“Radley’s remand hearing went cleanly,” Warren said. “He’s in Wandsworth until trial. The CPS are confident it’s all tied up now. The trafficking charges, the fire, even Vivienne’s cover-up.” He exhaled, breath misting in the cold. “Ethan Morgan flipped first. Cooperation deal. Two-year suspended sentence.”
Jude glanced over towards the curve of the harbour where Reece stood, Trent tucked beneath his arm, laughter spilling warm into the night.. Ethan, Reece’s twin, the one who’d always looked too sharp for Worthbridge and somehow ended up tangled in the same mess anyway. The criminal lawyer who’d spent years defending other people’s sins and still couldn’t outrun his own.
“Reece must’ve taken that hard,” Jude said.
“At least he knows Ethan wasn’t complicit in the fire. That might have been his last straw.” Warren tugged Jude closer. “He got in over his head, but he wasn’t one of them. Vivienne used him. Coerced him, even. Slept with him to gain access to her husband’s files, convinced him she wanted out of the Radley business. The idea to burn it all down, that was hers. Ethan’s mistake was thinking he could help her tie off loose ends without anyone getting hurt.” He shook his head, a low sigh escaping. “Still, he’ll wear the fallout. A criminal record. Struck off the roll. But he’s talking again with Reece. That’s something. And Reece is handling it. He’s got Trent. And the rest of them.”
Jude’s eyes lingered on the small cluster of faces. Laughing, shouting, holding onto one another under the bright wash of fireworks. People bound less by blood than by what they’d survived.
“Sometimes family’s not the ones you start with.” Jude smiled, looking back up at Warren. “It’s the ones who stay when everything else burns down.”
Warren tightened his arm around him. “That’s Worthbridge for you.”
Jude nodded, quiet relief threading through the noise of the harbour. “And Callum?”
“Still in custody. The plea’s in process. You won’t have to face him.”
“I know. But I will. I want to. This time on my terms.”
Warren’s gaze lingered on him. Checking. Always checking. “Then I’ll be there.”
“And I’m going to help others.” Jude’s breath clouded in the cold air. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot. How keeping quiet only kept me trapped. I need to change that. I’ve applied to volunteer at a refuge for domestic abuse victims. Use my voice for something that matters. Maybe even speak at school… not about someone else’s history this time, but mine.”
Warren’s expression softened, pride flickering through it. “And when you get home, I’ll be there. So you can lay it all down again.”
Jude smiled, the weight in his chest loosening. “Deal.”
The first firework burst overhead, a crack of gold scattering across the black water. The reflection rippled across their faces, gilding every smile, every tear. The crowd gasped and cheered as another followed, white and red and silver, thunder rolling through the harbour walls.
“Bloody hell!” Reece shouted over the noise, half laughing as Trent jumped at the sudden bang. “They’ve outdone themselves this year!”
Trent elbowed him. “You say that every year.”
“Yeah, well, this one’s got you in it.” Reece kissed the side of his head, grinning when Trent swatted him.
Freddie turned at that, calling, “Keep it PG, lads! There are children about.” He gestured to Tilly and took the baby from his sister to hold Ryan’s ears over the loud bangs.
Nathan laughed and tucked his face into Freddie’s neck. “Hypocrite.”
Alfie caught Lily’s eye then. She smiled. Shy and brave all at once beneath the burst of gold above them, and he hesitated long enough to make it sweet before leaning in. Their kiss was quick, awkward, and utterly perfect. Two teenagers framed in the glow of fireworks, cheeks flushed pink, the world lighting up behind them while their parents did an admirable job of pretending not to notice.
Trent nudged Reece, who glanced over and grinned, eyes bright in the firelight.
“Well, shit,” Reece hollered. “Kid’s got moves.”
“Runs in the family,” Freddie called back, his voice soft with pride, and Reece’s laugh rolled out low and bright, lost in the crackle of the next firework.
Nathan groaned. “I heard that.”
Freddie elbowed him, smiling. “Love you, babes.”
Alfie lingered for a second, hood half up, until Lily drifted back to her family. Nathan hauled him in, ruffling his hair and shoving the hood down with a grin. “That’s my boy.”
Jude watched the whole thing unfold. The flash of colour over the harbour, the reflection of fireworks rippling through the water, laughter carrying on the salt air. Around them, Worthbridge glowed: fire crews, medics, police, families. All the people who’d lived through hell and somehow still turned up to celebrate under the same sky. And after everything—fires, trials, secrets—they’d all ended up here. Together. Breathing the same salt air. Watching the same light.
He looked up at Warren, who was watching too. There was something unguarded in his face. For the first time since Judehad met him, Warren didn’t look like a man halfway out the door. He looked settled. As if he belonged.
“Thinking about your lot?” Jude asked quietly. “Getting back to them?”
