Epilogue
CAT
Eight Weeks Later
Vince’s loft was filled with people as we celebrated Ruthie getting her cast off. Everyone from the security company was here except Ruthie and Jack . Vince’s family was also here to help celebrate as well as my sister. I hadn’t seen her much this week because she started her new part-time job at the hair salon down the street. She was finally going back to school for her cosmetology degree. I was so happy and proud of her. More importantly, I was happy she could do it, because the threats were finally gone. She had also permanently moved into Jack’s old apartment.
In the last few weeks, we’d found out everyone involved in my abduction was either in jail or dead. The three men who had kidnapped me had all died in the vehicle explosion at the warehouse. Parker’s gunshot wound had hit an artery, and he’d died on the way to the hospital. His boss—the criminal one—had been arrested and was facing numerous charges, and he’d been moved to a federal prison out of state.
Vince wasn’t worried about him being a threat anymore because apparently most of his network had fallen apart and he didn’t have any loyal lackeys left to help him out.
As for Vince and I , we had gotten even closer during these last few weeks. We were meeting with his contractor next week for him to finalize the plans for his home so they could start construction hopefully in a month or two. While it felt bittersweet that my parents would never get to meet Vince , I realized I was the happiest I had been in my entire life. I had a job I loved, friends, my sister close by, and Vince .
Just then, the door opened and Jack and Ruthie walked in.
Jack was her chauffeur and had been for these last eight weeks while she had her cast on. I knew she’d had a hard time with her limited mobility.
Ruthie didn’t have her bright pink cast on anymore, but she had what appeared to be an inflatable boot. Oh no… Something told me she was not going to be happy.
“Hey, Ruthie . What did the doctor say?” I asked, knowing she was hoping she could go back to full mobility today.
“She said she didn’t trust me not to overdo it.” She emitted a sound that was both growl and whine. “ So , she’s making me wear this stupid thing for another couple weeks.”
“Yeah, but you can take that kind off when you shower, and they are a hell of a lot easier to clean and manage,” Diego chimed in, trying to be helpful.
Ruthie glowered at him, but that only made him smile bigger.
“How are you feeling?” Ellie asked her.
“I deserve a medal for making it through this day without stabbing someone with a fork,” Ruthie said. “ And by someone, I mean him,” she added, pointing at Jack .
He just smiled as if he thought she was the cutest thing ever and hadn’t just threatened him bodily harm.
“Well, here, come have a seat and commiserate by having some food,” I told her.
We all ate and chatted with each other and had a genuinely fun evening. Even if Ruthie wasn’t thrilled about wearing the boot, she seemed to be enjoying herself.
Harry, who was not at all happy at the excessive number of people in his space, vocalized loudly next to me that he was hungry. Val probably should have left him at her place, but she knew Vince’s mom would be here, so she wanted to bring Harry for her to love on. Reading his cue, I picked him up and carried him into the kitchen.
“Cat, babe, can you come here for a second?” Vince called from the other side of the kitchen island.
After I fed the feline tyrant, I walked over to Vince , who was looking at me oddly. Vince was the master of the blank face. Once I came up to his side, he grabbed my hands.
“Cat, I want to be your end game,” Vince said and then got down on one knee.
What in the…? Was he…? Oh my goodness!
He kept talking, but I couldn’t hear him. My world started to spin as I looked down at the man who had become my everything.
“Say yes, Cat .” He stared at me as though he was waiting for me to respond, and I realized I’d missed half of what he’d said.
“Did you seriously just quote a bunch of Taylor Swift songs to propose to her?” Val practically squealed. “ That’s so cute! Say yes, Cat ! Do it!”
“Just pointing out that I helped him with those lyrics,” Jenny said loudly.
Vince turned his head over his shoulder to yell at them. “ Would you two shut up so she can answer me?” Then he turned back to me. “ Please say yes,” he whispered.
"Yes,” my voice croaked as I looked down at the ring he held in front of him. “ I would love to marry you, Vince .”
He stood up and grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me hard.
Laughter played around us as Vince momentarily stopped kissing me. He stared into my eyes and swiped his thumb across my cheek before whispering so only I could hear him, “ I love you Kit - Cat .”
“I love you too, V .”
THE END
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Thank you for reading INSTINCT & NEW IDENTITY . I hope you enjoyed it.