Epilogue
Kayne Serruto had faced down armed men, walked into live-fire situations with a plan and a prayer, and once parachuted into terrain he couldn’t even pronounce.
None of that had him this on edge.
He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on the center console with Chloe’s fingers twined with his, trying to pretend he wasn’t white-knuckling his way through something far more terrifying than combat.
Chloe was here. Not for a mission or because she was in danger, but to see the place where he worked and lived. Where his people were.
He wanted her to love it.
That realization alone made him exhale slowly through his nose, equal parts amused and mildly horrified by himself.
He wasn’t worried about security. The CObrA Securities compound was a fortress disguised as Midwest tranquility with layers of tech, frightfully competent personnel who could neutralize a threat before it registered as one, and enough redundancies to make a paranoid man sleep easy.
He was worried about vibes, which was not a word he ever thought he’d mentally apply to a hardened security operation staffed by former military, law enforcement, and people who collected scars like souvenirs.
But Chloe noticed things. Felt things. She read a room the way he read exits and angles. And this place mattered to him more than he liked to admit.
What worried him more was what it might cost her.
If she moved in with him, she wouldn’t just be changing zip codes.
She’d be leaving Leo, her constant. The steady presence she pretended she didn’t lean on as much as she did.
Her brother had always been within arm’s reach.
He had no doubt she could survive it, but survival and happiness weren’t the same thing, and Chloe deserved more than just making it through.
She’d smile and say it was fine. She’d insist she was excited. And he’d be the one standing there, wondering if every laugh that didn’t quite reach her eyes was his fault.
The iron gates came into view through the trees. Kayne slowed the SUV as the sensors recognized them, the metal sliding open, smooth as silk.
“This is it,” he said, aiming for casual.
Chloe leaned forward slightly, eyes widening as the compound revealed itself beyond the gates and tree-lined drive. Beautiful stone buildings, water, and open space laid out with deliberate peacefulness.
She breathed out. “Wow.”
A weight lifted from his shoulders. Good start.
He chatted with Tucker Nash at the guard booth and introduced him to Chloe.
She charmed Tucker within seconds. Then he pulled to a stop near the offices and cut the engine.
Kayne got out gingerly, since his wound was still hella tender, and rounded the hood to open her door.
Old habits. Ones he didn’t bother questioning anymore.
“Hey, cher,” he said, offering his hand as she stepped down.
She took it, her smile bright as if he’d just surprised her with something wonderful instead of a very large, very armed workplace. “Hi.”
That single word, soft and pleased, hit him harder than it should have.
“You ready?” he asked as he closed her door and thumbed the lock.
She nodded. “I think so. This feels important.”
He gave a low chuckle. “You ain’t wrong.”
He started them down the path toward the park, keeping his pace matched to hers without thinking about it. She looked around openly at the trees, water, and walkways, arranged in a careful balance of privacy and space.
“This doesn’t feel like what I expected,” she said.
“Yeah?” he asked. “What’d you expect?”
“More, I don’t know, dangerous?” She smiled at him. “Secret lairs and ominous dungeons.”
“Got those too,” he said dryly. “Just hidden better.”
She laughed merrily, and his shoulders loosened another notch.
As they approached the park bordering the lake, voices drifted toward them. It was familiar, loud, and entirely unfiltered.
Presley Parrish was arguing with Dominic Bianchi about something involving a grill, a spreadsheet, and the phrase “that’s not how math works in real life.”
Christian Zamora sat on the edge of a table, sipping a beer and offering absolutely unhelpful commentary while enjoying himself immensely.
Noah and Ethan Addison were tossing a football while Alex Mylonis and Dorian Demarchis played tag with several of the kids, their laughter filtering through the trees.
Chloe slowed, her eyes widening slightly. “Are they always like this?”
Kayne grinned. “You’re seein’ them on a calm day.”
Presley spotted them first. “Oh, my God,” she said, hopping off the table. “Is this her?”
“This is not a zoo exhibit,” Kayne muttered, but it was too late.
Chloe barely had time to react before Presley was in front of her, smile bright and assessing and unmistakably protective. “Hi. I’m Presley. You’re Chloe. We’ve all been dying to meet you.”
