EPILOGUE
RILEY
The bridesmaid dress fits perfectly, the deep burgundy fabric flowing around my legs as I stand in the church vestibule waiting for my cue.
Lila's ahead of me in her wedding gown, her hands trembling as she clutches her bouquet.
My mother's fussing with the train, smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles, and my father stands beside Lila looking equal parts proud and terrified.
The music shifts, and the doors open. The first bridesmaid starts down the aisle, followed by the second, and then it's my turn as maid of honor. I take a deep breath and step forward, my eyes scanning the rows of guests until I find him.
Rafe's sitting in the second row on the bride's side, dressed in a black tux that fits him so well it makes my breath catch.
His eyes are on me, and when our gazes meet, I see the corner of his mouth lift in a small smile.
He looks relaxed, even comfortable, despite the fact that half the people in this church are law enforcement or family friends who would lose their minds if they knew who he really was.
I walk down the aisle slowly, keeping my pace measured, and I can't stop looking at him.
Not only is he the most handsome man in the room, but he actually showed up.
When he promised me he'd come, I thought he was just saying that to make me happy, that later on, he'd make an excuse.
But he's here, and he looks happy being here.
The ceremony is beautiful. Lila's vows make her cry, and the groom's voice breaks when he promises to love her for the rest of his life.
I stand beside my sister holding her bouquet, and I feel my own throat tighten with emotion.
This is what she's been planning for months, what she's been obsessing over, and it's finally happening.
When the officiant pronounces them married, the church erupts in applause. Lila and her new husband walk back down the aisle together, beaming, and the wedding party follows. I catch Rafe's eye as I pass, and he winks at me.
The reception's held at a banquet hall downtown, and by the time we arrive, the alcohol is already flowing. I down two glasses of champagne in quick succession while Lila poses for what feels like a thousand photos, and by the time dinner is served, I'm feeling pleasantly buzzed.
Rafe's seated at my table, and he leans over to murmur in my ear, "You look beautiful."
"You clean up pretty well yourself."
"I do my best," he says against my cheek before pressing a kiss there, and it makes my chest hum with affection. Two months ago, I never would've thought I'd have a plus-one for the wedding, let alone be helplessly in love with him too.
Dinner is a blur of toasts and laughter and stories about Lila and her new husband that make everyone at the table groan or cheer depending on the punchline. I keep catching Rafe's hand under the table, lacing my fingers through his, and he squeezes back every time.
When the dancing starts, I pull him out onto the floor. The DJ's playing something upbeat and ridiculous, and Rafe moves with a confidence that surprises me. He's not a great dancer, but he's not terrible either, and he spins me around until I'm laughing so hard I can barely breathe.
"Where did you learn to dance?" I ask.
"I didn't. I'm making this up as I go."
"Well, you're doing a pretty good job."
"I have a good partner." He wags his eyebrows at me and spins me one more time. We dance through three more songs before I need a break, and I head to the bar for another drink. The bartender pours me a vodka cranberry, and I'm halfway through it when I feel a hand on my elbow.
I turn to see Detective Paul Hargrove standing beside me with a serious expression. He's dressed in a suit, his state trooper uniform traded for something more appropriate for a wedding, but he still looks every bit the cop.
"Miss Maddox," he says. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
I take another sip of my drink and nod. "Sure."
He guides me away from the bar toward a quieter corner of the room, and I can feel the alcohol making everything feel a little softer around the edges. I'm not drunk, but I'm close enough that I don't feel like being cautious.
"I wanted to check in with you," he says, "make sure everything is still okay."
"Everything's fine. Great, actually."
"And Mr. Ferretti? You're still seeing him?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Because I've been doing some digging, and I don't like what I've found… He's a dangerous man."
I lean against the wall and cross my arms. "We've been over this. I don't know anything about any of that. Rafe runs a pharmaceutical distribution company. That's it."
"Riley, I'm trying to help you. If you're involved with him, you're putting yourself at risk." Hargrove seems to fully believe what he's saying, that I'm in danger and that I should leave Rafe. It's sweet that he cares, but after tonight, I never have to see this man again.
I laugh, and I can hear the edge in it. "Maybe I'm the dangerous one. You never know."
He frowns. "This isn't a joke."
"I'm not joking." I push off the wall and pat his arm. "I appreciate your concern, Detective. I really do. But I'm in love with Rafe, so you can stop worrying about me and go enjoy the wedding."
I wink at him and turn away before he can respond, weaving through the crowd until I find Rafe standing near the edge of the dance floor. He's watching me, and I can tell by the look on his face that he saw the whole exchange.
