"Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength."

- Sigmund Freud

THEY BARELY had time to recollect themselves, for the sounds of helicopters above drowned their voices.

And then sirens, loud and clear nearby, followed by a line of soldiers piling into the building, demanding everybody to show their hands, to respond immediately to each and every command. Hunter was carried out into an ambulance. Iris, also offered to be carried out, insisted she could walk to one. Several other casualties were tended to immediately. Others swarmed by police.

The moment, for most, was bittersweet, as although the ordeal was over, lives had been lost.

Chase had pulled Ember away from Wrench's body, his grave face ridden with sadness as he held her trembling body.

The Sangue, even Iris, watched the last moments of Sniper that they would ever get, sad that his life had never felt complete to him. Missing the Sniper they knew, before everything had changed.

Hunter was whisked away immediately for emergency service, so Levi was told he would be able to see him at the hospital. Instead, he followed Iris into her one, sitting on the chair as she collapsed onto the bed provided.

For a minute, they stared at each other in silence.

"Iris, my god it's taken a fucking lot just to get here." Matteo, unknowingly breaking the tension, entered the ambulance with a stern expression, his eyebrows set low on his face, eyes red and raw. "What is wrong with you? Calling me like that? Leaving me like that? I hate you." He wiped away a tear angrily, pulling her into a hug that seemed far too aggressive for someone as beaten and bruised as Iris.

Although wincing, Iris loosely held her arms around him. She seemed happy at least, to see him. Everything had still not sunken in properly yet. "I'm sorry."

"Well that's not good enough, is it?" Letting go, Matteo moved so that he could see her properly. "You're lucky I have connections, Iris. Having to get away from Mum and Dad was bad enough but getting the FBI involved? Thank god they were able to trace your call in time."

"Well," She tucked her hair behind one ear, blinking up at him with a puffy eye, discolouration over every inch of her skin, a swollen lip and uncountable cuts. Although she was unrecognisable, she was still Iris. "I didn't ask you to help, you know."

"I know." His concern finally eased into a grin as he took in her reply. Finally, that goofy smile she had missed. "I wanted to. For everything that happened, you know, in the past."

She leant back as if a wave of weakness spread over her. "Thank you."

Outside the commotion had quietened and the crowding had subsided, the area settling in back as it used to be, without sniper, without guns and weapons and violence, as it used to once be, as it always should have always been. One of the officers approached the ambulance, letting them know that they were about to leave, so everyone inside needed to strap in.

As soon as the officer left, Iris turned to her brother with a sad smile. "You did this all of this on your own, anyway?"

Matteo looked at Levi, his eyes filling with a look of respect. Perhaps at Camp Juvy they had their differences, but now there was nothing of the sort. "Only the police and ambulances. Getting you out of there was not me at all." He smiled as Iris turned to look at Levi, watching the two of them with a brotherly happiness settling in his chest. "I think I'm going to go now. I'll meet you at the hospital."

He shut the doors behind him, leaving Iris and Levi alone in the beeping of the ambulance and the light that flickered around them.

"I missed you." Iris cleared her throat. "I'm sorry I-"

Levi cut her off, pressing his lips softly on hers. It was a short and delicate kiss to not to hurt her, but it was full of meaning. A relief that he would appreciate for years to come.  "You don't have to apologise. You saved my brother. You..." His voice cracked. "Thank you."

As the vehicle jerked to a start, Iris held out her hand, palm free, threading her fingers with Levi's as he placed his on top.

He stroked her hand softly as the ambulance sped away. "I mean, you could have called to let me know, like you did with Matteo. You know, just a heads up."

"Oh shut up." She murmured, slowly falling asleep. "You did just fine without that."

He smirked. "Okay. Whatever you say, Klutz."

"Call me that again and I'll whack you. I've got enough in me to do it, by the way."

Levi squeezed her hand and laughed.

It was the first time he truly felt at ease in what felt like months.

Neither of them knew what was going to happen in the future, but at that moment, holding each other as they had wished for so long, they breathed.

An intake of liberation.

♥♥♥

"Quickly, I'm calling her now." Iris yelled to Levi, who was upstairs having a shower, again.

It had been a long year, that of incredible change.

After Matteo had been given full ownership of the Giorgianni Trust due to fraud offences from both Domenico and Alessandra, he had sold the company for vast amounts of money, creating his own film production service. Due to this, he had so much profit that Iris and Levi had been given a share to have their own house with Hunter, both starting university in London whilst Hunter continued his high school years. Although it was weird being in an entirely different country, it was exactly the fresh start that Levi and Hunter needed, the release from the pain that they had experienced back home.

The Sangue visited Iris and Levi regularly, often using their funds as an excuse for lots of free food and alcohol. Nobody had served a sentence for the incident, due to the understanding that it was a complex and violent situation, one that couldn't have been prevented without the actions taken.

Wrench's funeral had been attended by both The Sangue and The Mongrels, and many of the gangs across London, who reunited as a tribute for the life that he lived.

Of course, everyone still remembered that terrible day, the images still painted clear in their minds. Hunter, although scarred both mentally and physically, took his trauma as a stepping stone to better himself, finally ready to leave behind the years of grief that he existed in for so long.

"I'm here, jesus." Levi was saying, rushing to sit beside his slightly irritated girlfriend.

Iris glared at him, despite the thrill in her stomach at seeing his out-of-the-shower look of glory. "You're pretty annoying, you know that?"

"And you're pretty." He smirked, kissing her softly before tugging a hoodie over his head and wrapping one arm around her shoulders.

