That time he’d kissed me in the light well at the Albrecht house.
When he’d come to a tiny little island in the Venetian Lagoon to save me from Noah the first time.
The music swelled. The guests stood. Malcolm smiled at me.
And I stepped out of my shoes.
Epilogue 2
RAV
I couldn’t stop touchingBrooke’s bare shoulder. My thumb traced small circles on her warm skin—skin that had been hidden under turtlenecks and long sleeves for so long she must have forgotten what it felt like under sunlight. The spaghetti straps of her dress left her scars exposed, highlighting the chaotic spattering of healed areas interspersed with the still-damaged ones.
I took in a long breath, inhaling the scents of a million flowers surrounding us on the island. It had been torn apart by a hurricane six and a half months ago, but nature always found a way to heal.
Six and a half months. When Brooke had come back into my life, after her team had assaulted the data center hidden under this island, taken us into custody, and all hell had broken loose.
And just like that hurricane, which had torn apart the island so it could heal, that incursion had started my own healing journey.
I kissed Brooke’s shoulder.
“You’re supposed to be watching the bridesmaids go down the aisle,” she murmured, not taking her eyes off the processional.
“Can’t help it.” I leaned closer, my lips brushing her ear. “You’re the most beautiful woman here.”
She turned slightly, and the look in her eyes?—
Câlisse, it still knocked me sideways.
The string quartet shifted into the wedding march, and everyone stood. I helped Brooke up, my hand finding the small of her back. In the crowd, I saw our entire family—because that’s what they were, all of them.
From the second row, Zac watched as Ashley passed him, heading for the front. I remembered them in Boston, ducking into our getaway car after Zac’s hand had been sliced open in an unfortunate incident. Ashley had fought against the obvious attraction she had for him, even after they’d broken up, because she joined the FBI. She’d left the FBI last year and was now Brie’s right-hand in our software division.
Emmett stood beside the altar as Malcolm’s best man, steady as a rock despite the fact that nine months ago, he’d been ready to tear the world apart when Fenix took Jenn in Monaco. The way he watched her now, as she stopped at the front, you’d never know he’d once been the guy who couldn’t admit what he felt.
He’d gone through so many changes over the past year. Kidnapping had a way of doing that to a person. At least he was finally in counseling and had admitted everything to Jenn.
Malcolm stood at the altar, and even from here, I could see his hands shaking slightly. The composed private investigator who’d walked into our lives after the kidnapping, all smooth charm and hidden depths. He’d saved Scarlett from Noah’s people in Venice when I couldn’t get to her fast enough. He’d proven himself a dozen times over, and somehow convinced Scarlett—our untouchable, unbreakable Scarlett—to let him in.The way he looked at her walking toward him, like she was his whole world…
Yeah, he was good enough for her, although it had taken me a while to admit it.
Will was probably the calmest of them all. He and Brie simply belonged together. How it had taken them so long to figure that out was beyond me. Nothing like pretending to be married to make you realize you actually want to be.
Across the aisle, Declan had his fingers intertwined with Leigh’s. The Roman catacombs had brought them together. Declan, who’d always been better with safes than people, had finally found someone who understood his language.
Jayce sat a row ahead of them, not eating for once, but clearly uncomfortable after sitting still for more than ten minutes. Drew had his arm around her while she whispered endlessly in his ear. Gideon stood on his other side, the tech billionaire having become friends with Drew since our job for him in Washington.
My family was complete. Our company was thriving.
And finally, we didn’t have to worry about Fenix anymore.
The officiant invited us all to sit, and the ceremony began.
I found myself studying Brooke’s profile, and she bit her lip, trying not to cry. She’d been so emotional the past week as we prepared for this trip.
My hand found hers, and she squeezed back without looking away from the altar. Her collaboration with Pendragon’s science division had been eating at me lately. Not because I didn’t want her working—she was brilliant, and her research into why Greek Fire had healed rather than destroyed her could change the world.
But Pendragon meant travel and meant time apart—two things I hated.
