---

The special broadcast began. McFadden had all the fanfare associated with a broad political statement. He had the red, white, and blue swags lining the constructed stage. There was a huge American flag behind the podium as well as an Illinois flag hanging by a pole to the side. As the cameras panned the park, the glistening water of Lake Michigan could be seen. The crowd was gathering.

Sterling squeezed my hand as he too glanced around the room.

“Thank you for including me,” Annabelle said. She forced a smile. “It’s my first time being blindfolded.”

I wanted to tell her it was mine too, but I had hopes for more. However, I didn’t think we’d gotten that far in our relationship.

“Purely precautionary,” Patrick answered.

Winnie sighed. “I can’t believe you included me in this.”

I reached out to her on my other side. “You’re in this now. You know what you do and we’re trusting you. Your assistance in getting Agent Hunter to meet with me made this happen.”

“Are we ever going to fill Louisa in?”

“She knows enough,” Sterling said.

“Did you tell Wesley about the drugs at the warehouse and distribution center?” Winnie asked.

I turned toward my mother. “Not belonging to anyone here,” I clarified.

She shook her head. “I’m done wearing blinders.”

“No, really,” I replied. “It’s a small operation using unknowing businesses.”

Annabelle lifted her hand. “I can’t know about it in case it crosses my bench.”

I looked at Sterling, most confident that the newly discovered ring would be dealt with without the assistance of law enforcement. I turned to Winnie. “I didn’t. More pressing matters...” I tilted my head toward the television.

A reporter was speaking, orating the attributes of Senator McFadden and discussing the unusual move to declare before midterm elections.

Sterling had sent word to Hillman that he would meet with Rubio tomorrow morning. It was enough to extend our deadline.

“He’s going up on the stage,” Reid said.

We all waited as Rubio McFadden took the podium with Pauline at his side.

As time passed and McFadden continued to speak, I grew more agitated. Looking at Sterling, I silently asked what was going to happen. With a slight shake of his head, he wordlessly told me he wasn’t sure.

“Oh!” Lorna exclaimed.

“That’s not Wesley,” Winnie said.

It wasn’t Agent Hunter who had stepped onto the stage. It was a man in a suit with four men in FBI swat gear behind him. McFadden seemed confused, as if perhaps this was part of their planned performance.

“Special agent from the Chicago field office,” Patrick said.

The reporters were scurrying and giving play-by-play on their microphones as the crowd grew loud and the man in the suit put Senator McFadden in handcuffs. As the cameras panned, Pauline came into view. Her expression was horrified as the color drained from her cheeks.

I looked to Winnie. “I’m glad she’s not wearing Sinful Threads.”

“Public humiliation,” Sterling said, leaning back on the sofa where we sat.

“How long until they release the information on his indictment?” I asked.

“It will depend,” my mother answered. “I’m sure his attorneys will be working to keep everything suppressed.”

The newsfeeds were abuzz with speculation for days until the charges were finally announced.

---

SENATOR RUBIO MCFADDEN OF ILLINOIS CURRENTLY HELD WITHOUT BOND HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY CHARGED IN CONNECTION TO AN ILLEGAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING RING. HE VEHEMENTLY DENIES ANY SUCH CONNECTION.

---

When I looked up from my phone, Sterling was standing on the edge of the back patio of the cabin. He wasn’t looking at me, but out to the shimmering waves on Paul Bunyan’s lake. His broad shoulders were straight and his long legs were covered in blue jeans. On his feet were his hiking boots. From his profile he seemed lost in thought.

Tucking my phone and hands into the pockets of my jacket, I warded off the chill as the cool autumn breeze rustled the changing leaves and pine branches surrounding the cabin. As I stood, the crisp gusts blew my long hair around my face. I went to him and placed my hand on his shoulder; as I did, he turned.

“What are you thinking?” I asked.

The tips of his lips moved upward. “I’m thinking that I don’t deserve what you’ve done.”

