Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Six

Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Six
Dante's POV
Watching Evelyn get shot was the worst moment of my life. Worse than any fight I'd been in. Worse than any threat I'd faced.
Because in that moment, I realized how fragile everything was. How quickly I could lose her.
The doctors said she'd recover fully. The bullet had missed anything vital. She'd have a scar, but she'd be fine.
I didn't care about scars. I cared that she'd stayed behind. Risked everything. Nearly died.
"You're hovering," she said, three days after the incident. She was sitting up in bed, color returning to her face.
"I'm staying close. There's a difference."
"You haven't left my side in seventy-two hours."
"And I won't for another seventy-two."
She touched my face. "Dante. I'm okay."
"This time. But next time—"
"There won't be a next time. The Restoration is finished." She gestured to the TV. News coverage showing mass arrests. Leaders being detained. Facilities being raided. "Marcus's evidence worked. They're done."
"Some will escape. Go underground. Wait for another chance."
"Maybe. But they'll never have the power they had. The world is watching now." She pulled me closer. "We won. It's over."
I wanted to believe her. Wanted to think we could finally have peace.
But I'd seen too much. Fought too long. I knew evil didn't die just because you exposed it. It just changed forms.
"Promise me something," I said.
"Anything."
"No more hero plays. No more staying behind to buy time. When we fight, we fight together. When we run, we run together. No exceptions."
"I promise. Together. Always together."
I kissed her. Gentle this time. No desperation. Just love.
"What happens now?" she asked.
"Now? We go home. Back to our children. Back to normal life."
"Can we have normal after everything?"
"We can try."
The next week was strange. Quiet. No attacks. No threats. Just news coverage of the Restoration's collapse and our growing family's relief.
Victoria had stayed to help the rescued timeline manipulators adjust. Emma was doing better. The others were recovering.
Grey had gone back to his son. Making up for lost time. Trying to be the father the boy deserved.
Beck returned to managing our security. But he'd hired extra people. He was taking no chances.
And Evelyn and I went home to our children.
"Mommy!" They ran to her the moment we walked through the door. "You're back!"
"I'm back." She hugged them tight. "And I'm not leaving again."
Sana had tears in her eyes. "I was so worried."
"I know. Thank you for taking care of them."
"Always."
That night, after the kids were asleep, Evelyn and I stood on our balcony. Looking at the city. At the life we'd fought so hard to protect.
"Do you think it's really over?" she asked.
"The Restoration? Yes. But there will always be something. Some threat. Some challenge." I put my arm around her. "But we'll face it together. Like we always have."
"I like the sound of that."
We stood there in comfortable silence. Two people who'd been through hell and somehow found their way to heaven.
"Dante?" she said softly.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For coming back for me. For not leaving me behind."
"I'll always come back. No matter what. You're my everything."
"You're mine too."
We went inside. Checked on our sleeping children one more time. Then fell into bed, exhausted but content.
The war was over. The Restoration was finished. And for the first time in months, I let myself believe we might actually have a future.
A peaceful, boring, wonderful future.
And I couldn't wait.