“Walker!” he screams. The streets are empty and my body is completely exhausted. Erica came in at the right time, but they burned the palms of my hands with corrosive materials. I can feel the pain wearing me down. But if there’s another fight I’m going to have to give, I’m ready.

He points his gun at me. “What do you want?” I ask him. “Let us go home. Hawk’s dead. What use is killing me now?”

He keeps his gun aimed at me, but his hand is shaking wildly. He’s considerably weak. “That bitch of yours killed me,” he says.

“I don’t see you on the pavement. Get to a hospital. You’re wasting precious time,” I tell him.

“I’d rather get my revenge,” he says, shifting on his heels.

“I have no history with you,” I reason. “Please, put the gun down.”

“Our gang is over with,” he says idly, like he just came to that understanding now.

“You’re right,” I say.

Mulligan falls onto the pavement and his gun slides away from him. “Just go,” he says. “Leave us in ruins.”

I carry Erica out of there, through the back alleys, making sure she’s safe from anymore unexpected visitors. When I turn to look at Mulligan, he’s laying in a pool of blood.

* * *

“We escaped,” she says, head resting on my shoulder. It’s as if she can heal me with just one touch. It just feels so right when I’m with her. “I can’t believe it. It’s over.”

The plane we’re on is steady and calm. All around us is a clear sky and there are no sharp gusts of wind. Everything is peaceful. I finally have the woman of my dreams.

“You did it,” I laugh. “You’re my hero.”

She laughs too and kisses my neck. “We both did it,” she says. “Aidan did it. He gave me a courage I never thought I had.”

Aidan. I can’t wait to see my son. “As soon as we land, I promise, I’m going to be the best dad he’s ever had,” I tell her.

“I know you will,” she whispers. “I know it now.”

“I’m so sorry for everything,” I say. “I know I haven’t been a stand up guy. I know I’ve kept so much hidden from you. But I only did it to try and protect you. I failed in that regard. I never want to disappoint you again. I’m fully yours. Always.”

My burns hurt me, but I’m not crying. My wounds only make me stronger. The idea that I can raise my son in peace now is the only thing that has kept me going. That, and the knowing that my love is safe and in my arms. There’s so much to be thankful for. The hard life I once had is now over and done with. I’m here, Erica. I’m finally here.

“It’s all over now,” she says. “Just do me two favors.”

“Anything,” I say.

“When we’re back home, let’s never speak about this again. We have too much to look forward to, to give into our troubled pasts,” she says.

I kiss her and hold her close to me. The plane begins its decent. “Done,” I tell her. “And the second favor?”

She smiles and looks down. “Promise to fuck the life out of me.”

I falter for a second and chuckle with surprise. “I’m never going to let you out of my grasp,” I say. “I’m going to leave you soaking wet.”

We don’t waste time. When we get home, Aidan is still at Renata’s and I’m ready for my bride-to-be. Kissing her wild and uninhibited, we tear off our clothes, until she’s standing in front of me, completely naked. She takes a step back until she’s against the wall. Her hand clutches around my cock and as soon as I see that sweet pussy of hers, I don’t hold back.

She moves her hand back and forth, as I firmly grip around her wetness. She’s dripping for me and I’m aching to feel her again. She leads the way, turning around. She pressed her ass firmly against me as I kiss her neck passionately. “Fuck me,” she coos. She spreads her cheeks apart and I watch as her lips open up for me.

I’m never going to let this woman go. Never.

I guide my cock inside her, spreading her open. The warmth I feel is like no other. It’s similar to being parched on a hot desert day, and stumbling upon an oasis of cold water. I fuck her slow and close and we take the opportunity to moan as loud as we want. Today is our day. It’s our celebration. “We’re in love,” is all we’ve ever wanted to tell the world, and now we’re ready to tell it. Our story doesn’t end here. This is where it begins.

Her back against my chest, her hot pussy clenching around my cock, and my arms folded around her body is the absolute picture of perfection. When we cum, we don’t stop. We just keep going. We lose ourselves to each other, over and over again, because we never want to lose each other to the world again.

This is our home. This is our family. I’m not fucking this up again. I’m never letting go.