Chloe blinked, then laughed softly. “Hi.”
Dominic leaned in, pointing a spatula at Kayne. “You look nervous, Serruto.”
“I will throw you into the lake,” Kayne said pleasantly.
Christian clapped his hands once. “Welcome to the family,” he told Chloe. “No take-backs.”
She looked between them, something approaching wonder creeping into her expression. “This is a lot.”
“Too much?” Kayne asked quietly.
She shook her head, quick and sure. “No, it feels good. Solid.”
That did it. That cracked him open just enough to be dangerous. Before he could respond, a familiar voice cut in from behind him.
“Holy hell.”
Kayne closed his eyes.
Jalen Ellis stepped closer, hands in his pockets, stare locked squarely on Chloe as if he’d just witnessed a miracle.
“That’s her,” Jalen said reverently. “That’s the woman from the commercial. Tell me she’s real.”
“She’s real,” Kayne said flatly.
Jalen nodded, eyes still glued. “Okay. Good. Because for a second I thought I’d hallucinated a personal trainer slash goddess situation.”
Kayne angled his body enough to block Jalen’s line of sight. “Eyes up, Ellis.”
Jalen blinked, then grinned wider. “Relax. I’m admiring respectfully.”
“Your definition of respectfully is why HR has a file with your name on it.”
Chloe bit her lip, clearly trying not to laugh.
Jalen finally looked at Kayne, then back at Chloe. “Hi. I’m Jalen. I work here, occasionally with competence.”
She smiled at him. “Nice to meet you.”
He put a hand over his heart. “She smiled at me. I’m emotionally done for the day.”
Kayne sighed. “You gonna behave?”
Jalen considered that. “Define behave.”
“Define alive,” Kayne shot back.
Jalen chuckled and lifted both hands. “All good. All good. I’ll keep my fantasies strictly hypothetical.”
“Jesus,” Kayne muttered.
Jalen leaned in just enough to whisper, “Man, you better put a ring on that before someone else does.”
Kayne didn’t answer. Didn’t need to.
He guided Chloe farther in, introducing people as they passed—names, brief histories, the shorthand of shared trust. No resumes or war stories, simply humanity.
When they reached the quieter edge of the compound, Chloe stopped, taking it all in again.
“This is your home,” she said.
“Yeah,” he answered. Then, softer, “These people are.”
She reached for his hand without hesitation, her fingers threading through his as if they belonged there. They did.
“I’m glad you brought me,” she said.
Kayne squeezed her hand, emotion sitting heavy and unfamiliar inside him. “Me too, cher.”
Behind them, Presley’s voice floated over the courtyard. “Someone tell Kayne to breathe!”
Jalen added, “Or don’t. He looks like a man with a plan.”
Kayne didn’t let go of Chloe.
Not even a little.
#
Chloe had told herself not to be nervous.
That lie lasted all the way through the gates.
The CObrA Securities compound opened up like something out of a glossy magazine spread that had married a national park and raised it on discipline and money.
Trees arched overhead. Buildings sat back from the paths with intentional grace, all stone and glass and quiet confidence.
It was beautiful in a way that didn’t shout about it.
And it was full of people she’d only ever seen on screens or periodicals or newspapers. Kayne had told her all about his coworkers and their spouses. Frankly, she was intimidated.
Her pulse skittered as Kayne parked and came around to open her door. She did not want to trip over her own awe and face-plant in front of half the entertainment industry.
He touched her lower back. “You good, cher?”
“I think so,” she said honestly. “I’m just nervous about how many famous people I might accidentally make eye contact with.”
His mouth curved, fond and unbothered. “They put their pants on the same as everybody else.”
She snorted. “I’m not convinced that’s true.”
They hadn’t taken five steps before she spotted an Academy Award winner laughing with a woman she recognized immediately as a Grammy winner.
A little farther down the path, a home renovation star was crouched beside a child, explaining something with animated hands, while a bestselling author sat on a bench nearby, wine glass in hand, smiling as if she’d wandered into her own found-family epilogue.
A multiple Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer was talking with a performer from that reality dancing show.
