“Hampton General.” Adrian offered a soft grin. He settled back in the cot as the EMT set to task.
Danny slid her hand to his on the opposite side, crouching by him. “You’re not allowed to check out on me, okay?” She couldn’t keep the tremor out of her voice.
Adrian reached up, skimming his thumb across her lower lip. Even now, while he got stitched up from a knife wound, he radiated the calm steadiness she’d fallen for, like one of those oak trees that grew more and more majestic with time. “I’m not going anywhere. Trust me.”
“Neither am I,” she murmured, the reality crashing in on her. Her eyes stung, and her breaths came in shaky. For the first time she meant it. The bubble of hope expanded in her chest until it could burst. She basked in the radiant joy filtering through her veins, the same sort that consumed her every time she looked at the man who had captured her heart. She squeezed his hand tight. “I get to stay.”
***
Once Adrian was discharged, they went home for the night and collapsed.
The next morning, they were woken up by the Dukas family. Ten of them, in fact, when they included the cousins the others had called. They put on coffee and tea, and Danny had worried about ordering food for a heartbeat until Adrian’s mother pulled out the parade of trays she’d brought, enough to feed a Hun army. And then Danny had regaled the family with her wild ride of a story until her jaw ached.
Her hand didn’t leave Adrian’s the entire time. His eyes glowed every time she laughed with his family, and their antics had her grinning until her cheeks hurt.
“I love you, Danny Reynolds,” he whispered into her ear, and her heart threatened to burst from sheer joy.
“I love you too, babe,” she murmured, squeezing his hand so tight she might as well take it off. This still felt like a hazy dream in the wake of what happened yesterday, between the horror of facing her father and Adrian getting stabbed.
Adrian’s mother watched them, mischief in her eyes and a smile on her lips. “Well, I for one am glad you’re sticking around,” she said. “My son’s always watching out for everyone else—he needs someone to watch out for him too.”
“His ego’s already the size of the moon, Mom,” Lex drawled, nabbing a piece of spanakopita and sneaking a couple pieces to Obi-Wan. “You make it bigger.”
“I think you’re confusing Adrian with yourself,” Matty jumped in, almost sloshing coffee on the countertop.
“Guys, stop fighting,” Nellie interjected. “Your brother just got stabbed.”
“I have to admit,” Danny whispered in his ear. “I’m a huge fan of scars.”
Adrian’s grin widened until he showed teeth, reserving that seductive glint in his eyes for her alone. “Like you needed another reason to be into me,” he teased.
She aimed a light punch to his arm, causing him to laugh out loud. Lex snorted and offered a thumbs-up a moment later. Caught in the whirlwind of the Dukas family, she could understand why Adrian dove into the center of this. Amidst the chaos was a warmth she’d never experienced, the sort that washed over her like sunlight. Of laughter, loud exclamations, emphatic gestures, and shared meals. Her heart squeezed tight in her chest.
Family.
The doorbell rang, causing her to jump on the spot. It’d be a long, long while before her hypervigilance turned into something more normal. Before she got used to the fact her father was locked away.
“I’ll get it,” Danny said, squeezing Adrian’s shoulder. She felt so comfortable in his place, like she’d belonged here all along. She headed to the front door, bolstered by the security of her holy trinity: pistol, knife, and pepper spray.
Conversation buzzed behind her, a blend of sharp laughs and the hiss of the coffee maker while Cal bustled around making sure everyone’s drinks were filled. Danny reached the door, one hand on the knob and the other on her taser as she pulled it open.
Eve Jensen stood at the doorway, wearing a navy pantsuit and stern expression like she was born with them.
Danny lifted a brow. “Don’t tell me he escaped?” Even though she’d watched them carry him away, her heart still fluttered.
Eve shook her head with a grin. “No, Kyle Peterson is secure behind bars.” Danny’s brows furrowed. Why would her handler be showing up? The trial wouldn’t be for some time yet. “I’m here for a better reason today.”
