Chapter 41
THREE WEEKS LATER
The Californian landscape is yellow, bright, and dusty as far as the eye can see. My heart pumps harder and harder as Mom drives the car up the small paved road, the U-Haul pulling behind us. It’s been one hell of a road trip, but now I’m aching to see my man.
The last time I saw him was when he took my virginity on that magic, steamy, taboo night. That night, he reminded me of what it felt like to be kidnapped. To neverwantto escape.
I rest my hand on my belly as Mom takes the turn. I think she can sense my anticipation. He was gone when I woke up that morning. Then, two weeks later, I got a text from an unknown cell number and an address. The case is moving on from us. Leo Nind is the focus. We’re just two unfortunate women who happened to be there. The cops don’t care about us.
The neighborhood sits just past the two small hills. I bite my lip as we drive through the quaint Main Street, past several ranches and galloping horses. I watch them running across the fields, so free, so powerful.
Finally, we pull up at the large house in a long row. Michael immediately runs from the door. He must’ve been waiting for us. His hair is entirely silver now as if he’s dyed it, and he’s grown a thick silver beard, the same color. He’s also got a small scar under one eye. He still looks like him but different. Enough to make a person question it.
“Sorry about the getup,” he says, laughing, then shuddering with emotion. I’m doing it too.
We fly to each other. I throw myself into his arms. He catches me, holds me tight, buries his face in my neck, and kisses me. “Marry me,” he whispers urgently in my ear. “I wanted to propose. Dammit, I had a plan, but marry me, Amelia. Be my wife. Forever.”
“Y-yes,” I whimper, hardly able to speak, not caring if we’re still on the porch, not caring if Mom or anybody can see. I feel like we’re the only people in the whole universe.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t forget everything.” He kisses my cheek, takes my hand, and leads me up the steps and into the house. He reaches for a table by the door. The interior is quaint, with lots of light and open space.
Kneeling, he smiles up at me. There is so much love in those sharp blue eyes, but I’ll always see the dark glint in there. He’s my man, capable of anything, and I’m his woman who is not bad in a scrape myself.
He opens the ring box, the diamond glistening. My hand is shaking as he slides it on. I’m bubbling up with excitement.
“Have you told him?” Mom says from the doorway, a big grin on her face. She’s been getting stronger day by day. “No? Tell him, girl!”
“Tell me what?” he says, grinning from ear to ear, happier than I ever could’ve imagined seeing him before.
I look into his eyes and step forward. I feel the heat of his body. I remember all the moments that brought us here. All the suspicion. All the pain. All the bloodshed. A tear falls down my cheek. “I’m pregnant.”
His eyes start glimmering, too. His hand moves to my belly. “I love you. I love our baby.”
I lay my hand atop his.