Epilogue - Hunter
Two months later
Trinity’s at our kitchen table, surrounded by textbooks as she studies for her GED.
Risky snores at her feet. In just two months, she's transformed this cabin from my bachelor pad to our home, adding small touches that make it warmer, more inviting.
A vase of flowers and a checked tablecloth, cushions on the sofa and a multicolored rug on the living room floor.
I set a mug of coffee in front of her. “How’s it going?”
She looks up, her beautiful smile still hitting me like a punch to the gut every time. “Good. The math is actually coming back to me.” She taps her pencil against the notebook. “I've been thinking about applying to community college for the fall semester. Maybe nursing.”
I kiss the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. “You'd be great at that. Smart and caring. Perfect combination.”
The door swings open, and Marcus walks in without knocking.
My twin looks more frazzled than usual, his neat appearance disheveled, hair sticking up like he's been running his hands through it. Even half-asleep, Risky’s tail starts thumping on the floor.
Apart from Logan and Mom, Marcus is his favorite.
“Hey, Trinity. Hunter, got a minute?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Something wrong?”
Marcus drops a stack of papers on the table. “I've been mapping anomalies in the geological surveys, cross-referencing with historical records and property deeds. There's definitely something up there. Near the heart. Risky thinks so too.”
Trinity catches my eye, hiding a smile.
Marcus has been obsessed with the supposed Ember Heart treasure for years.
According to town legend, a fortune in gold had been hidden somewhere on the mountain during the mining boom days.
Most locals dismissed it as a fairy tale, but Marcus had been treating it like his personal mission to find it.
“Cool. Are you going to go dig it up?”
“Nope. Another problem. Abby Brooks is back in town.”
That gets my attention. “Josh's sister? I thought she moved to the city years ago.”
“Seven years ago, to be exact. She’s inherited a property up near the ridge. Henry from the diner says she’s started asking questions about the old mining claims.” Marcus runs a hand through his already messy hair. “It can't be a coincidence.”
“Maybe she just missed home?” Trinity suggests.
Marcus shakes his head. “No. She's up to something. And I'm going to find out what.”
Trinity and I exchange glances. There's something in Marcus's tone when he mentions Abigail; an intensity that goes beyond professional curiosity.
“Just don't do anything stupid, brainiac. Remember what happened the last time you confronted a woman you were suspicious of?”
Marcus flushes. “That was different. And I was sixteen.”
“You accused Missy Johnson of stealing your science project and ended up with a black eye,” I remind him, grinning at the memory.
“Abby isn't going to punch me,” Marcus says, gathering his papers. “ Probably .”
Trinity grins. “Stay for lunch, Marcus. You can quiz me on my GED questions while we eat.”
Later, after he leaves, Trinity turns to me. “What's the story there? With Marcus and this Abby?”
I wrap my arms around her from behind, pulling her against my chest. “They've been bickering since kindergarten. Complete opposites, Marcus with his books and computers, her always climbing trees and getting into trouble. But they were inseparable until high school, when something happened. She left town right after graduation and never came back. Marcus never talked about her, but I don’t think he ever got over it.”
“Sounds complicated.”
"The best love stories usually are," I say, pressing a kiss to her neck. My hand slides into my pocket, feeling the small box that's been burning a hole there for days. "Speaking of which, come with me. I want to show you something."
I lead her outside. The evening air is cool but not cold, stars beginning to appear in the darkening sky. I take her hand, guiding her toward my motorcycle.
“Where are we going?” she asks, her eyes bright.
“You'll see.”
Twenty minutes later, we're at my special spot on the mountain, the one with the beautiful view of the valley. The place I first brought her when everything between us was new and uncertain.
“It looks different at night,” Trinity says, gazing out at the twinkling lights of Ember Heart below.
I wait for her to turn, and then drop to one knee, pulling out the small box. Her breath catches, her eyes widening.
I open the box, revealing the simple ring I chose, knowing she'd prefer something understated to anything flashy. “I know it's fast. But I've never been more certain of anything in my life. I love you. I want to build a life with you. Will you marry me?”
Tears fill her eyes, and for one heart-stopping moment, I wonder if I've rushed things. Then she smiles, “Yes. Hell, yes. Of course. I love you too!”
As I slip the ring onto her finger, I make a silent vow to spend the rest of my life making sure she never has reason to run again. To be her safety, her sanctuary, her home.
Just as she's become mine.