Another woman stepped beside Eve. Her hair was black and choppy now, so different from wavy chestnut locks, and she wore thick glasses and a few more wrinkles. However, the jade eyes and wry smile Danny inherited were the exact same as she remembered them. She took one step forward, then another. The scent of the same cocoa lotion from her childhood hit her, and Danny’s eyes pricked with heat.
“Mom?” Her voice came out young and foreign, like the years apart melted away.
There was no pause. One moment she stared at her mother, and the next, they’d collided in a fierce embrace. She sagged against her mom, tears flowing as her shoulders shook. Too long. She’d waited too long for this. The woman was as strong as she remembered, the resolute iron that had survived a marriage with her father, a woman who pretty much raised Danny on her own.
“Sammy, I missed you so much,” Mom gasped out, her voice thick with emotion as her fingers wove into her hair, clutching her like she’d vanish.
“I missed you too,” she murmured, her mouth muffled against the fabric of her shirt. Danny sucked in a shuddering breath and pulled herself out of the embrace. They had so much to discuss, so many blanks to fill in, and for once, she had time. Ever since they’d been separated to keep her father from being able to target them both, Danny longed on so many nights to hear her mom’s voice, the warmth and sunlight from her youth she grasped onto with all her might.
Mom’s eyes crinkled with her smile, glassy from tears as she shook her head in disbelief. Behind them, Eve stood with her arms behind her back and a satisfied grin on her lips.
“Thank you,” Danny said as she met her handler’s gaze. “We would’ve never survived without you.”
Eve shrugged. “This is what I do it for. These moments are what make all the hard parts of my job worth it.” Even if her handler brushed off the gratitude, Danny would carry her kindness during the hardest years for the rest of her days.
“She flew me up the moment the Feds placed Kyle behind bars,” Mom said, brushing down her sleeves. “I barely could digest the news before I hustled off to the airport.”
“I was there, and I’m still having trouble believing it’s true,” Danny murmured, casting a glance to the open door behind her. “Would you like to come in? I have someone I want you to meet.”
Mom placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’d love to, Sammy.”
“I go by Danny now.” She flashed a grin. “Danny Reynolds.”
Mom’s smile slipped for a moment, the sadness evident in her eyes, but it returned as steady as ever. Words weren’t necessary to understand the shared loss of all those years, of the tragedy that had them changing names and places too often to count, never able to settle. Danny had told Adrian the truth back then—she buried Sam Peterson when she uncovered her father’s secret. But out of all the identities she’d worn, Danny Reynolds was the one who put her father behind bars. Danny Reynolds met and fell for Adrian Dukas.
“Want to join us, Eve?” Danny asked, glancing back.
Eve shook her head. “I’ve got paperwork to get done. Don’t worry, though, Reynolds. This won’t be the last time you’re seeing me. There are plenty of trials and questioning down the line, and I’ll be your go-between.”
“Well then, I’ll be seeing you around.” Danny lifted a hand to wave as Eve stalked toward her car. She turned to Mom. “Prepare yourself. There’s a whole slew of people inside.”
Mom lifted a brow, the smooth gesture so familiar Danny’s chest ached. “I’m no frail flower, sweetheart. Throw me right into the thick of it.”
Danny clutched the door as she ushered her mom inside, and Lex strolled up
from her perch on the steps where she’d been listening in. Danny caught Adrian’s gaze from the end of the hall as he approached. The question in his eyes quieted once he caught sight of her mom. They’d always had similar features.
The morning sun beat down on her before she stepped inside Adrian’s house, this time the warmth permeating deep to her core. The sight of him greeting her mother caused her breath to catch, the sort of thing she’d dreamed about for too long. And within seconds, first Matty got curious, and then Adrian’s mom stepped into the hall in a flurry of sound and greetings.
Danny closed the door behind her, leaning against it to memorize the moment.
She was home.
Epilogue
Six months later
Adrian was going to strangle Matty and Lex if they didn’t stop shouting at each other.
