Which means it’s just me and my laptop and the news cycle that’s finally, finally on my side for once.
Rachel Morgan, previously present at all three fire scenes, has been cleared of any involvement. Sources confirm she was an unintended witness whose presence at the fires was purely coincidental.
Purely coincidental. Unlucky timing. Wrong place, wrong time.
Not cursed. Not an attention seeker. Not attracting danger.
The front door opens. Marco walks in looking exhausted but satisfied. His shirt’s wrinkled, badge still clipped to his belt, and there’s this edge of triumph in his expression that I’ve never seen before.
“It’s done,” he says. “Ryan confessed. To all three fires.”
I close the laptop and stand up. “He confessed?”
“Took about two hours of interrogation, but yeah. He laid it all out.” Marco drops his keys on the counter. “Café fire was meant to kill Dorothy during her Tuesday evening routine. The library fire targeted her volunteer shift. His own house was desperation—he’d run out of patience.”
“Derek can’t use the fires against me anymore.”
“No. He can’t. Your custody case just got a lot stronger.” Marco leans back, finally relaxing. “It’s over, Rachel. Actually over.”
I should feel happy, but I also feel exhausted. Like I’ve been holding my breath for three weeks and finally exhaled, but don’t quite remember how to breathe normally yet.
“Thank you,” I say quietly. “For catching him. For protecting us. For—for everything.”
“That’s my job.”
“It’s more than that. You went above and beyond. All three of you did.” I look at him. Really look at him. “I don’t know how to repay you.”
“You don’t need to repay us.”
“I want to.” I reach out and take his hand. “I need you to know that you saved my life. Multiple times. You, Cole, and Theo. I wouldn’t be here without you.”
His eyes darken slightly. “Rachel—”
“I mean it. You made me feel safe when I thought I’d never feel safe again. You—”
He kisses me.
Not gentle. Not tentative. Just his mouth on mine and his hand sliding into my hair, and everything I was going to say dissolving into nothing.
I kiss him back, pulling him closer, needing this connection with him like I need air.
He tastes different from Cole and Theo. More intense. More controlled but desperate underneath. Like he’s been holding back forever and finally letting himself have what he wants.
His hands move to my waist, pulling me against him. I shift onto his lap, straddling him, and his grip tightens.
“Rachel,” he murmurs against my mouth. “We should—”
“Don’t stop.” I kiss him again, deeper this time. “Please don’t stop.”
His hands slide under my shirt, fingers tracing up my sides. The touch sends electricity through me. I arch into him, wanting more, needing—
His phone rings.
We both freeze.
“Ignore it,” I whisper.
It keeps ringing.
