Epilogue
Holly
Christmas Eve
One Year Later
A year has passed since that night in the cabin, and it feels like a lifetime ago.
After we fled the mountains, Gabriel Burns—Jack’s SEAL buddy—was instrumental in helping us disappear. His connections and expertise allowed us to find safety and start over. He arranged for us to move to this small coastal town, where no one knows who we are or what we survived. Gabriel even scouted the property we now call home to ensure we would avoid any unwanted attention. He secured fake identities for us and helped Jack find work remotely doing small security jobs. Gabriel didn’t just help us escape; he gave us the foundation for a fresh start.
And now, here we are, celebrating our first Christmas in this quiet little town by the sea.
Jack and I have built something precious out of the ashes of the chaos my father’s life cast upon us. A sanctuary where my father’s shadow can no longer reach us.
Here, we’ve created a life filled with simple moments and happiness. It's a quiet life, one filled with early sunrises, walks through town, and simple dinners that remind me of last Christmas Eve with Jack. Jack is a steady presence, and over the past year, he’s become everything to me—my love, my protector, my family.
Our cozy, modest house is a short walk from the beach. It’s nothing like the places I grew up in, but I love every corner of it. The walls are painted in soft shades of blue and white, and every morning, the sun floods the rooms with golden light, filling me with a sense of peace.
And we’re now Mr. and Mrs. Richards after marrying a few months ago in a small, intimate ceremony. It was the two of us, a justice of the peace, and a few locals who’ve come to feel like family. My heart pounded with joy as we exchanged vows, and for the first time in my life, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.
I sit on the porch swing on our small deck, wrapped in a blanket, the late afternoon sunlight casting its dying rays over the garden as I sip my tea. The fairy lights Jack put up around the porch twinkle softly, and the inflatable Santa emits a soothing background hum in the corner.
Jack is in the yard, tinkering with the motorcycle that was such a big part of our escape a year ago. He’s been rebuilding it in his spare time since we settled here. His sleeves are rolled up, hands stained with grease. Every so often, he looks up and smiles at me as if to check I’m still here. Nowadays, his smiles are relaxed and happy, making my heart fit to burst. It’s a peaceful moment, a scene of domestic bliss, and I let myself bask in the quiet joy of it.
There have been times over the past year when I feared this peace wouldn’t last, that my father’s influence would stretch too far. But true to his word, he’s disappeared from my life, leaving Jack and me to find happiness in the calm that followed the storm.
Shortly after our last phone call at the safe house, things began to change. The network of people who were once his allies crumbled, one by one. A series of arrests and deals unraveled his network, dismantling it piece by piece. The men who pursued us—the ones who left us with no choice but to disappear—were all arrested or cut deals to avoid a worse fate. By the time Jack and I reached this little coastal town, the threat had evaporated. For the first time, I felt like I could breathe without the weight of my father’s legacy pressing down on my shoulders.
Jack remained vigilant, of course, but it became clear after a few months that my father had made good on his word. No one had any reason to come after us anymore.
My father paid the price for the life he led and the people he betrayed. He made a deal with the authorities to protect his family, giving up the last shreds of his empire in exchange for our safety. Gabriel confirmed that my father orchestrated the dismantling of his network, strategically cutting deals and leveraging his remaining influence to ensure his family was protected and left untouched by the chaos.
One thing was certain: he knew he could never be part of our lives again. He ensured we would remain hidden and safe, cutting himself out of the equation entirely. I sometimes wonder if he’s still alive, watching from the shadows, ensuring his family has the freedom he could never provide.
The only sadness I carry is the loss of my connection to my mother and brother. Though Jack and Gabriel assure me they’re safe, living far from the wreckage of my father’s downfall, it doesn’t lessen the ache of separation. Gabriel’s updates and photos are my only lifeline to them, tiny windows into a world I no longer belong to.
A voice broke me from my thoughts, warm and familiar.
“You’re in deep thought over there.” Jack’s voice is soft as he joins me on the deck, wiping his hands on a rag before slipping his arm around my waist. He smells faintly of oil and the salty sea air. I lean into him, savoring the solid warmth of his body against mine.
“Just thinking about everything we went through to get here,” I murmur. “And how lucky I am to have you.”
His fingers brush over mine, and he leans down to press a gentle kiss to the top of my head. “I’m the lucky one. I was a mess before I met you. Now I’ve got a home by the sea and the most beautiful wife in the world. What more could I want?”
I look up, my heart swelling as I meet his gaze. He’s saved me so many times, in so many ways, and even now, I see the intensity of his love in every look and feel it in every touch. “I think we’re both pretty lucky,” I say softly. “You gave me a life I never thought I could have. A real life where I get to be myself. And now, I get to be Mrs. Richards.”
A satisfied smile spreads across his face as he pulls me closer. “You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that.” He tilted his head toward the bike in the yard. “Think you’ll be ready to take a ride soon? I finally got that thing running like it should.”
“About time. You’ve only been working on it for a year,” I tease. “And ‘that thing’ saved our lives,” I remind him. “But as for a taking a ride… I’m not sure that would be advisable in my condition.”
Jack’s gaze narrows on me, full of alarm. “What’s wrong? Are you sick? Why didn’t you say some?—”
I press my fingers to his lips to stall the avalanche of questions. “I’m perfectly healthy. And so is our baby.”
For a moment, his expression is blank. I watch the words slowly sink in, and a slow, radiant smile spreads across his face, his eyes shining with a joy I’ve never seen before.
“Holly,” he breathes. He pulls me into his arms, holding me close as if he never wants to let go. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.”
Tears fill my eyes as I hold him, his heartbeat against mine. This is everything I’ve dreamed of—the man I love, a safe place to call home, and now, the promise of a family.
“I couldn’t wait to tell you,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion. “Our family is just beginning.”
He pulls back slightly, resting his forehead against mine, his eyes full of wonder and love. “I’m going to spend my whole life making you both feel safe and loved,” he vows. “You and our baby.”
As the first stars twinkle in the darkening sky, I wrap my arms around my husband, a surge of hope and joy filling every corner of my heart. Whatever challenges lie ahead, we’ll face them together as husband and wife. As a family. And as his steady arms surround me, I know without a doubt that this is only the beginning of our beautiful, extraordinary life.
Thank you for reading Snowed In With the Bodyguard—I hope you enjoyed Holly and Jack’s story.