The savory scent of moussaka baking from the kitchen wafted his way. Mom and Danny’s mother, Abigail, were thick as thieves helping him prepare, and if his siblings could stop fighting for a millisecond, he might be able to pull off a memorable dinner. Danny would be coming home from her shift at the Horntree Estate, and Cam would be keeping her distracted.
He headed over to the dining room, which he’d set for their dinner, chairs crammed around the massive table. When he bought this house with Betty, the large dining room had been the main selling point, the place he could imagine chaotic family dinners. However, the longer they’d been together, the more those hopes faded into dust and disuse.
Danny brought those dreams to life again.
She had moved in the moment everything settled after her father’s arrest, and Adrian couldn’t have been happier. For so long he’d been existing in this house, caught in a spin cycle of work, stale takeout, and burying his hurt. She cracked his future wide open again, and ever since she moved in, his house felt like the home he always imagined it could be.
The drop lights shone over the large dining room table where the plates, utensils, and glasses already lay out. In the center sat the Madagascar desert rose Danny had nursed back to life. She’d taken the task personally, as if she could prove she wasn’t the only one to survive her father’s touch. The fuchsia blooms were as unique and vibrant as her.
He stepped into the kitchen where Lex threw her hands around as she hollered at Matty. Mom rolled her eyes and ignored them while Abigail kept sneaking peeks of the show his family liked to put on. Nellie, Dad, and Cal were all hanging out in the living room and watching the game. They’d been banished from the kitchen after getting in the way too many times, and when Lex and Matty began their fight, all three evacuated fast. Obi-Wan slunk around the kitchen, begging for whatever scraps Mom and Abigail snuck him.
“Is this argument life or death?” Adrian asked, stepping right in between them and avoiding Lex’s wayward hand.
“She’s being a stubborn shit again,” Matty argued. “We could use the extra help at the Gin Mill, and she’s letting her pride get in the way.”
Adrian fixed his younger brother with his patented “dad” glare. “Life or death?”
Matty frowned and folded his arms over his chest. Lex heaved a sigh and threw an arm around her brother’s shoulders.
“Matty, you heard the guy,” she said, dragging her little brother forward. “Time to close that pretty mouth of yours. We can revisit this later tonight if you’re determined to be a huge pain in the ass.”
Keys rattled at the front door, and Adrian’s heart stepped to double time. He licked his dry lips as he approached. Already, Lex and Matty tailed behind him, and the rest of the family would soon follow, because the lot of them were nosy assholes. Growing up in a big family taught him privacy was a joke. Everyone would know your business within a matter of hours whether you wanted them to or not. Even when they annoyed him to kingdom come, he loved each and every one of them.
Danny stepped inside, and Cam followed close behind her. Danny’s brows drew together as she glanced to his siblings.
“Hey, let’s talk outside for a moment,” Adrian said while Cam slipped past him to go mingle with the chaos. As Danny’s best friend, she ended up getting to know the Dukas family by proxy since they spent a hell of a lot of time together. Even though Adrian wanted his family around, he didn’t want them breathing down his neck. Not for this.
He slipped outside with her, the light waning as the sky glowed with the deep purples and magenta of the sunset. The traveling crisp air brought scents of nearby bonfires and cooler breezes. Danny stared at him as if trying to piece together a puzzle, the crease between her brows and stubborn jut of her chin adorable. Her cheeks were streaked with dirt, her jeans covered in rips, and she wore a faded olive tee. She couldn’t have been more gorgeous if she tried.
“You know I don’t do well with surprises,” she murmured, the edge in her voice hinting the vigilance that had been branded in her reared up again. Her hand lingered near her pocket, her go-to defensive move.
Adrian placed his hands up in surrender. Of course, she’d be preparing for the worst—Danny had faced one hell after another since she was a kid. “I know,” he reassured her. “This is a good one. I promise.”
Her mouth opened, and clarity surfaced in those emerald eyes. Too clever for her own good. “No, really?”