I didn’t think he was referring to what we’d done this morning as we awoke at this stunning cabin. How we’d made love while the sun rose over the treetops, showering our bedroom in red and gold hues. Or how we’d taken each other higher than the clouds and then lounged in one another’s arms in the afterglow of our union as the sky beyond the windows brightened to a crystal-clear blue.

“I love you, Sterling.”

Snaking his arm around my waist, he pulled me closer into his warmth and security. “Why didn’t you turn over all the CDs?”

“Because you’re not guilty. Rubio is. Your father was.”

“I’m guilty of many other crimes. If you only knew what I’ve done, what I’ll keep doing—”

I covered his mouth with mine, silencing his words. Soon his hands moved from my waist to my cheeks, holding our kiss in place, bruising my lips as his tongue sought entrance and our kiss deepened. My moans joined the autumn sounds, floating through the air.

Damn, I was ready to go back inside, back up to our room.

When we pulled apart, Sterling’s dark gaze searched mine. “I’ve done some awful things, but the best fucking thing I did was collect you. You’re mine. I don’t want to ever let you go.”

“Then don’t.”

My pulse quickened as without warning, Sterling fell to one knee before me and reached for my hand.

“Oh my. What?”

His dark gaze shimmered. At first, he simply turned my hand to palm up. As if reading my future, he traced the lines of my palm print. “I promised you that when this was over...”

Excitement coursed through me. “My palm print? The elevator?”

He looked up. “Yes, for emergencies. I still want Patrick or me...”

Yada, yada, safety...

I didn’t care about his stipulations. Just having my palm print work, allowing me access to the garage, to the outside, was what I’d wanted. Using it may never be on my agenda. Knowing I could was priceless.

Sterling’s gaze continued to deepen as his baritone tenor drowned out the breeze, and leaves swirled in cyclones around us. “Sunshine, I’ve known you were mine for nearly two decades. I never knew how you’d change me. I was afraid that after I took you, I’d dim your light. That still worries me. What I didn’t expect was that my cold black heart could ever know love.

“It continually amazes me that you see good in me, that you can see past what you know is present and see what I never realized was there. You make me want to be a better man.”

With a quirk of his grin, Sterling reached into the pocket of his jeans. As he brought the object closer, the center diamond glistened.

Tears prickled my eyes as my breathing ceased.

“I know you want to make Araneae McCrie your legal name.”

I did.

“However, I have another option for you.”

My lips curled as tears filled my eyes. “An option, that’s a choice.”

“Yes, another choice for you.” He swallowed, his dark gaze fixed on mine. “Araneae McCrie, will you consider a different last name? Will you marry me and become Araneae Sparrow?”

Will.

I couldn’t answer, not verbally. The lump in my throat was too big. Instead, I nodded and nodded and nodded again as tears fell from my eyes.

After slipping the incredibly gorgeous ring over my finger, Sterling stood and again cupped my cheeks. “I love you.”

“You’ve changed my life in so many ways,” I said. “You showed me who I really am and who I can be. Because of you, I have my mother back. I have new great friends and my old friends are safe. You uncovered the secrets and lies, and through it all, you kept your word—your promises. I’ll be proud to be your wife.” I brushed my lips against his. “I mean we were always meant to be together. Isn’t that what you said?”

“And I’m always right,” he said with a smirk.

“My answer is yes.”

As he took my hand, we walked toward the edge of the hill, looking down at the lake. “This is yours, Araneae,” he said. “Chicago is yours. Whatever you desire is yours.”

I leaned into him, taking the strength of his arm now around me. As we stood, I tried to also give back—share my light—as our bodies melted against one another. Finally, I looked up with a grin. “You promised me a ride to the lake. Let’s get the ATV and this time it’s my turn to drive.”

“Oh hell no. Keeping you safe is my lifelong mission.”

As he reached again for my hand, I stared down at the diamond engagement ring. “Sterling, it’s beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as the woman wearing it, my fiancée.”

Fiancé.

I had one of those now too and this time it was real.