Chapter 202: Homecoming

The questioning had lasted hours.

Nat had been through FBI interrogations before, but this one was different. It wasn’t just about what happened—it was about what came next. What her father’s death meant, what it left behind. The agents wanted every detail, every piece of information she had on Elias Carter’s operation, on the chaos that had unfolded in his final moments. Ginger had sat beside her the entire time, his presence solid and unwavering, his hand brushing against hers under the table when she needed the anchor.

But after endless questions, signatures, and tense discussions, they were finally allowed to leave. They walked out of the federal building into the cool night air, and for the first time in what felt like forever, they were free.

The ride back to the marina was silent. Nat stared out the window, watching the city lights blur past, her fingers absently trailing over the empty space on her lap where her gun had once rested. The weight of what she had done clung to her, but there was something else beneath it now—something quieter, something uncertain.

Was Roman really gone?

He had disappeared into the night without a word. No messages. No signs. It was the only way it could have been—he was still a dead man as far as the world was concerned, and staying behind would have put everything at risk.

But had he meant it? Had he walked away for good this time?

The thought curled inside her chest like an ache she couldn’t shake. She wasn’t ready for that. Not after everything. Not after they had fought so hard to find their way back to each other.

Ginger pulled into the marina, the sound of waves lapping against the docks breaking the heavy silence. He glanced at her as he shut off the engine. "You okay?"

Nat inhaled slowly, forcing herself to nod. "I don’t know."

He reached over, taking her hand and squeezing gently. "Then let’s go inside and figure it out."

They stepped out of the car, making their way toward the boat. The marina was quiet this late, the only sounds the creak of the docks and the occasional call of a gull in the distance. As Ginger unlocked the door, Nat braced herself for the emptiness waiting inside.

But the second the door swung open, she knew.

He was there.

Roman stood in the middle of the cabin, his broad shoulders tense, his blue eyes locking onto hers the moment she stepped inside. He looked exhausted—his knuckles were still raw, his face shadowed with sleepless nights. But he was there.

Nat didn’t think—she just moved. She crossed the space between them in seconds, crashing into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Roman caught her just as tightly, his hands gripping her waist, his face burying into her hair. He exhaled against her, his breath shuddering like he had been holding it for too long.

"I thought—" she started, but her voice broke, and she shook her head. "You left."

"I came back," he murmured, his voice rough. "I wasn’t going to leave you, Nat. Not for good."

She clung to him, feeling Ginger’s presence just behind her, steady as ever. When she finally pulled back, Roman’s gaze shifted to Ginger, something unspoken passing between them. Ginger let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "You sure know how to make an entrance, Wolfe."

Roman smirked, though it was faint. "Had to keep you on your toes."

Ginger huffed a quiet laugh, but there was no animosity in it. He reached for Nat’s hand, pulling her back to him gently. She let him, her fingers tightening around his, standing between them like she belonged to both.

Later, after the adrenaline had faded and the weight of exhaustion settled over them, the knock on the door came.

Ginger’s mother stood on the deck, holding Grace in one arm and Alejandro in the other, her expression unreadable as she took in the scene before her—the three of them standing together, one unit, one unexplainable force.

She arched a brow. "Well. This is interesting."

Ginger scrubbed a hand down his face. "Mom—"

"Don’t you Mom me," she cut in, stepping inside. "I bring your children back after you go off to take down a criminal empire, and now I find you… what? Sharing?"

Nat swallowed, exchanging a quick glance with Roman and Ginger. "It’s complicated."

Ginger’s mother let out a sharp laugh. "That’s an understatement."

She placed Grace into Nat’s arms, handing Alejandro off to Roman before crossing her arms. "I want an explanation."

Roman smirked, glancing down at the baby now nestled in his arms. "That makes two of us."

Nat let out a soft breath, holding Grace against her chest, the warmth of her daughter grounding her. "We’ll figure it out."

Ginger’s mom gave them all a long, assessing look before shaking her head. "You better. Because those kids deserve stability. And so do you."

She leaned in, kissing Grace’s forehead before giving Ginger a pointed look. "And for the record, I don’t care what you three do, but if you screw this up, you’re all going to have to deal with me."

Ginger groaned. "Noted."

With one final glance, she turned and stepped off the boat, leaving them standing in the cabin, the weight of their choices settling over them.

Nat shifted, meeting Roman’s gaze before looking back at Ginger. "So… where do we go from here?"

Roman adjusted Alejandro in his arms, his expression softer than it had been in years. "Wherever we want."

Ginger nodded, looping an arm around Nat’s waist. "We figure it out. Together."

For the first time in a long time, Nat let herself believe it.