Adrian grinned as he got down on one knee in front of her, reaching into his pocket for the weight that had been burning there all day. He flipped open the box to reveal the ring Cam and Nellie helped him pick out, a white gold band with tendrils like branches twined around a diamond in the center. As he looked at Danny, his mouth dried, and his planned speech disintegrated.
“Danny Reynolds, even in high school I knew you were my forever. You’re the only one I want to build a future with, and I want to take that first step here, today. Will you marry me?”
Sweat pricked the back of his neck. Maybe she’d say no. Had he rushed this? Ever since she’d moved in, life with her was natural, perfect. No matter how many fights he broke up between his siblings and bad days at work, even when they got in screaming matches over the right place to put the toothbrushes, he didn’t doubt they could overcome all their struggles. His girl was a survivor, someone who cut her teeth on the worst circumstances, and at the end of the day, she chose him.
Danny clapped a hand over her chest. “Well damn,” she murmured, her green eyes alight with the sort of joy he loved seeing on her. Her mouth curled in a wry smirk as she glanced to the front windows of his house, clustered with the nosy faces of his family. “I’m tempted to fake a big fight just to give them a show.”
Adrian’s heart thundered in his chest, and he grinned, unable to help himself. She fit in like she’d been with him from the start.
Danny reached out to grab his hand, helping to pull him up off his knee. “Enough of that,” she whispered, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glowing. “I was in this for good the moment I saw you back in the Gin Mill. There’s nothing I want more than to marry you, Adrian Dukas.”
Adrian wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her in tight. She sank against his chest, and he breathed in the scent of lavender, like the flowers she’d planted on the side yard of the house, the subtle ways she made her mark here. Her presence stamped all over his home and his heart, and Adrian wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Can you at least put the ring on?” he teased, tugging it from the box. Danny’s lips curled into a wry smile as she pulled out of the embrace to offer her hand. He slipped the ring on her finger and leaned in to capture her lips. She tasted like honeyed sweetness and the earth and sunlight lingered from her work during the day. He wove his fingers through her tangled rust-orange strands, savoring the way she melted against him.
The door banged open as his family ran out of patience. Lex and Cal popped out first, hooting and hollering like they were at a rock concert.
Danny let out an excited whoop in response. She glanced to him, her eyes shining. “I should’ve realized the moment I walked in to the entire Dukas squad assemb
led.”
“Not just the Dukas clan,” he murmured. He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around to bring her close to his chest. She watched the doorway until Abigail Peterson peeked into view along with the others. Danny bit her lip before glancing to him again, the gratitude clear on her face even if she couldn’t voice the words. “Though I’m beginning to regret inviting my entire family over. They’ve already started colonizing our home.” His family piled out of the house, their shouts breaking through the air and filling him with cinnamon warmth.
Danny snorted. “That’s the biggest load of shit. You love it.”
He grinned into her hair, squeezing her even tighter. He had the scars to prove he’d choose her every time, this radiant, strong woman who could step through his hurricane to stand by him in the eye. The one who knew him better than anyone else on the planet. The magnolia and salt-water breezes swept through the street, and the sun turned molten as it crested the horizon.
Once in a long while, certain moments hit, the ones that stayed for a lifetime. Adrian watched the scene before him, Danny in his arms and joy flickering through him like a bonfire. Standing there in front of their house with their joined family, he glimpsed a wide-open future he couldn’t wait to embark upon.
Acknowledgements
I’ll be honest, this book wouldn’t be nearly what it became without the help of my amazing beta readers and critique partners. Meghan, your feedback was so helpful, and Landra Graf, Nadine Monaco, and Ember Leigh, your writing talent and on-point critiques always help me grow as an author. I always have my husband and friends to thank for their constant support and getting me out of my head when I need extrovert time. And a huge thanks to Toni who helped me hone this manuscript, and Limitless for taking a chance on this story.
About the Author
Strong women. Strong words.
Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As an eternal geek and tomboy who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there, from different cultures and races toall varieties of men and women. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.
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