Epilogue
One Week Later
Jake
Daisy’s apartment in Chicago isn’t what I expected.
I don’t know what I expected, but I thought, given she’s pretty well off, she’d spend money on a nicer space.
It’s not that her place is bad, necessarily.
After all, it’s comparable to anything my single Navy buds in their twenties would rent.
Third-floor walkup, one bedroom with a fire escape that doubles as a balcony with a view of the building across the street.
She splurged on the sofa, and for that, I give her props, as she’s forced me to spend a lot of time on it.
But I’m about done with all that. Yes, I slipped on taking my meds, and I’ve promised to be a good boy and keep up with them moving forward.
But meds or not, that taser would’ve kicked my ass.
Apparently my blood pressure is sky high so I’ve agreed to skip red meat until it drops.
Not forever, that was not in the agreement.
But something tells me when I clear my next physical, Daze and I might come to blows on that one.
The phone rings and Hudson’s name flashes. I pick up and set it to speaker since Daisy’s on a lunch run.
“Hey there,” I answer. “Thought the meeting was at thirteen hundred.”
“It is. Checking in on the patient.”
“For fuck’s sake, I am not a patient.”
“Roger that. Daisy hasn’t kicked you to the curb yet?”
I inhale, grinning. “Now why would she do that? I’m a catch.”
“Somehow I’m finding it hard to believe the non-patient has been easy to live with this last week.”
“I’m fine. Saw the doctor yesterday. Cleared for sex and work.”
Of course, Daisy insisted I take it easy and she do all the work last night, which if I’m honest, I rather enjoyed. But the nurse detail will end soon.
“That’s partly why I’m calling?”
“You got an interest in my sex life?”
“I’m sending Brie and Noah to New York on a project.”
“New York City?”
“Manhattan. Meetings next week. It’s likely we’ll need surveillance back-up. Think you might be up for it?”
I’m sure he’ll station me sitting on my ass, but that’s fine. I’m not yet cleared for endurance cardio, so old-fashioned monitoring crosses the t’s.
“Is that project what we’re covering in today’s meeting?”
“No. That project won’t kick off for another week, minimum. You’ve got downtime through next week. If after the project brief we need you, I’ll call you to make arrangements. Today’s meeting is the project debrief.”
Bennett Sterling hired a stellar legal defense team.
I also learned he made a donation to the DC prosecutor assigned to his case, but we’ve been assured his donation won’t do a thing.
His shenanigans are too visible, too high profile, and voters are done with corruption.
Not to mention, he’s got cases coming at him from multiple fronts.
The SEC opened an official investigation, and the Virginia DA has brought forward murder-for-hire charges.
When they searched Thompson’s home, in a shed in the back the FBI found audio recordings of Ms. Weaver instructing him to kill, apparently recorded as insurance they wouldn’t screw him over.
Her attorney is negotiating a more lenient sentence in exchange for the information she has connecting Bennett Sterling.
Turns out she worked for him years ago at his hedge fund as a human resources manager, and he put her in place at Sterling Financial to keep an eye on his half-brother out of fear for his family’s reputation.
The fact that she’s distantly related to Sterling did nothing to wed her loyalty to him, although it might have made him trust her more than he should’ve.
The sound of a key in the deadbolt announces Daisy’s return home.
“Daisy’s back,” I tell Hudson. “You’re on speaker.”
As she swings the door open, Hudson says, “Daisy, you about done with this guy yet?”
She squints, kicking the door closed, arms full of grocery bags, clearly wondering who the voice is.
“It’s Hudson,” I tell her. “He’s got this crazy idea I might not be the best houseguest.”
She grins. “He’s the worst patient on the planet.”
I jokingly scowl. “I am not a patient.”
“I’ll take that as my sign to hop off,” Hudson announces. “If Daisy’s coming with you to New York, send me any tech requirements.”
“For what?”
Daisy’s setting our lunch on the kitchen table, but she’s clearly intrigued by his comment.
“Wi-Fi speed. Anything else.”
I catch Daisy’s eye, wink, and simply say, “You got it, boss. You still in NC?”
“I am. It’s a good base. Rhodes and Sydney are building down here.”
“Seriously? That moved fast.”
Of course, as I say it, I recognize that a guy like Rhodes collects properties the way I collect handguns. “Maybe after we finish the assignment in New York, Daisy and I will camp out down there.”
“Ah, I don’t camp,” Daisy says.
“I didn’t mean literally, princess. I meant, like stay temporarily. Check out the area. You might like Asheville better than the Highlands, where these guys are. End of August, September, it’s a great time to be there.”
“I’ll keep an eye out for rentals; in case you want a bigger place.” Hudson’s right, the rental I snagged is a small one-bedroom. It’s not like Daisy’s picky, but she might appreciate a little more space. “You guys have a good lunch,” Hudson says. “Speak shortly.”
