Epilogue
Clearfield, Virginia – BlackKnight Security Headquarters
Call Sign: Charlie One
The SUV rumbled down the road, twenty to thirty minutes from the BlackKnight compound.
Liam’s fingers wrapped around the little black box in his pocket.
His heart pounded, and his hands sweated.
For the love of everything, he was Delta Force, the owner of BlackKnight Security, and Charlie One.
He faced down bad guys on the daily. Okay, maybe not every day, but frequently.
And a diamond ring and a simple question for the love of his life spiked his adrenaline.
Boone leaned over the console from the back seat. “Dude, you’re sweating.”
Rafe glanced at him from the driver’s seat. “He’s right, you know.”
“Whatever.” Liam let go of the box and adjusted the sling on his arm. He peered out the passenger window, watching the landscape go by while losing the battle of calming his jittery nerves.
“Is your little boo-boo hurting?” Xander chuckled.
He flicked his gaze to the mirror. “Next time Dax decides to fall out of a helo and use any of you as a rope, then we’ll talk.”
“I didn’t fall out on purpose. Xander banked the bird before I could clip in.”
“Yeah, yeah, blame it on me.” Xander rolled his eyes.
“Seriously, