Page 95 of Dark Reunion

“Daddy,” Tate yelled excitedly, spotting him first. He launched off the swing, bare feet kicking up dust. Aiden was right on his heels, and they hit Dean so hard he almost lost his balance. Dean scooped them up, swinging them around in a circle until they were all dizzy.

“I’ve missed you two.” Dean kissed the tops of the twins’ heads.

“We missed you too, Daddy. Oh, you have to come see the horses. Mr. Alvarez is teaching us to ride. When I get older, he said that I can choose my own stallion.”

Dean’s eyebrows rose. “Did he now?”

The boys nodded. “Both of us,” Aiden added.

Great…horses.

“You back now?” Tate asked.

“Yes, work is all done, we’re going to go home tomorrow. You'd better go play a bit longer before we have to pack.” Dean sat the boys down as they cheered and ran to the massive swing tire that could swallow them whole.

Yasmine walked toward him, and his heart ached at the sight of her. “You made it.” She looked him over. “And in one piece.”

“Told you I’d come back. I’m never leaving you again.” Dean wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her closer. He kissed Andrés's forehead, who was sound asleep, before he cupped her face.

Yasmine’s smile trembled. “I believe you.”

She touched his jaw where a bruise was still dark. They stood like that for a long moment, and he didn’t fill her in on the graphic details. They simply let the quiet settle around them, savoring the peace.

“So, it’s over?” Yasmine asked.

“It’s really over.”

A tear trickled down her cheek. “Good.”

Later, Dean sat on the porch rail with the twins leaning against him while Yasmine rocked in the swing. Inside, Maeve’s voice drifted through the open window—soft laughter mingling with her parents’ and Wolf’s. The sky burned orange to violet, and for the first time in years, Dean felt the world tilt back toward right.

He could finally breathe.

TREV

Hours later and miles away, a black Hummer rolled into Trev’s driveway and down into the secret parking garage. He and Arek climbed out at the same time, the air feeling light in comparison to the heat and dust they’d left behind.

“I still can’t believe he had to live there for a whole year,” Arek said, and shrugged. “I don’t know that I could’ve done that.”

“When it comes to protecting your family, especially your children, you’ll be surprised what people are willing to endure,” Trev answered as they stepped into the house and rode the elevator up to the main level.

Light glowed in the front room, and a moment later Cody stepped into the hall, sketchbook in hand, pencil tucked behind one ear. As soon as their eyes met, he smiled.

“Catch ya in the morning,” Arek called, heading to his section of the home.

“Night.”

Trev turned his attention back to Cody as he walked closer.

“Took you long enough,” Cody drawled, teasingly.

Trev barked a laugh, every line of exhaustion cracking open. “Had to stop and save the world first. So pesky when the bad guys decide they want world domination.”

“Pesky indeed.”

Cody pulled him in. It wasn’t gentle, but it was everything that Trev needed. The smell of soap, coffee, and home filled Trev’s lungs.

“You’re not allowed to worry me like that again,” Cody muttered against his lips.