Marie eyed the bed and then him. “It’s going to be tight.”
“I don’t care. I have to have you beside me.”
“Okay. As a doctor, a patient's welfare is always a top priority, and I can see that to help your recovery you must have this,” she teased, and he loved her even more for it.
“Yes, medical evidence suggests you’re correct.”
She laughed and carefully climbed onto the bed. He shifted, wincing at the movement, he was going to pay for his gallant effort to hug her, butit was worth it.
Marie snuggled beside him, and he wrapped an arm around her, sighing as her body relaxed against his. Already, he felt so much better having her close.
“Sleep, honey, I’m not going anywhere.” Her lips brushed his cheek, and he drifted off knowing that when he woke she would be there, in his arms.
This was his future, and he couldn’t wait to spend every day of it with Marie.
His love.
His heart.
His hope.
Epilogue
Isaac eyedthe pile of gifts on the table as he placed the brightly wrapped box on it. “How many gifts can a two-year-old possibly need?”
Marie laughed and punched him lightly on the arm. “That and more.”
“More?” he questioned. “Guess it’s a good thing Angelo and Teresa have a large house, because they need to store all this stuff.”
“Stop being a grumbly uncle. As I recall, I had to limit you to getting Angelica three things, not the six you wanted. Besides, I know how much you love her as well as Oscar. And when the twins come, you’ll love them as much as well.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” When they’d gone shopping, something he never imaginedhe’d do when he returned back to Los Angeles all those months ago, he’d been unable to resist so many cute things for the little girl.
“Come on, let’s go see the party girl and everyone else.” Marie grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the group of people who’d become so important to him.
A found family, one he didn’t think he deserved, but who’d welcomed him without judgment.
He touched his stomach, where the scar from his bullet wound sat. Viktor was still on the loose, but Cass had scoured the dark web to see if there was any mention of any of Isaac’s aliases. There had been none, and for the moment, he believed that he was safe, but until Viktor was caught, there was always the risk that he could strike again.
Julian and the FBI taskforce he worked on had put Viktor in the top ten of people to watch, and that could be another reason why he was laying low. He wouldn’t stop trafficking, but with the information he’d given to Isaac while he’d been held, they were monitoring the companies that supply the driverless vehicle rideshares to make sure that their occupants were safe. The companies were also putting in protocols to make sure what almost happened to Marie wouldn’t happen to anyone else. Nothing was fullproof though, so they would monitor it while they did their other jobs.
“Good to see you. Thanks for coming,” Angelo slapped Isaac on the back.
“Wouldn’t miss it. Now where is the birthday girl?”
“Uncy Iac!” He had two seconds to brace before the little girl slammed into his legs.
“Hey there, princess. How are you?” He lifted her and held her tight, her little chubby arms almost strangling him, she was hugging him so tight.
“Bifday!”
“Yes it is.” He laughed when she smacked her lips against his cheek. Over Angelica’s shoulder, he spied Marie watching him. So much love filled him knowing this woman loved him. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve her, but he wasn’t taking the life they had together for granted.
Both of them wanted children, but they knew that having one of their own might be unlikely given their ages. They’d come to terms with that, and while they were trying, they were also looking at other avenues like fostering or adopting. There were plenty of kids out there who needed love, and they had so much to give.
Given how they’d ended up together, both he andMarie believed that what would be would be, and when it was supposed to happen for them it would. In the meantime they were enjoying living together, and Marie was loving her job. They weren’t married yet, but he planned on proposing soon.
Life was pretty good.
