And this, my dear readers, will bring us to the end. Thank you for taking this trip to Genovia with me and I hope you've enjoyed it.

Chapter 15

Joseph noticed Clarisse's reflection from the mirror on the door of her closet the moment she exited the bathroom. His breath caught as he took in the black satin and lace. The light from the nightstand cast her entire body in a soft glow. The way her image was captured in the mirror would forever be engrained in his mind. The gentle breeze from the fan brought her chosen scent for the evening close enough for him to add the scent of peonies to the memory they were going to create tonight. He smiled at her. "Shall we celebrate all that was accomplished for Genovia tonight?"

She took confident strides across the room until she was in his embrace. "I think we should leave that to our granddaughter, Charlotte and Scott. I'm certain there will be sufficient celebration in that regard."

Joseph grinned as he recalled the excitement on both Charlotte and Mia's face when they exited the doors of Parliament today. The press was there and both women were the center of all the flashing lights, video cameras, and interviews. Even some of the men shared how excited they were about being a part of history today and how well Charlotte did. "So, what do you want to celebrate tonight? Because, you dressed like that, is reason enough for me to celebrate."

Clarisse smiled and moved in closer, her lips only a breath away from his. "I want to celebrate how two brothers who met under extraordinarily terrible circumstances have found a way to start down a path to reconciliation and restoring a relationship."

Joseph's lips brushed across hers before traversing over her cheek and down her neck. The sound of her satisfied murmurs heated his blood and made his desire for her sing praise to the heavens for bringing this woman into his life. Her knees buckled the moment he pulled her earlobe into his mouth and sucked gently. Because the intensity of her reaction was the same every time he did that, his arms tightened their hold to make sure she didn't fall. Once she was nothing but putty under his touch, he lowered her to the bed. The look of pure desire and love in the endless ocean of her eyes took his breath away. "I prefer to celebrate the amazing woman who has a gift for seeing beyond the surface and bringing out the very best in every person who ever has the privilege of meeting her."

The brilliance of her smile lit up the room as her hands lifted to cup his face. "And how shall we celebrate that, my handsome husband?"

Joseph lowered his head to her very kissable lips as his hands slid lower on her body to begin a leisure exploration. "I'm confident I'll find a way to adequately demonstrate my appreciation for your many gifts."

**C/J**

Joseph watched his wife sleep. Next to the look of her face as she came undone with pleasure, seeing her in unguarded sleep was his most favorite time to watch her. He thought about all she'd been through in her life. The loss, the deception, the attempts to wrestle the throne from her, the kidnapping, the abuse, both emotional and physical, and probably countless other things she'd yet to share with him.

Even through all of that, she still believed the best in people. He stroked the softness of her cheek as he thought about those vile men striking her. Once they'd returned to the palace after visiting with Jacob, he'd questioned her about that and didn't let up until he was satisfied she'd shared every detail of the horrors she endured. He was still confident that she left out details about Jacob's involvement or activities, but he knew neither she nor Jacob would ever share that and, while a part of him hated it, he also knew it was probably for the best.

Unable to resist touching her again, he let his fingers trail over her cheek, down her neck, and to the generous swell of her breasts…still captured in silk and lace.

"Mmmm, Joseph?"

He looked up to see her eyes still closed, but a smile on her face. "Yes, my love?"

"Are you feeling the need to celebrate again?"

"Always, my love. Always."

Epilogue

Joseph smiled at the fact his brother cast his line exactly like he did. Maybe there really was something to this twin thing.

"Twenty bucks says I catch more fish than you old man," Jacob teased as he worked the line across the water. They'd decided fly fishing would be a good way to start brotherly bonding activities.

"Old man? Have we actually seen the birth records to prove I'm older than you by probably no more than five to ten minutes?"

Jacob laughed. "Don't need to see the records, I know it in my heart of hearts. So, you might as well get used to the teasing. I hear that's what brothers do, especially little brothers."

"Do you hear that?" Joseph teased.

"Hear what?"

"Puerto Rico called and wants their resident bad boy back."

