.  Now, get out.”

“You can’t tell me to get out, dude.  I own the place.”