"Yeah."
"He died reaching for that purse." Her voice broke. "After everything—that's how it ended."
Shane had no comfort to offer. Just the truth. "He made his choices."
April closed her eyes. A tear slipped down her cheek. "I just want to go home."
Shane pulled out of the parking lot, leaving the barn and the bodies and the wreckage behind them. In the rearview mirror, he could see the orange glow of the helicopter fire, already fading. The rain washing everything clean.
April was alive.
And that was the only thing that mattered.
April opened her eyes, looked down at their joined hands, and took a long, deep breath. "I love you."
"I love you too. So, so much, sweetness."
Shane drove through the night toward Watchdog, toward Kevin, toward whatever came next.
THIRTY-ONE
Shane's handwas warm and steady in April's as they walked into the Watchdog safehouse. She’d insisted on walking—she didn’t want to scare Kevin. April was still shaking—from shock, from cold, from everything—but his grip anchored her.
The door opened before they reached it.
Kevin burst through, Pete and Benny at his heels. "Mom! Dad!"
Dad.
April's knees nearly buckled. Shane caught her, held her steady as Kevin crashed into them both, wrapping his arms around their waists. They melted into a family hug.
"I knew Dad would save you, Mom,” Kevin said, his voice muffled against Shane's jacket. “Dad and all my uncles can do anything."
April finally—finally—let herself cry for real. Happy tears. Relieved tears. The kind that came from surviving something that should have killed you.
Shane held them both, and April felt the hitching in his shoulders. He was crying, too.
The safehouse living room was full—Sonny and Miriam, Hannah, Arden, the whole Watchdog crew. But they stayed back, giving the three of them this moment.
April heard quiet movement. Her friends slipping out, giving them space. Wren squeezed her shoulder as she passed. Rochelle whispered, "Call me tomorrow." Stephanie just smiled, tears on her cheeks.
But Arden lingered.
She crouched beside April, her hand gentle on Kevin's back. "He's going to be just fine," she said softly. "And if you ever need to talk—about anything, anytime—I'm here."
April nodded, not trusting her voice.
Arden stood, but her eyes held April's for a moment longer. Understanding passed between them. Arden knew what it was like to survive trauma. To wonder if you'd ever feel normal again. And she knew what it took to help someone else get through it, too.
Thank you,April mouthed.
Arden smiled and left.
“Let’s head inside, bud,”Shane said. Kevin nodded. Shane helped April up.
Sonny, Miriam, and Hannah waited in the living room, tears in their eyes. April watched as Sonny approached Shane. The older man paused, then pulled Shane into a bear hug.
"Thank you, son," Sonny said, his voice rough with emotion.