"What was that about?" he asks when I reach him.
"Nothing. Just Detective Hargrove being a cop."
"He's still digging?" Rafe's eyes darken as he puts a hand in the small of my back protectively.
"Let him dig. He's not gonna find anything."
Rafe's expression darkens more. "Riley—"
"Dance with me." I take his hand and pull him toward the dance floor. "The song is about to change, and I want to dance with you."
He lets me lead him out onto the floor, and the music shifts to something slow and romantic. Couples pair off around us, swaying to the music, and Rafe wraps his arms around my waist. I rest my head against his chest and close my eyes, letting the rhythm carry us.
"You're drunk," he says quietly.
"So? I'm in your arms, so I'm safe."
"What you told Detective Hargrove might be dangerous." He places a kiss to the crown of my head.
"I told him I'm the dangerous one." I smile salaciously and lift my chin up and rest it on his breastbone.
He chuckles, and I feel the vibration of it against my neck. "You're definitely dangerous, just not in the way he thinks."
We sway together for a moment, and then Rafe pulls back slightly. He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a small velvet box tied with a white ribbon.
"I have something for you," he says.
I look at the box, and my heart starts to pound. "What is it?"
"Open it and find out."
I take the box from his hands and untie the ribbon, my fingers fumbling slightly. I expect earrings, maybe a necklace to match the silver snowflake bracelet he gave me before. But when I open the box, I see a ring.
An engagement ring.
The diamond catches the light from the disco ball overhead, and I stare at it with my breath caught in my throat. It's beautiful. Simple and elegant, with a single stone set in a platinum band.
"Rafe," I whisper.
He takes the box from my hands and pulls the ring out, then drops to one knee right there in the middle of the dance floor. The couples around us stop dancing, and I hear someone gasp.
"Riley Maddox," he says in such a steady voice it almost makes me whimper, "I'm going to marry you.
You're the only person I've ever met who sees me for who I really am and chooses to stay anyway.
You're the only person who's ever made me believe I deserve something good. And I'm not letting you go."
Tears are streaming down my face now, and I can barely see him through the blur. "Rafe—"
"Marrying me will permanently change your life. You'll have the protection of my entire family. I know I'm not offering you a normal life. But I'm offering you everything I have. Everything I am. And I need to know if that's enough."
I stare down at him, this man who kidnapped me and threatened me and turned my life upside down, and I'm too in love to pull out now. I've been too in love since the moment I stood in that driveway with car keys in my hand and chose to go back inside.
"Yes," I say boldly. "Yes, I'll marry you."
He slides the ring onto my finger, and it fits perfectly. Then he stands and pulls me into his arms, kissing me in front of everyone. The crowd around us erupts in applause and cheers, and I hear my sister whistling somewhere in the background.
When we finally break apart, I'm breathless and dizzy and happier than I've ever been in my life.
"There's one condition," I say, looking up at him.
"What's that?"
"You keep doing the Christmas toy drive every year.
I don't care if it's cover for your weapons shipments.
I don't care if it's dangerous or complicated or risky.
Those kids deserve to have the Christmas you never had.
And if we're doing this, if I'm really going to be your wife, then that's non-negotiable.
" I stand there with a grin, already imagining expanding that act of kindness into something that will revolutionize his entire world.
He stares at me for a long moment, and I see something shift in his expression. Surprise, maybe. Or gratitude.
"Deal," he says quietly. "Every year… I promise."
"Then I'm yours. Ride or die."
"Ride or die," he repeats, and he kisses me through my massive smile.
My sister rushes over, squealing and grabbing my hand to examine the ring.
My mother's right behind her, tears streaming down her face, and my father stands off to the side looking equal parts stunned and resigned.
Detective Hargrove is watching from across the room with a scowl on his face, but I don't care.
I've never been happier.
Rafe wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me close, and I lean into him, feeling the solid warmth of his body against mine. This is my life now. This is the choice I made, and I don't regret a single second of it.
"When do you want to get married?" I ask.
"As soon as possible. I'm not giving you time to change your mind."
"I'm not gonna change my mind."
"Good, because I'm not letting you go."
The DJ starts playing another slow song, and Rafe leads me back onto the dance floor. We sway together, my head resting against his chest, and I toy with the ring on my finger.
"I love you," I say.
"I love you too."
We dance until the song ends, and then another one starts, and we keep dancing. Around us, the reception continues. People laugh and drink and celebrate my sister's marriage, but all I can think about is the man holding me in his arms.
I'm marrying him. And I'm never looking back.