Page 35

Six months later

The gentle trickle of water cascaded over moss-covered rocks, a soothing melody in the crisp winter air. Sloane shifted on the fallen log, her hand instinctively cradling her swollen belly. She knew she shouldn’t linger here at Amelia’s waterfall and stone memorial, but she’d just needed a moment up here before tomorrow.

Somehow talking to a dead woman, one not even buried here, helped Sloane. “I can’t stay long. I left Callum a note, but I should head back soon. He worries so much these days.”

Her lips curved in a bittersweet smile. Callum’s protective instincts had gone into overdrive since the incident with the Kozaks. Not that she could blame him—she felt the same paralyzing fear at the thought of losing him.

They hadn’t spent a night apart since that day. Sloane never wanted to spend another night away from Callum.

And she’d needed him. It felt like her whole world had fallen apart in the past six months. Her father’s betrayal still knotted in her chest like a thorny bramble. It wasn’t just his hand in the Kozaks’ plot to kidnap her, though that alone was monstrous. It was the sheer calculation of it all—the cold signature on a death warrant, trading her life for insurance money.

She couldn’t comprehend that kind of deliberate apathy toward someone’s own flesh and blood. She doubted she ever would.

If Callum hadn’t come back for her in Moldova, she’d be dead now. Her father would’ve gotten the insurance money and walked away free. Instead, he was in prison. William and Dustin Reynolds both.

Clarice and Marissa had lost everything too. William’s bad investments, which was what had led to his getting mixed up with the Kozaks in the first place, then William going to jail, had cost the family everything.

They were broke.

No more fancy trips for Marissa. No more shopping sprees. No more house. No more Nathan the asshole butler.

Clarice had had the nerve to email Sloane a few weeks after everything went down, hinting that she still owed them money. Sloane hadn’t known what to do, so she’d shown the email to Callum. He’d assured her he would handle it.

She hadn’t heard from Clarice again. Didn’t think she would be in the future. And while Sloane had known on almost all levels that she was better off without the Gettys, she’d still been sad that she had no more family to speak of.

Although, that wasn’t true, was it?

She might not have any more blood relations that she claimed, but she very definitely had family here in Oak Creek. She’d learned that the night with the Kozaks.

Everyone had shown up.

Not just the current Linear Tactical crew, not just the former Linear Tactical guys, not just the people with military or weapons training.

Everybody .

Dr. Annie, Eva, Hudson from the Eagle’s Nest, even old Mr. Murdock, one of her regulars at the bar, had been there, albeit at the back of the pack behind the people with combat training.

All because the town of Oak Creek didn’t leave behind one of their own. And that’s what Sloane was: one of their own. Callum had pointed it out that night and had pointed it out in the fact that the entire town was coming to their wedding tomorrow. Not just for him, for her too.

Family, in the best sense of the word. In the correct sense of the word.

Although that night had cost their family deeply.

Sloane’s eyes misted over as she thought of Joy. Her hands rubbed her belly. Auntie Joy . The sister Sloane had always wanted and now could barely think of without crying.

Sloane had no idea how Joy had managed to call in the cavalry that night despite the beating she’d taken. She’d ended up nearly as wounded as Callum. If it weren’t for Joy, Sloane and Callum would be dead now.

Joy had recovered much more quickly physically than she had emotionally. And although things had taken a wonderful and unexpected turn for her friend recently, Sloane wished Joy had never had to go through that. Wished Joy hadn’t had to learn to live with the scars the Kozaks gave her.

Sloane rubbed her swollen belly, feeling the life within her move. A small smile played on her lips. Sometimes bad situations led you exactly where you were meant to be. She knew Joy would say that too.

Their hells brought them to their heavens.

Turning her gaze back to the waterfall, Sloane took a deep breath. “Amelia.”

She knew the woman wasn’t here, not even if she’d been buried here. But there were things Sloane wanted to say out loud.

“I’m marrying Callum tomorrow. We decided to go ahead with the wedding now because, well, we both knew it was inevitable.”

Sloane’s voice grew earnest. “But I want you to know, part of him will always love you. And that’s okay. I appreciate the love you gave him, how you shaped him into the man he is today.”

She stared down at the stack of stones Callum had so lovingly placed over the years in tribute to this woman. Sloane hoped he would never stop doing that.

“I promise to love him with my whole heart. He’s everything to me. Protective, patient, and—” she blushed slightly “—incredibly sexy.”

A soft laugh escaped her. “He’s even encouraging me to go to college. Can you believe that? Maybe after the baby’s born, I’ll consider it.”

Sloane’s expression turned wistful. “Sometimes I wish I could have known you, Amelia. Although…” A half smile lifted her lips. “That might have been quite the predicament for Callum.”

She sighed, her hand resting on her belly. “I wanted to come up here one last time before the wedding, before our son is born. To say all this.”

The wind picked up, rustling the leaves around her. Sloane closed her eyes, imagining for a moment that it was Amelia’s response.

“A son?” Callum’s deep voice came from behind her.

She turned, not at all surprised to find him there. Maybe Amelia had sent him.

“Is that…is that okay? I know we decided not to find out, but last week at the checkup, the ultrasound tech accidentally let it slip.”

Callum closed the distance between them in two long strides, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders. “ Okay ? Sloane, it’s more than okay. It’s…” He shook his head, seemingly at a loss for words.

She searched his face, seeing the emotions play across it—joy, excitement, a hint of fear. It mirrored her own feelings perfectly.

“What are you doing up here, angel?” he asked softly, his thumb caressing her cheek.

Sloane leaned into his touch, drawing strength from his presence. “I just… I wanted to say some things to Amelia. About us, about tomorrow.”

“You know that you don’t have anything to worry about when it comes to her, right? You are my future. You are the woman I love. I’m not confused or torn in any way.”

“I know. But she’ll always be part of your heart,” Sloane whispered, her hand coming to rest on his chest. “Your hero’s heart.”

He caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. “What I had with Amelia…it prepared me for you, Sloane. For this love that’s bigger than anything I’ve ever known.”

Tears pricked at Sloane’s eyes. “I love you, Callum Webb. So much it scares me sometimes.”

“And I love you, Sloane Miller. Soon-to-be Webb,” he murmured, pulling her close. “You and our son. You ready to go?”

She smiled. “Yes, I’m ready. Ready for it all.”

As they began the walk back home, hand in hand, Sloane felt a sense of peace settle over her. Tomorrow, she would become Callum’s wife. And in a few short weeks, they would welcome their son into the world.

The path that had led her here had been fraught with danger and heartache, but she wouldn’t change a single step.

And every step she took from here forward would be with this man.