The call ends, and I push up.
“I’ll bring you lunch. Sit,” Daisy screeches.
“No, ma’am. That is enough of that. If I didn’t prove to you last night that I can get up off a sofa, then I did not do something right.”
I grab her ass that’s hanging out of her short cut offs and haul her to me. Her arms loop around my shoulders, and I lift her on the table.
“So, the Big Apple, huh?” she asks.
"Maybe. He’ll confirm project requirements at a meeting next week. You sure you’re down for it?”
“Absolutely. I mean, as long as we’re in a place where I can work, I’m good. Don’t think Rhodes would take it well if I jetted again so soon.”
She kisses me, soft and sweet, and I can taste her smile against my lips.
“Good. Because I’ve got a hunch this assignment will be mindlessly boring and I’m gonna need you around to keep me sane.” I run my hands up her thighs, enjoying the way she shivers at my touch. “With Rhodes and Sydney building a place, that sounds like they’re making it permanent.”
“Makes sense. After everything that went down with ARGUS and the upcoming congressional hearings, they probably want somewhere private to regroup.” Daisy traces patterns on my chest through my shirt.
“Plus, from what I heard, Sydney’s done with the CIA for good.
She’s going full private sector with KOAN, and she’s got Rhodes’ full support with ARGUS. ”
“Smart move. They make a hell of a team.” I think about the way Rhodes looked at Sydney when it all went down—like she was the only thing keeping him grounded after nearly losing everything. “Funny how things work out.”
“What do you mean?”
“Six months ago, Rhodes was this isolated tech mogul who trusted no one. Sydney was a burned CIA operative with nothing to lose. And now, they’re building something real together, and we’re…” I trail off, realizing what I’m about to say.
“We’re what?” Daisy’s lips are turned into not quite a smile, but maybe something slightly mischievous.
I meet her eyes, those gorgeous brown eyes that have been watching over me this past week like I’m something precious. Like I need to be doted on.
“We’re in love,” I say simply. “At least, I am. Completely, stupidly in love with you, Daisy Jonas.”
Her lips spread into the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.
“Jake Ryder,” she whispers, framing my face with her hands. “I think I started falling in love with you when you invited me to crash in your company-provided rental and insisted on taking the sofa.”
“Hmm. And you still love me after being the worst patient on the planet?”
She laughs, pressing her forehead to mine. “Someone has to keep you alive long enough to see what happens next.”
“And what does that look like for us?”
“I think,” she says, kissing me again, “we enjoy Chicago, and if you’re needed, we go to New York, which is an inferior city to Chicago, but time there will help me prove that, and then I think we check out North Carolina and see if we like it as much as Rhodes and Sydney do.
And I think we basically act like a couple who knows this isn’t temporary. ”
“You sure about that? Because I come with a lot of baggage. Bad knees, high blood pressure, bum hearing, and apparently it’s conceivable I’m going to need a pacemaker. I’m going downhill at a mighty fast clip.”
“Jake.” Her voice is firm, brooking no argument. “I’ve seen you at your worst this week, and you’re still the best man I know. I’m not going anywhere.”
Something tight in my chest loosens. For the first time since I left the Navy, I can see a future that’s independent from the teams and doesn’t actually suck.
“I’ve no intention of letting you go anywhere,” I tell her. “In case that wasn’t clear. I love you too damn much.”
“It was clear,” she grins. “But I like hearing it anyway.”
Outside, the Chicago summer buzzes with life but in here, we’re in our own perfect bubble. Alvin Reed is vindicated, Rhodes and Sydney have found their happy ending, and somehow, against all odds, so have we.
“So,” I say, sliding my hands around her waist. “Chicago first, then we’ll figure out the rest?”
“With you?” Daisy’s smile could power the entire city. “I’m ready for anything. Besides, I’ve already got everything I need. Wherever we end up, as long as we’re together. I’m down with New York or wherever your job takes us.”
She smiles and yet again that thought comes unbidden… God, I love her.
“You’re stuck with me now. You know that right? Bad heart, terrible patient habits, and all.” I brush a strand of hair from her face. “On the plus side, I’m the king of the grill and I’m told I’m decent in bed.”
She laughs, the sound bright and unguarded. “Decent? I can confirm you’re better than decent.”
“Only better than decent? Darlin’, I’m gonna have to work on that.”
“We’ve got time,” she says, her smile soft now, full of promise. “Good things are coming our way. I feel it. And this morning’s horoscope agrees.”
I pull her close, breathing her in—the steady beat of her heart against mine. Outside, the city hums with life, but right now, it’s just us. And for once, I believe in that horoscope—because I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
She’s curled against me, already dreaming up the next chapter of our life, whether she knows it or not. Whatever the future brings—new city, new start, maybe even something more—I’m all in.