Chap 51 Epilogue

The golden light of the setting sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the crowd huddled in Bridger and Jane”s living room. Mason”s heart swelled as he surveyed his team, his family, gathered to celebrate this momentous day. His gaze settled on Avery, and gratitude surged through him. She was here, by his side, smelling, somehow, of green apples, the promise of something extraordinary stretched before them.

He sent up a silent prayer of thanks.

Fenn peered out the front window. ”I can”t believe the adoption’s finally official. It”s been a long road for them.”

Kate grinned. ”They deserve this. Kellen”s one lucky kid.”

”And he”s stuck with us now,” Graham added from the couch. ”Poor kid won”t know what hit him.”

Tai, hunched over his drone monitor, shot a smirk. ”Between Bridger’s dad jokes and Fenn”s puns, he’s gonna have a lot to put up with.”

”Hey!” Fenn clutched his chest in mock offense. ”My puns are legendary.”

Kate snorted. ”Legendary for making people flee, maybe.”

Paige, perched on the arm of the couch, rolled her eyes. ”You guys are ridiculous. Kellen”s going to be so loved.”

”Kid’s been through hell,” Mason said, voice gruff. ”So have Bridger and Jane. It”s time for a real family.”

Graham grunted. “Too bad he got this two-bit outfit.”

His daughter, Tenaya laughed and elbowed him in the ribs. “Careful there, old man, you’re the senior member.”

The grizzled marine grinned. “Top dog. Just the way I like it.”

Avery slipped her hand into Mason’s. ”What little boy wouldn’t want his own set of action heroes for a family?”

Action hero?Did that mean Avery included him in that group? Mason”s heart swelled with pride and something deeper.Something he wasn’t quite ready to probe too deeply. This thing with Avery was so new, he wasn’t sure how to act.

Or how to feel.

Tai hunched over his drone monitor, the screen”s glow illuminating his face. ”Bridger”s Jeep just turned off the highway.” His whisper cut through the good-natured bickering and laughter.

”Shh! Everyone, hide!” Tenaya flapped her hands, ushering people into position.

In the commotion, Avery sidled closer to Mason, her shoulder brushing his. Her eyes sparkled in the dim light. ”Thank you for welcoming me into this extraordinary family of yours.”

Mason”s throat tightened. He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze, trying to convey all he felt in that simple gesture.

Across the room, Tenaya rose on tiptoe to kiss Graham”s weathered cheek. ”I”m so happy we reconnected, Dad.”

The gruff ex-drill sergeant turned away, but not before Mason caught the glimmer of tears in his eyes. He engulfed his daughter in a bear hug, holding on until she laughed and pushed at his chest.

”Dad, you”re going to crack my ribs!”

Tires crunched on gravel outside, and the room fell silent. The front door burst open, and Kellen catapulted into the house, Bridger and Jane on his heels. Jane swiped at her damp cheeks, her smile wobbly but blinding.

Kellen skidded to a halt and fumbled for the light switch. The moment the room flooded with brightness, the team erupted in cheers. ”Congratulations!”

The boy stood frozen, eyes wide and mouth agape. He blinked once, twice, then a grin split his face. He wrapped his slender arms around himself and bounced on his toes, a bubble of laughter escaping him. “No way! I’ve never had a surprise party before.”

Mason”s vision blurred, hot tears spilling down his cheeks. He felt Avery”s arm slide around his shoulders, and he leaned into her solid warmth, accepting the comfort she offered.

He wasn’t the only one. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Tai had his big, old arms wrapped around Tenaya. Graham stood next to them, trying to look serious, but totally failing. Paige and Paul hovered next to the punch bowl, both swiping at tears. He even saw Fenn reach for Kate’s hand. For once, she didn’t inch away.

Bridger and Jane appeared in the doorway, arms linked and faces aglow. Bridger raised a hand, and the raucous cheering faded.

”Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, voice thick with emotion, ”I”d like to introduce Mr. Kellen Jason North.”

Kel danced in place, his small body vibrating with energy and emotion. The room exploded in fresh applause and whistles. Mason whooped and clapped until his palms stung.

Leaning close to Avery, he said, ”He took his uncle”s name. Cool.”

The team swarmed forward, engulfing the new family in hugs and congratulations. Mason hung back with Avery, sensing her hesitation.

She tipped her head toward the joyful knot of people. ”You”re truly blessed.”

”More than I deserve,” he agreed, watching his friends - his brothers and sisters - celebrate. But not, he realized, more than he wanted. Having Avery here was a start, but he wanted more.

He wanted a future with her in it.

Avery”s elbow nudged his ribs. ”They look like they”ve been a family forever.”

Mason nodded slowly. ”In God”s eyes, I think they have been. No matter what they went through to get here, this was ordained.”

”I hope so.” Avery turned to face him fully, her gaze searching his. ”If that”s ordained, then maybe this is, too.”

For a breathless moment, Mason struggled to pull air into his lungs. He was no stranger to the power of dark emotions, but the sheer force of this joy, this rightness, brought him to his knees.

He twined his fingers with Avery”s, the rest of the room fading into the background. ”Count on it.”

Then, before his courage could desert him, he hauled her into his arms and kissed her, pouring every ounce of hope and promise into the press of his lips on hers.

This, right here, was exactly where he was meant to be.

Ready for more action, adventure…and feels?

Kate…and Fenn’s story is coming right up. Yup. It turns out, sometimes the people we push away the hardest are exactly the ones we need.

In the unforgiving landscape of the Canadian Arctic, former black ops pilot Kate Hackett is haunted by the sins of her past. But when a threatening note drags her back into the shadows, she finds an unlikely ally in her charming and enigmatic teammate, Fenn Scarborough, the one man she knows she can never fall for.

As Kate and Fenn work together to unravel the clues and unmask the killer, they find themselves drawn to each other, their hearts thawing in the face of shared danger and shared secrets. But even as they grow closer, the ghosts of Kate”s past threaten to tear them apart, and the killer”s net draws tighter.

With time running out and nowhere to run, Kate and Fenn must confront the truth about themselves and each other. But in a place where the sun never shines and the ice never melts, will their love be enough to save them both? Or will the frozen depths of the Arctic claim two more lives?