And over there was a hockey superstar juggling four pucks, much to the delight of the kids around him.
Chloe slowed, momentarily overwhelmed.
Kayne felt it instantly. His hand slid firmly into hers. Present, not possessive.
“Hey,” he murmured. “They’re just people. Good ones.”
As if on cue, one of them looked up, caught Chloe’s eye, and smiled. Then waved as if they were neighbors.
“Well,” Chloe whispered, “that was aggressively nice.”
It didn’t stop there.
Introductions came fast, friendly, and curious without being invasive. She engaged in hugs, handshakes, and jokes. Answered thoughtful questions about her clothing line, her plans, the kids she wanted to help, and the community she was building.
No one sized her up or treated her as if she were borrowing space she didn’t belong in.
And that was when the ache hit her.
It came out of nowhere, fierce and sudden.
She thought about Leo’s laugh and his steady presence, the way he’d always been five steps behind her without her ever asking.
He was her brother in every way that mattered.
The one person she’d never had to explain herself to.
The thought of not having him next to her every day twisted low in her belly.
She would miss him desperately. But grief and gratitude could exist in the same breath, she realized.
Standing here, with Kayne’s hand in hers and warmth instead of fear filling her lungs, she knew something else too.
She couldn’t keep choosing safety over joy just because it was familiar or easy.
This wasn’t running away. This was rushing toward a life she’d finally decided she deserved.
For once, she was choosing herself.
“This place feels . . .” She searched for the word as they wandered deeper into the compound, past open lawns and a path that curved toward water. “Safe.”
Kayne glanced at her, his expression softening. “That’s the point.”
The lake was beautiful and smooth as glass, edged by trees in shades of red, yellow, and orange. The noise of the compound faded, replaced by chattering birds and the low hush of water lapping against the shore.
Kayne stopped, stepped behind her, and wrapped his arms around her, his chin resting near her temple. She leaned back into him without hesitation, her hands settling over his forearms.
“I get why you love this place,” she said quietly. “It’s not just beautiful. It’s intentional.”
“It’s family,” he said. Then, lower, “You’re family too.”
Emotion flooded her veins.
She turned in his arms, her hands sliding up his chest, needing to see his face. His green eyes were steady, certain in a way that made her breath catch.
“Cher,” he said softly, “you ain’t gettin’ rid of me. Not now. Not ever.”
The words were a promise she hadn’t known she’d been waiting for.
She didn’t answer with words. She kissed him instead, slow and sure, her heart opening around the truth of it. This wasn’t a moment stolen from fear. It was claimed from hope.
When they finally parted, she smiled up at him. “You’re really bad at casual reassurance.”
He huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah. I don’t do casual.”
“Good,” she said. “I don’t want it.”
“Ew.”
They both startled.
A small figure stood a few feet away, hands on hips, eyes bright with mischief. He was absolutely adorable, grinning at them as if he’d just won something.
“That was the most awkward gym stretch I’ve ever seen,” he announced. “You’re supposed to warm up before you pull something.”
Chloe burst out laughing.
Kayne groaned. “Kid, you ever heard of knockin’?”
He glanced around incredulously, arms wide. “On what? An oak tree? Besides, I yelled in my head.”
“That don’t count. Chloe, this is Kai Costa.”
“Kai, I’m so happy to meet you,” Chloe said warmly. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
Kai looked starstruck. “You’re even prettier than in the commercials.”
The kid was a charmer and would be breaking many hearts in the near future. “Thank you.”
“Chloe, I have a question for you. Why did the cow go to the gym?”
Chloe smiled. “I don’t know. Why?”
“To get moo-scular.”
Chloe laughed until her side hurt.
Kai beamed, clearly proud.
Kayne stared at him, a smile twitching at his lips. “I swear, I will revoke your dad’s grilling privileges.”
The kid cackled and sprinted off, shouting, “Worth it!”
Chloe leaned back into Kayne, still smiling, the lake glinting in front of them, the future not scary at all. Because Kayne was with her. Because love wasn’t about avoiding the hard things. It was about facing them together.
And this time, she wasn’t afraid of forever.
# # #