Page 93 of Striker’s Rebel

I looked at him.

He grinned.

“Thirty-six years old and nervous.”

“Keep talking.”

Then June appeared and saved him from whatever I was about to say.

Simple dress. Hair loose over her shoulders.

Those blue eyes found mine.

Everything else disappeared.

She walked straight to me and slipped her hand into mine.

Best thing that ever happened to me.

Still is.

The old mission got reopened after Munn was taken down. Vale lived, the poisoned bottles never reached the dinner, and eventually the truth came out the way it should have years ago.

Grim had made the right call.

So had I.

For a long time, I thought I needed somebody important to put that on paper.

When they finally did, I read the report once.

Then I went home to my wife.

That surprised me more than anything.

The life Munn fucked up was gone. I’d spent years thinking that mattered.

By the time somebody handed our names back clean, I had something better waiting for me.

Now I have both my girls.

Turns out there are some things a man doesn’t know he’s missing until they’re his.

Jamie’s serving time. That’s about as much thought as I give him.

Eliana works at the shelter now. The women there trust her because she’s been where they are. She knows what it costs to admit you’re scared, and she never looks at them like they should have figured it out sooner.

June is proud of her.

So am I.

Our daughter gives one last sleepy sigh against my chest.

Finally.

“I’ve got her,” June whispers.

“No.”