Chapter twenty-three #3
Roman glared up at Mike even as he let out a hoarse cough.
“The Carlyle Group lied. When I bought my first vitality MOD, they implied it was long-lasting. I was already on my third MOD—enhanced strength to go with my enhanced speed—when the first MOD started to fail. Carlyle claimed they were close to a breakthrough that’d ensure their MODs were permanent.
That they just needed a little more time and money. ”
Roman coughed again, blood coming with it this time as his heartbeat became even more irregular. Mike knew calling an ambulance wouldn’t help even if he had his phone with him.
“That was five years ago,” Roman continued, his voice barely more than a whisper now.
“The MODs don’t even last a week. Carlyle said it’s my fault for taking so many, but I didn’t have a choice.
I needed those MODs. And when I couldn’t bring in enough cash, I had to come back to Dallas to find the flash drive. ”
Mike wondered if Roman realized he sounded exactly like a drug addict justifying anything to get their next fix. He didn’t know why, but part of him felt bad for the man, even after everything.
“Well, the crypto account information—if the flash drive is even still in one piece—is long gone now,” Mike said. “Chapman has it.”
Silence met his words, and he realized Roman was dead. The man wouldn’t be coming after him or his family ever again.
Mike was still standing there when Lark showed up a few seconds later.
He looked around worriedly for Kal and saw him standing a few hundred yards away.
Lark must have told him to wait there until she made sure it was safe.
While their son was still in his wolf form, Lark had already shifted back and was wearing his uniform top.
The thing hung down nearly to her knees, covering all the important parts, and looking sexy as hell while doing it.
She was carrying Mike’s uniform pants and his boots, which he quickly slipped into. He had no desire to answer the questions about why he was completely naked when other members of the Dallas PD finally started showing up.
After he was dressed and it was clear it was safe, she waved Kal over. He immediately bounded to them, stopping beside Lark.
“It’s really over?” she asked, gently weaving one hand into the ruff of fur at their son’s neck as Kal leaned against her. “We’re finally safe?”
Mike wrapped his arms around Lark, resting his forehead on hers. “It’s over. With Roman gone, his organization will fall apart. And after how many of their people we took down, I think it’s safe to say Sentinel and Carlyle won’t be back for more werewolf DNA samples any time soon.”
“Thank goodness,” Lark murmured, raising up on her toes to press her lips gently to his before continuing.
“I was so scared when you were fighting that supernatural, and then again when you went after Roman and Chapman. I was worried Kal and I would never see you again. That you would never know how much I love you. How much we both love you.”
Mike kissed her again. “I know how much you love me. Because I love you guys just as much. And I always will.”
Lost in another kiss, it took Mike a few moments to feel the thumping on his hip. When he looked down, he saw Kal’s front paws resting there, with his son’s adorable wolf eyes gazing up at him.
He dropped to a knee to give his son a hug, Lark joining them. Mike took the opportunity to pull back and take a good look at his son. About the size of a big German Shepherd, Kal was a gorgeous wolf, rich brown in color with even darker brown eyes.
“You did amazing, leaping in to protect your mom like you did,” he said, placing his hands on either side of his son’s head and ruffing his ears. “I’m so proud of you, and I love you like crazy.”
Kal gave Mike the biggest wolfie grin Mike had ever seen, pink tongue lolling out before he leaned forward and swiped Mike’s face with the wet thing.
“I appreciate all these hugs as much as anyone, but maybe we should go back to the house,” Lark suggested. “I’m sure everyone wants to know we’re okay, and we need to work on getting Kal back into human form before the police show up and start wondering what a wolf is doing here.”
As he heard the sound of approaching sirens, Mike realized Lark was probably onto something. There was a good chance they’d have company soon.
It was as the three of them were walking back toward the house that he realized there was something he needed to do now that everything was settled.
“This probably isn’t the most romantic time to ask this,” Mike said as they walked hand-in-hand in that direction. “But I was wondering if you’d still like to marry me?”
Lark stopped, turning to look at him. Kal stopped too, gazing up at them expectantly.
She smiled, going up on tiptoe to kiss Mike again. “I’ve wanted to marry you since the day we met. So, the answer to that question is most definitely yes!”
Kal let out a happy little yip, running a few laps around them before leading the way to the house. Mike and Lark ran after him with a laugh. The sooner they got all the paperwork that was going to come with what went down today, the better. They had a wedding to plan!