Jet started to sing and Cora appeared at the back of the church with her father. Joe was also in his dress uniform from the navy, which made the fact that his daughter was in a flouncy, puffy, light pink wedding dress even more noticeable. Of course there would be no white wedding for the punk-rock pixie. It was like the entire church took a collective breath and let it out as the two of them made their way to the front of the church. Rome couldn’t take his eyes off the woman that had helped him slay all his dragons. RJ kept clapping her hands and saying, “Mommy is pretty.” She sure was. Cora’s multicolored eyes gleamed with unshed tears as she slowly made her way toward her waiting family … all of us.
When Joe handed Cora over to Rome, Rule broke the emotional silence with a loudly whispered, “It’s about damn time,” which had the entire church laughing. Jet stopped by to give Ayden a quick peck on the cheek and to pat her very round belly before taking his place next to me. We shared a look and I just nodded my head. I had had to do some serious work to earn my place up here next to these men, next to the man that loved my sister when I didn’t know how. I would never forget it.
We all had marks, some physical, some emotional, some that would never leave us, and many of those marks were of our own making as we all tried to get to the place we were supposed to be. Our marks defined us, separated us, and made us the men we were today. One fact that none of us up here on this altar could dispute was that the most important mark, the most lasting marks we would all carry with us, came from falling in love with the remarkable women that stood across from us.
We were marked and had been marked in unforgettable and forever ways. We were all better men for it. Marked men. None of us would have it any other way.
Asa and Royal’s Playlist
So this was a tricky one. Asa is all over the map, so the musical choices that reflect his personality are, too, and I really pictured Royal as upbeat and bubbly, so I knew she needed a pop sound track—which I absolutely don’t listen to. So the compromise was that I gave her all old pop songs that were popular when I was younger and can remember hearing on the radio. These choices are silly, catchy, and fun, which fits her personality, but definitely are not the fare that’s on the radio today. (Though I do have a secret affinity for Eminem. Don’t tell anyone!) This is an interesting one, but it fits and I think it’s a good one to say good-bye on …
Tom Petty, “You Got Lucky,” “Even the Losers”
Shooter Jennings, “A Hard Lesson to Learn”
Diamond Rugs, “Blue Mountains”
Britney Spears, “Toxic”
Whiskeytown, “The Battle and the War”
U2, “With or Without You”
Jason Isbell, “Streetlights”
Raconteurs, “Salute Your Solution”
Funeral Party, “Finale”
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, “Devil’s Waitin’”
One Direction, “Better Than Words”
Justin Timberlake, “SexyBack”
P!nk, “Trouble”
Eagles of Death Metal, “I Want You So Hard”
George Thorogood, “Who Do You Love?”
Them Crooked Vultures, “No One Loves Me & Neither Do I”
The Killers, “All These Things That I’ve Done”
The Duke Spirit, “Love Is an Unfamiliar Name”
Christina Aguilera, “Dirrty”
Guns N’ Roses, “Civil War”
Eminem, “Berzerk”
American Aquarium, “Northern Lights”
Band of Horses, “The Funeral”
Slobberbone, “To Love Somebody”
Black Angels, “You’re Mine,” “Love Me Forever”
Sea Wolf, “O Maria!”
Morningwood, “Best of Me”
Madness, “It Must Be Love”
AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Before I get into my regular acknowledgments it occurred to me that I need to take a minute and holler at the other authors that have helped me navigate this crazy journey to get the Marked Men into the world. Writing is a joy and a passion but it is also a job, a job with the world’s greatest perks and benefits no doubt. It’s also a job that has some pretty crazy ups and downs and over the last few years there is a good chance I would have ended up quitting or in a strait jacket if it weren’t for these wonderful and extremely talented ladies:
Jennifer Armentrout is my hero. I want to be her when I grow up and I’ll make book babies with her any day.
Cora Carmack always makes me laugh. It’s good to remember this is supposed to be fun and she never lets me forget it.
Sophie Jordan is the master of reinvention. She is genius and has so many voices and ideas. She is the prime example of how to always grow, always challenge yourself and to never be scared of something new.
Tiffany King is prolly the nicest human being alive. She showcases how easy and effortless it is to support instead of compete. I just love her and her entire outlook on life.
Kristen Proby is a class act. I love her to death and honestly she is the perfect author to showcase how to conduct yourself professionally and thoughtfully in this business and in life. We are an odd pair but I’m so glad she loves me back.
Lisa Desrochers was the first author to tell me that I had something special working for me. She was so kind and so excited for me it was infectious. She’s brilliant and her take on romance is so fresh and different it’s hard not to admire everything that sets her apart.
KA Tucker is an agency sister and an amazing author, seriously the woman gives me word envy all the time. Every time I read one of her books it makes me want to be a better writer. Plus she’s just a doll and every time I’m in the same room with her I just want to hug her face off.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Of course, since this is the end of the series, I have to thank, first and foremost, all the amazing readers who embraced it and loved it as much as I did. Would there have been more after Rule without you guys? I can’t honestly answer that question with a yes. I love how my misfits found a place in your hearts and so did their misfit creator. I wouldn’t push to do better without you guys. I wouldn’t give of myself so fully with each book I write if I had never promised not to let you guys down. Being able to share my loves and my passions with so many people over and over again has really been a blessing.