But she’d played it safe before.She’d left him three years ago because it was safer than watching him self-destruct.And it had been the loneliest three years of her life.
Maybe it was time to stop being safe.
“Okay.”She went up on her toes and kissed him, soft and sweet and full of promise.“Because I love you, Zeke McBride.I’ve loved you for ten years and three months and however many days it’s been since we met.I’m just done letting you break my heart.”
“I won’t,” he whispered against her lips.“Not again.Not ever.”
“You’d better not.”She smiled.“I’d hate to have to hurt you.”
“There’s my girl,” he said, laughing.
* * *
Forty-three hours later, the coordinated raids went down like clockwork.
DEA agents hit three Vaqueros clubhouses simultaneously—one in Idaho, two across the border in Nevada.Local law enforcement, including Blaze’s department, secured distribution points and arrested known associates.By the time the sun set on that cold November evening, thirty-seven people were in custody, including Wild Bill Jones himself.
The formula Tina Wolfe had died protecting became the cornerstone of the case.Combined with testimony from other informants, surveillance footage, and financial records, it was enough to ensure the Vaqueros’ leadership would spend the rest of their lives in federal prison.
It didn’t bring Tina back.Didn’t erase the torture she’d endured or the dreams she’d never get to fulfill.But it meant her death hadn’t been in vain.It meant the women still trapped in that life might have a chance at freedom.
It had to be enough.
Zeke spent a week at the field office in Boise, wrapping up paperwork, giving testimony, ensuring the case was airtight.When he finally came back to Laurel Valley, it was with a letter of commendation for his work and an official retirement from undercover operations.
He was done.
Mia picked him up from the parking area on the edge of downtown, her smile when she saw him worth more than any commendation ever could be.
“How does it feel?”she asked as he slid into the passenger seat.
“Terrifying,” he admitted.“Like I just jumped off a cliff and I’m not sure the parachute’s going to open.”
“That’s called freedom.”She pulled out onto the road.“You’ll get used to it.”
“Will I?”he asked.“I’m not sure being tied to a desk as chief equals freedom.
“Everyone knows chiefs just sit at restaurants all day and talk to people,” she said.“You’ll be great at that.”
“Funny,” he said.“So where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
She drove around the outskirts of downtown, past The Lampstand where lights glowed warm and welcoming, past all the little shops that made up the heart of the community.Then she turned south, following a road that led away from downtown toward the residential area.
They stopped in front of a house—three bedroom, two bath, with a big yard and a workshop that could be converted into anything.The house he’d bought on impulse and hope.
“I’ve been coming here every day,” Mia said.“Walking through it.Imagining what it could be.What we could make it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”She turned to look at him.“The master bedroom needs new flooring.The kitchen needs updated appliances.And that workshop?I’ve been thinking about turning it into a combination space—half for refinishing furniture for the shop, half for a home gym because you’re going to need somewhere to work off all that excess energy now that you’re not chasing bad guys.”
“Isn’t that what the bedroom is for?”he asked, winking.
“Ha-ha.”
He took her hand and squeezed.“This is our home.A sanctuary.The two of us have had very little of that in our lives.Are you sure you want to marry me?”
