Page 18 of The Hitman

Six months later

Callie

I t’s almost Christmas,” Jaxon murmurs against my bare shoulder. His scent is endearingly domestic—sunscreen and aftershave instead of gun metal and blood. “You missing the snow?”

I rest my head against his chest and my arms on top of his, which are wrapped around my waist. “Honestly? Not one bit.”

We watch Leo chase his grandfather around the beach, laughing at his squeals of delight when Jaxon’s dad hefts him over his shoulder. His mother isn’t far behind as they trek their way up the path leading to our beachfront island home.

It’s just Jaxon’s family and me now, tucked away in the Caribbean with miles of safety between us and the quickly dissolving Syndicate.

Our plan to let the rebellion take Carmine and his operation down had worked. Now we’re free and living the life we worked so hard to protect.

“Dinner’s almost ready,” I call down to his parents and Leo.

“Be right up!” his dad hollers back, wobbling up the winding steps with a giggling Leo on his back.

I’m grateful that Jaxon’s parents agreed to leave the US with us after learning about his job as an ex-hitman. It was a difficult choice, uprooting their lives—including Isa’s and Leo’s—but it simply wasn’t worth the risk for any of them to stay.

“You two make me sick, you know that?”

We turn to find Isa making her way down the staircase behind us, wearing a crooked grin. Jaxon moves through the living room to meet her halfway, attempting to assist her the rest of the way down.

“Where’s your walker?” he demands. “You sure you’re okay to— annnd you’re doing it anyway, cool.”

I chuckle at the stern glares they give each other.

“I haven’t used my walker in over a week,” she protests.

But when she reaches the last step, she relents, grabbing the arm he offers to steady herself.

The scar parting her thick raven hair looks less angry. Her vision returned to normal a few weeks ago, and the physical therapist who comes to work with her each week says her motor skills have improved dramatically.

I’m inspired by her determination every day, especially when she’s giving Jaxon a heart attack.

I make my way over, giving her a big squeeze once she’s solidly on her feet. “You’re doing great, Isa.”

“Thank you, Callie.” She pats my back, side-eyeing her brother when we part. “I love you, but I don’t understand how you put up with him.”

Jaxon scoffs as he trails us into the kitchen, and I suppress a giggle. “Trust me, it’s a daily struggle.”

He pinches my ass just as Leo and his grandparents enter through the sliding glass doors, and his dad arches a brow at us.

Leo charges inside first, breathless and barefoot, cheeks flushed from laughter. “Grandpa says he can run faster than Uncle Jax!”

“Not a chance,” Jaxon replies, ruffling Leo’s windblown hair. “But I’d pay good money to watch him try.”

Jaxon’s dad launches into a story of his glory days of track-and-field while Leo heads straight for Isa and gives her the biggest hug. He squeals as she showers his cheeks with kisses.

The scent of roasted garlic and honeyed carrots fills the air, mingling with the coconut breeze that drifts in from the patio.

Our dinner is simple—grilled fish from the local market, fresh fruit and roasted vegetables, and warm bread. My mouth waters as we all crowd around the table Jaxon and his father built, but for as much as I want to devour the meal I made, my stomach violently pitches with nausea.

I grimace before looking up to find Isa’s eyes on me. She glances at my stomach before pursing her lips.

“I’ll tell him tonight,” I mouth, grinning when her face practically glows with excitement.

Jaxon takes the seat beside me, his hand resting lightly on my knee beneath the table.

His parents settle at the ends, trading stories with Isa about her rehab wins, about Leo’s obsession with drawing dragons and his love for his new teacher—who totally doesn’t make me jealous—and about the mango tree in the yard that refuses to bloom.

Dinner with the Knights is chaotic, a little loud, but mostly, it’s perfect.

I catch Jaxon watching me as I refill Leo’s cup, and something unspoken passes between us. Some shared understanding that this, right here, is what we were fighting for all along.

A seat at this table. A meal with no exit strategy. And I realize something now… The thing I once craved when I first started my nanny job, the thing I thought I’d never be invited into is dinner—with them.

With my family.

Later, once the dishes are cleared and margaritas are made, Jaxon and I stand on the front porch. He rests his chin on my shoulder, and in the silence, I gather the courage I need to break the news about the tiny heartbeat I’m carrying.

Part of me fears he might freak out. I don’t want this baby to feel like a burden, like it’s one more precious life at risk of being hurt. But then, the other part of me knows it’s something he’s yearned for, just like I have.

“There’s something I want to say to you,” we say at the same time.

Our laughter is soft as we turn to face each other.

His gaze is warm, his strong features so handsome in the setting sun. But it’s the ring he lifts between us that makes me gasp.

Jaxon’s family piles at the front window, peering at us with goofy smiles.

I laugh through the tears clogging my throat.

“Callie—” Jaxon starts.

“Yes,” I whisper, nodding before he can say another word. “Yes. I will marry you.”

He grins, sexy and brilliant, melting my heart with the adoration in his gaze. “So sure about forever, are you?”

I sniffle when he slides the ring on my finger. “How could I not be?”

“You once accused me of keeping you and Leo in a prison…” He glances at the island around us. “This might be prettier, but I’m not sure it’s much different.”

I lift up on my tippy toes, kissing away any insecurities that he somehow trapped me here.

“We made prison our paradise,” I say, nipping his lower lip. “Might as well marry the warden.”

He laughs, wrapping me in his arms and sighing contentedly. “I’m happy here, Callie. With you and our family, and nothing but time to kill.”

“That’s good. Because if we’re gonna be boring now, I expect full suburban dad energy.”

Jaxon’s brows pinch. He pulls back just enough to see if I’m joking, but my hand falling to my lower belly is confirmation enough.

“You’re pregnant?” he breathes.

I nod, swiping at the tears that refuse to stop and laughing when he swivels toward the window and shouts, “She’s pregnant!”

We see their silhouettes bounce excitedly, cheering us on with all the love in their hearts, and I know, without a doubt, that this sweet baby will be well taken care of.

Jaxon cups my face and kisses me senseless. My world tilts, my heart sings, and in the midst of it all, I’ve never felt more at home.

“Just so you know, I draw the line at cargo shorts,” he mutters against me.

“Noted.” I tip my head. “But what about minivans?”

He groans dramatically, angling us away from the window before deepening our kiss. I cling to him, fists balled into his shirt, as he ravages my mouth in a way that’s both tender and feral.

“I love you.” He kisses the corners of my tear-stained eyes. “I love you,” he says again, pressing his lips to the tip of my nose. “I love you so much, Callie.”

Then he rests his forehead against mine, and with everything I have to give, I whisper, “I love you more.”

THE END

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