Epilogue
LOOKING OUT HIS BEDROOM WINDOW at the October trees, Rafe had to heave out a breath to settle his nervous stomach.
He fingered the small box in his pocket.
Last week had been the six-month anniversary of Zed’s murder, and Rafe hoped it’d been enough time.
Today’s family barbecue would be the last one of the summer. It seemed the perfect time.
His mind flashed back to the night Alex had proposed to Francie. He’d taken her to a nice restaurant filled with their friends and coworkers. Rafe had come home from Harvard for it.
For himself, because he was too well known in the area, he didn’t feel comfortable doing anything quite so flamboyant.
Was he cheating Ahri out of that kind of memory?
Or was he a coward because he was afraid she might turn him down?
He didn’t think she would. They’d dated exclusively since Midsummer’s Eve and had discussed a future together.
He fingered the ring box again. More doubts assailed him. Was he being presumptuous in picking one out without her? Why could he be decisive about business-related things but second-guess every detail with Ahri?
When Rafe opened his garage door, he found the guys already waiting in the driveway.
“Everything’s set up at your mother’s place,” Kayn said with a grin.
“Show it to us.” Ez held out his hand.
Rafe pulled out the box and opened it.
“I like the simple design,” Darius said. “It has style but isn’t ostentatious.”
“Good choice.” Kayn nodded. “She’s not into fancy stuff.”
“Simple and beautiful, like Ahri,” Ez said.
Rafe put the box back in his pocket. “Let’s do this.”
As they approached the B he already had enough nightmares of it, but Ahri had said she hoped watching it would help her put it to rest. He wouldn’t let her sit through it without him.
When the police had reported finding a flash drive taped underneath the dress of Ahri’s Korean doll, Rafe had thought for a second that she might pass out.
He’d needed both Francie and Alex’s help to talk Ahri off the emotional ledge on that one.
She’d tried to blame herself for putting them in danger, but Ma would have nothing of it.
Sadly, the information on the drive had confirmed that Zed had not only known he’d been helping to launder drug cartel money but had tried to steal some of it. The police could only guess the motivation, though it appeared to go back to Zed’s gambling problems.
“Are you okay?” Rafe had asked Ahri when they’d hung up the phone with the police.
“Yes. I’m just sad that he wasted his life for something so stupid. It’s weird. It’s like I’ve learned this about a stranger; I feel emotionally removed from it.” She’d let out a breath. “For the first time, I feel free to move on.”
At the sound of a car, Rafe glanced up. Ahri. He jogged over to open her door and pull her into an embrace.
“Hey, what’s that all about?” she asked when he released her.
“Just missed you yesterday.” It was true. He took her hand, hoping his nerves didn’t show. All night he’d had recurring nightmares that she turned him down.
“Is that a zip line?” she asked.
“It sure is.”
Dressed in her harness, Lessa bounced with excitement where she and Alex stood on the platform around the tree for the zip line. Rafe gave Alex a subtle nod, and he grinned.
“Since everyone has arrived,” his stepfather said, “our little lady here wants to show everyone that she’s brave like her mother.”
“Did you arrange this?” Ahri whispered to Rafe.
“Me and the guys.” His heart was thudding so hard he was sure she must hear it. Was he giving it away? “It’s all she’s talked about since we went without her.”
“You ready?” Alex asked after he made sure Lessa’s hands were solidly on the brake. She nodded, and he gave her a gentle push off the platform.
Rafe’s little sister squealed all the way to the end where he’d positioned himself and Ahri.
“You brave girl!” Ahri said, steadying her.
Without looking at him, Lessa pulled the bear from her harness. Everyone edged closer, and Rafe waited for Ahri to see the opening in the toy.
“Inside. Inside,” Nik said, pointing.
Ahri’s brows quirked up, and she seemed unsure what she was supposed to do.
“Take it out,” Lessa cried, and Nik added, “Yes, take it out.”
As Ahri put her fingers inside and pulled out the box, Rafe dropped to one knee. She gasped, and her eyes immediately filled with tears. For the first time, a sense of peace washed over him, and he took her hand.
“Sweet Ahri, I’ve felt a pull to you since the first time we met. It’s only gotten stronger the more I’ve learned about you. I’ve told you before that I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
She put her hands to her mouth and dropped the ring box. Kayn was close enough to catch it. Laughing, he handed it to Rafe. He opened it and took out the ring.
“If you don’t like it, we can go ring shopping.
The important question is, do you want this too?
Do you want us?” Holding up the ring expectantly, he waited, his hands cold.
Except for the birds in the trees and a slight rustle of the leaves, there was silence around them. He’d never felt so exposed in his life.
Ahri wiped at her eyes and reached for his hand. When she tightened hers over his, closing his fingers around the ring, his breath caught. Was she going to turn him down?
Then she was putting pressure on his hand to stand.
“Come on,” Kayn hissed. “Stop toying with the man.”
Ahri shot her brother a dark look and pulled Rafe to his feet. “Bill, aren’t Rafe and I one of the best bottom lane teams?”
“After watching you two fight in that footage,” the security chief said with a chuckle, “I don’t think there’s anything that can beat the two of you together.”
“Oh, Rafe. With you I’m finally home. Of course, I’ll marry you.”
Everyone seemed to release a collective breath.
Ahri held out her left arm, and with shaking hands, Rafe slid the ring on her third finger. She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him.
The crowd let loose, and everyone was trying to hug them.
I love you, he mouthed.
The blaze in her eyes sent fire through him and with it came a sense that he was enough. More than enough.
Keep reading the first chapter of Kayn’s happily ever after, Luck of the Billionaire.
***Note—while each of the REKD books can be read alone, they do follow an overlapping storyline.***