“Like what?”
“Like I can finally breathe,” she says. “Like the weight of the last ten years just evaporated.”
“That’s because you’re not carrying it alone anymore,” I tell her. I kiss the top of her head, the scent of her filling me, making the possessive beast in my chest purr. "You have this family and a man who would burn these mountains to the ground to keep you safe. You’re done holding the line by yourself.”
She looks up, her gaze fierce. “I’m still going to help you run this family, Alessio. Don’t think I’m just going to sit by the fire and knit.”
I bark out a laugh. It’s been so long since I’ve made that sound. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re one of the sharpest minds in this family. We’d be idiots not to use that brain."
“Good,” she says, her smile widening. “Because I already have some ideas for the security protocols on those gates. They’re a little basic.”
“Of course you do,” I mutter, pulling her closer.
The house starts to glow with light as lamps are turned on, the massive windows reflecting the sunset. It’s a fortress, but it’s a home. I stay on the terrace a moment longer with her, looking at the winding road we traveled. I think about the parents we lost and the man who raised us. We’re the ones who made it.
“Ready?” I ask.
Amara takes a deep breath. She holds out her hand, the amber stone catching the final rays of the sun. “I’m ready.”
We walk through the doors together, leaving the cold of the terrace behind, stepping into the warmth of the family. The war is over. And for once in my life, I don’t need a vault to feel safe. I just need her.
Inside, the house is a whirlwind. Matteo is in the kitchen complaining about the lack of flour, while Dante tries to figure out the high-tech fireplace. The wives sit around a massive timber table, their voices a low, comforting hum.
Dominic stands at the head of the table and pours wine. He hands a glass to Amara, then to me. “To the future,” he says.
“To the future,” we echo.
I clink my glass against Amara’s. The amber on her finger sparkles in the firelight. We drink, the wine cold and sharp, andI know that whatever comes next, we’ll face it as one. The Costa name is no longer a burden. It’s a promise.
Amara slides into the circle with Sienna and Natalia. Her laughter cuts through the noise, sharp and real, anchoring me to the floorboards. She looks vibrant, alive, and at home. The tension coiled in my chest for eleven years finally begins to unwind, replaced by a steady, pulsing heat.
She’s mine. And I am hers.
Night falls over Pine Valley, a deep blackness that is no longer something to fear. The stars come out, reflected in the mountain lakes below. I catch Amara’s eye across the room. She smiles—a secret, intimate look. I wink at her, my fingers itching to touch her again.
We have a lifetime for that.
Tonight, we live. We eat, we drink, and we celebrate the fact that the runners stopped running. The mountains are tall, the walls are thick, and the love inside them is fiercer than the war that brought us here.
“You okay, Alessio?” Matteo asks, leaning over with a plate of bread.
“I’m better than okay, brother,” I say. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”
As the evening winds down, the brothers drift off to their rooms. The move has exhausted everyone.
“I think it’s time we find our room,” I whisper in Amara’s ear.
She trembles under my stare, her gaze turning heavy and molten. “I think you’re right.”
We say our goodnights and head up the wide timber staircase. Our room is at the end of the hall, a quiet space overlooking the forest. I open the door and lead her inside. I don’t turn on the lights; the moonlight is enough, silvering everything it touches.
I turn Amara to face me, my hands resting on her waist. I look down at the woman who walked through hell with me and didn’t blink.
“Are you really staying?” I ask the question a low growl.
She reaches up, her fingers tracing the caduceus tattoo on my forearm before cupping my face. Her touch is soft, but her eyes are fierce. “I’m not going anywhere, Alessio. You’re stuck with me.”
“Good,” I say, leaning down to claim her mouth. “Because I was never going to let you go anyway.”