Jacob laughed and Joseph joined in. He knew they had a long way to go and much still to talk about with their past and Jacob's involvement in the potential coup against the Renaldi family, but he also believed Jacob was a changed man now, or at least a work in progress.

After several minutes of silence, Joseph decided to take the next step toward a relationship. "Thank you again for all your assistance with putting away the rest of the Order. Both Clarisse and I appreciate your being willing to testify."

"We got everyone but that snake, Mabrey. I'm still not sure how he was able to weasel his way out of any jail time. How could there be no actual records of his involvement? I know it was him that reached out to me this last time to secure my services. I just can't prove it and sadly my word as an ex-criminal doesn't carry as much weight as an implicated viscount."

"That's because he's a smart snake, but don't worry about him, his time will come."

The way Joseph said the sentence perked Jacob up. "Isn't the Queen dating his nephew? I'm not sure how his family being tied to the Royal family works against him."

Joseph smiled, "You realize, by extension, you're a part of the Royal family too?"

"I don't really feel like I should be. You know...given everything I've done against the monarchy. I do appreciate Clarisse and Queen Mia vouching for me at the trial so I didn't get extradited back to Puerto Rico or have to do jail time here."

"Well don't get too comfortable as Mia has plans for you, little brother."

Jacob reeled his line in and turned toward Joseph with a grin, "I knew it. You ARE the oldest." His smile faded. "What do you mean she has plans for me?"

Joseph followed suit with his line and moved closer to his brother. "All your escapades aside, you showed a true talent for being able to identify and uncover bad seeds."

"Takes one to know one, I guess. But I want those days to be behind me. I'm sure you and Clarisse will be wanting me out of your hair soon."

"I don't have much hair to get in, but we, Clarisse, Mia and I, talked about it, and we want to continue to put your skill sets to use for good."

His brother looked at him for a long minute and nothing but the sound of the water quietly lapping at their hip waders could be heard. "How so?"

"The Queen wants you to observe the new recruits. After you've observed them for a bit, she'd like you to pick one to be your apprentice. Train him or her, we are an equal opportunity country now, you know." Joseph smiled and his words earned a smile from Jacob as well. "

"Train them in what? Being a bad guy…or girl?"

"In a way. We want this person to be involved as a secret sect of the royal guard. Trained to be on the lookout for people who work in the shadows. You succeeded bringing own the Order when generations of official security made no progress at all. While we hope that no one like that ever threatens Genovia or her rulers again, we don't want to be unprepared. And," he grinned, "if you could keep my wife from being kidnapped again, I'd really appreciate that."

Jacob's gaze pierced Joseph's, "I swear to you that I will never let that happen again."

Joseph clasped Jacob's shoulder with his hand, "WE will never let that happen again. I might not be on active duty, but I think I could share a lot of good information with you about Genovia and her history and what criminal factions we've contended with in the past along with what families might vie for the throne."

"What you see in the mirror of my soul really has changed, hasn't it?" Jacob asked.

"It's a work in progress, but yes, I believe that your reflection is now that of a different person."

"So, us? Working together? What will the Missus think?"

"She won't have to wonder since we'll debrief her once a week at a family dinner you're going to host at your new house."

"My new house?" Jacob shook his head and sent his line toward the water again. This all had to be a dream and at any minute a crocodile would come take a well-deserved bite out of him and he'd wake back up in the Puerto Rico prison.

"We found a small one for you to rent until you decide where around here you'd like to live. That is if you decide to stay."

Jacob stared out across the now still water. It echoed the peace he now felt in his soul after all the inner turmoil he'd felt through his entire life. The mirror image of his brother, staring at the same water, filled him with hope that maybe, just maybe, this time he could truly experience family and live a life he never thought possible. He only needed to have the courage to try.

Extending his brother a hand to seal the deal. "I accept, big brother. I accept. Now let's get back to me kicking your butt by catching more fish and impressing your wife."

Joseph laughed and used the grip on his brother's hand to pull him forward, causing him to lose his balance. "In your dreams, little brother. In your dreams.

The End