Epilogue
Turner
Two years later…
“Em,” I call out as I grab my jacket and head downstairs. “Do you know where my phone is? Bradford will be here at any time.”
“It’s probably lost in the couch again,” she laughs as I enter the kitchen, now adorned with pictures of us—and my family intermixed. It still hurts sometimes, but it doesn’t trigger me. I take in the sight of Em, and smile. She’s in a pair of light wash jeans and a hideous Christmas sweater, but even so, she looks as beautiful as ever.
And the best thing we ever did was remodel this damn cabin.
New floors, new paint, new kitchen, and well, there’s a lot of gawdy cabin décor that she loves. But I let it happen.
“I swear I always lose my phone,” I mutter under my breath as I plant a kiss on her cheek and run my hand across her stomach. Four months to go. “This job shouldn’t take long.”
“I know,” she chimes, glancing back at me as I slip into the living room. “Is Gunner going?”
“No, he can stay with you,” I answer her, eyeing my elderly dog. He’s pushing up there now, and I don’t know how he’s made it this long, but he has—and I hope he makes it to the birth of my first kid.
But the puppy might push him over the edge.
I frown at the little ball of energy mutt bouncing on top of him, and then rolling around on the hardwood floor. “Why did we think a puppy was a good idea?” I think aloud, glancing back to Em, who turns around to face me.
“Um, because you’ll need him. You’re not invincible, Turner,” she reminds me, just like always, though it’s with a smile.
“Right, he just looks like he’s going to be a shithead,” I laugh as the puppy, who she named Boomer, runs up and starts playing tug of war with my jeans.
“Well then the two of you should get along just fine,” Em bursts into a fit of giggles as I shoot her a dirty look. The sun shines through the front windows, no longer covered by curtains, and the hint of light glints off her wedding ring.
We somehow managed to make the move back to this cabin, even with all the secrets buried around the place. But it’s different now. The air isn’t heavy, and the days aren’t dark. We laugh, and my job and medication keep the urges away. Bradford taught me methods to control myself, and my job of hunting people down… Well…
It’s good for the fucked up person inside of me.
“Who is it this time?” Em asks, drawing me out of my thoughts.
“No idea. He just said it was someone who deserted and is on the run in the foothills. I’m sure it won’t take long. It never does.”
She nods. “True. You’re efficient.”
“And you’re fucking hot,” I breathe out as I take in her full lips, and her disheveled brown hair on top of her head. "I hate leaving you on Christmas.”
Em laughs, grabbing my shirt and tugging me into her. “We already celebrated, but…” She stands on her tiptoes and kisses my jaw. “It just means you owe me later.”
I run my tongue along my bottom lip. “I do, huh? I could probably make a little time to make good on that right now.”
“Oh please,” she swats my chest. “How about let’s not get caught by Bradford. I’d want to crawl into a hole and die.”
“Damn, that’s intense. I didn’t know it was so embarrassing to be with me.” I shoot her a wink and then sigh. “I really do hate taking off on this day though.”
“Yeah, I know,” her voice grows soft. “But this isn’t an easy day, and it’s better spent in the field.”
I eye the wooden pendent, still hanging around her neck. “Not everything about this day is all that bad,” I tell her, reaching out and brushing my fingers across the heart. “Sometimes, the best and worst days can be interchangeable.” I meet her gaze. “He’d be glad that we’re turning his room into a nursery, you know.”
She brushes her hand across my cheek. “Yeah, I bet he would, and if it’s my guess, I bet he’d be really proud of you.”
“Maybe,” I say, emotions swelling in my chest as I kiss her on the forehead. The sound of an engine grows outside the cabin and I sigh. “I have a feeling my brother would want to smack me across the face for a few things as well.”
“Meh, details.” She places a kiss on my lips. “You better get going. I’ll see you when you get home.”
“Keep the gate locked and the fire going,” I tell her, running my thumb along her bottom lip. “You know I hate leaving you.”
“And I know you’ll always come back to me.” She gives me a look. “Besides, Catie is coming over. She’s got herself another new boyfriend.”
“Lovely,” I mutter, kissing her once more. “I love you, Em.”
“I love you, too.”
I give Gunner and Boomer a good pat, and then slip out the front door. Bradford’s truck waits just outside, and he honks the horn a couple of times. I flip him off and grab my duffle bag from where it sits on the front porch. I toss it into the back of the truck, taking one last look at Em and Gunner, watching me through the window.
She blows me a kiss, and I wink at her once more. I got fucking lucky when it comes to her, and that’s something I’ll never stop thanking the universe for. I whip open the passenger door and climb in.
“Merry Christmas, asshole,” I tell Bradford, smacking his arm as he lights up a cigarette. “You really should quit that.”
“Yeah, okay, Mom,” he shoots back at me with a grin. “But Merry Christmas to you, too. I was hoping we could take the holidays off, but duty calls.”
I nod, a rush of excitement flooding through my veins as he backs out of the driveway. “So a deserter, huh?”
“That’s all I’ve got. He’s apparently violent as fuck, walks around wanting to pick a fight.” Bradford puffs on his cigarette as he puts the truck in park, waiting for me to shut the gate. I slide out, shut and lock it, and then climb back in.
“What’s the goal with him?” I ask as he tears down the road, heading north. “You want to take him out or recruit him?”
Bradford shrugs. “We’ll feel him out when we get there. Not everyone is cut out to come and work for me. Being a mercenary is a bit of a calling, I’d say. It’s not for the weak minded, don’t you think?”
I lean back in the seat, clicking the belt in place. “I don’t know. I thought I was pretty weak minded. It took me a long time to figure out I just needed a different mental outlook.”
“Yeah, you needed an ass kicking is what you needed, Martin,” he snorts. “And I have to admit it felt good to be the one to give it to you.”
I chuckle, gazing out the window at the snow-covered ground. “I suppose I deserved that.”
“Meh, water under the bridge, as I always say,” Bradford grins, rolling down the window enough to suck the smoke from the cab. The diesel engine roars as he stomps the gas, flooding the road behind us with a puff of black coal. “I always hoped you’d call.”
“Just ten years late,” I laugh, tipping my head back. “Sorry about that.”
“Nah, it’s never too late. You had to find your reason. You didn’t have it until Em. She’s a catch.”
“I know,” I agree, smiling to myself as I think back to my wife, staying cozy and warm in the cabin. “Hopefully, this’ll be a quick one.”
“It’s always quick when you’re behind the gun, Trigger.”
“Yep.” I lean my head back, closing my eyes and taking a few deep breaths as I run through my mental checklist. My rifle is tucked away safely in my duffle bag, freshly cleaned, and ready to go on another mission. All the rest of my gear never leaves the bag. My hands sweat with anticipation, and I grin to myself.
As it turns out, I get to have my cake and eat it, too. I get the girl, the picket fence, and the fun.
I just had to be taught how to make friends with my monster.