The screen on the computer lit up, announcing that Ember was on the other line.

Iris, squealing, pressed the accept button, a huge grin on her face spreading as Ember's face came clear into view. "I've missed that face. How are you! How's college?"

"College is good," Ember smiled, tucking some hair behind her ears. Ember had suffered greatly after the death of Wrench, but it had been her friends and Chase who had helped her. She was strong, just like Hunter and Levi had been after their mother passed away, and Iris after Davis. Life had to carry on. "Chase is here, actually. Chase!"

Chase's face peered into the camera, and this time it was Levi's turn to shout with glee. "Look at what the cat's dragged in! How've you been?"

"Good, man." Chase chuckled into a mouthful of banana. "I miss you up in the states. Why'd u leave me, huh?"

Levi threw him a sheepish look. "Sorry. You know you can come visit, anytime."

"I know, I know." He sat beside Ember, both sharing a smile.

"So how have you guys been then?" Iris asked, gaining a jab from Levi. Nobody had spoken much about Ember and Chase's growing closeness, mostly because it was a soft subject – it was unclear whether Ember was ready for another relationship. Despite the briefness of Wrench and hers, it was still raw in her heart, and awkward to talk about.

Ember smiled, a blush forming on her cheeks. "Okay, actually. We're just taking things slow."

"Good." Iris nodded, feeling a surge of contentment in her chest at the thought of Ember finally being happy again.

The door of the kitchen opened, revealing Hunter, who had a rather startled look on his face. Behind him and holding his hand was a girl with dark, curly hair and large green eyes, looking equally as shocked at the sight of Levi and Iris sitting at the table.

"I thought you guys were out?" Hunter asked, laughing nervously.

Levi smirked. "No, we said we were gonna facetime Ember. I thought you were at the football?"

"Clearly not." Iris said quietly, stifling a laugh. "Who's this?"

Hunter glared at her. "This is Alice."

"Hi." Alice squeaked, popping out behind him like a little mouse.

"What's going on?" Ember asked through the call, only seeing Levi and Iris's shocked faces.

Iris turned the screen to Hunter and Alice, so she could get a look. "Hunter has a girlfriend."

"A girlfriend?" Chase repeated, overexaggerating dramatically.

"Ooh!" Ember squealed. "She's pretty!"

"I'm going to go now." Hunter mumbled. His face was the picture of complete embarrassment.

And just as he thought it was all over, Levi, who was surveying the scene with a mischievous look on his face, filled his lungs and shouted out as loud as he could, "make sure you leave the door open, mister! I don't want to be dealing with babies, here!"

Iris smiled, laughing in fits. She took a moment, surrounded by her loved ones, to remember what life had been like for her, before this moment, and everything that had led up to it, suddenly hit with the thought that she truly was, finally, completely and utterly, happy.

Something about the way in which we hide our true feelings does, in fact, provide an almost irrevocable barrier. It is difficult to know at times what we are thinking, how to gauge a reaction, how to read an expression.

But sometimes it doesn't matter that we are separated by our thoughts. Thoughts give us differentiation, a uniqueness that you can't quite describe. Sometimes those cards face down provide the very essence of healing. Sometimes they make us laugh, sometimes they make us cry.

Sometimes nobody ever tells you what is in their hand at the end. Because sometimes, you find yourself not needing those thoughts if any, even at all.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

AUTHORS NOTE: Crying. Absolutely crying.

I can't BELIEVE I've finished this book??????? It's been almost three years I think!!!!?????

Can I just say thank you so so sooooo (x infinity) much to everyone that has supported this book for so long, whether you are newcomers or oldies, I love you all so incredibly, without you - and I say this honestly - I wouldn't have been able to motivate myself to finish this book.

It's been really difficult having to plan this all out, but boy was it worth it.

As I said before, this is a bittersweet ending. It's a relief to have completed the 2nd of my books, but I will miss these characters so much, Iris in all her flaws and glory has been on such a journey - I loved that she finally found peace with herself, and able to know how loved she is!!! Levi and Hunter finally got their happy ending too, and although I was really debating Wrench's death, I think it is better that way - he died as a noble man, who was respected by everyone around him. And as for the love triangle, Chase and Ember were better suited in my opinion, however I know that they'll need a LOT of conversations about how to better and change the toxicity of their relationship lol!!!

I'll let you in on a secret, I was originally going to kill off Hunter, but after falling in love with him, I decided I couldn't do that, plus it would completely destroy Levi, I'm not even sure how he would function properly.

I was thinking of doing an Author and Character Q&A for Camp Juvy if you guys would like that? Where you ask questions to the characters and see how they would respond? I'll only do it if I get enough questions though, so comment them here:

Anyway, this isn't the last of me!!! I have lots of ideas that I'm thinking about for new and upcoming books so STAY TUNED!!!!

Thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU,

GOODBYE,

SORRY FOR ENDING IT IK U WANTED IT TO GO ON FOREVER,

LOVE YOU AGAIN,

SORRY,

LOVE YOU,

PEACE OUT,

I CAN'T END THIS WAAA I DON'T WANT TO,

WHY IS THIS SO HARD?

AHHHHOEIHWIJGWRMAHWKALAPOEIFJFV

*CRIES IN 101928363 LANGUAGES*

HEELLPPP THIS IS TOO MUCH

I NEED DONUTS

LOVE YOU

AHHHHHHHH

OKAY FR NOW I GOTTA DO THIS I'M SORRY

I HAVE TO

from your one and only,

:((((((