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And our lives have boiled down to this.
Moments under the churning storm clouds that are approaching like an avalanche.
When we’re both winded, I move my lips to her cheek, her forehead, her neck. My eyes are stinging with emotions that I’ve never felt. A clawing desperation to live.
My throat is full with my pounding heart. Carra’s misty-eyed, breathless, rattled, and clinging to me when she tilts her face up to look at me again.
“Everything has been carefully planned, sweetheart. This is above the local police. It's coming together, piece by piece. This is seven years in the making. The entire time I was gone, I was working with them to help the agencies build their case on your father. I’m the secret component. The linchpin. On Saturday, SWAT will take everyone from top to bottom into custody, slicing the head off the snake, and all its scales too.”
She blinks at me. “Saturday,Saturday?”
“Aye, at the wedding.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY
Our wedding. Inside my head, there’s a buzzing sound. Hope has a certain sound when it’s muddled by disbelief, confusion, and fear.
I stare at the man who just told me he’s not only been in love with me for years, but he’s been working with the feds to take down my father—the man who’s responsible for my torment, and the deaths and pain of countless others.
“I'm afraid to believe this is possible. You’re sure?”
Kieran’s eyes are steady with resolve in the dimming evening light. “Yes.”
I shake my head. This is insane.
Kieran told me he was going to make my life better. I didn’t dream it was like this. I thought he was convinced his world would be better than my father’s. But this... this is something I never dreamed of. Ever.
An unhinged laugh starts to form in my belly. This is my life. For a few minutes, I just try to absorb this. Some extra tears find their way out of me. I catch them on my wrist. “We are literally walking into the viper’s den.”
“Together, we can do this. Max and his team are behind us. We have to lead the charge.”
I sigh and tip my face up to the sky, blinking as my mind whirs. It’s inky black above me now and a reality like Kieran described feels as far away as the faint stars. “We need a miracle for this to really happen.”
That very instant a shooting star streaks across the sky.
Of course, it did. Because fate brought me to this moment. With this man.
I'm breathless with excitement when I grab his hand. “Did you see that?”
Another bright streak rips across the darkness, defying the light pollution from the city. “Oh my god. Two shooting stars!”
His expression softens and his chest rises and falls with a full breath. “Aye, lass. A double good omen it is.”
When I turn back to him, Kieran pulls me in. We’re nose to nose. His voice drops low, and his arms pull me tightly against the warmth of his strong chest.
“I love you more than life, Carra. The fact that you’ve carried and given birth to my son only makes this bond between us even stronger.”
Powerful, warm fingers thread into my hair. I feel loved. Protected by this fierce lion that’s willing to face down true evil for me.
“We won’t put Finn in danger, and we’ll go the extra mile to keep him safe. After things are done, we can figure out what the future looks like. We won’t destroy Nikki and Marcus’s family or make Finn’s life a living hell. We need to be careful, with everything.”
After we sit in silence for a long time, he draws a deep, cleansing breath, presses his mouth to my ear. His voice is thick with emotion. “I love you, Carra, I want you with every cell in my soul. You are my why. I hope you’ll stay when this is all done.”
In a weepy voice, I murmur, “Kieran McGregor. You are my hero, my captor, my lover, my soul. You gave me reason and permission to hope. You are teaching me how to dream. You are the sun, the moon, the stars, and all that lies in between. How could I ever let you go?”
He cups my face and turns me so we’re eye to eye again. The blue within his shines deeply with possessiveness. Before I realize what Kieran’s doing, he slides from beneath me, drops to his knee and takes my hands in his. “You said you’d never marry me. I hope you’ve changed your mind.”
“Oh, Kieran—”
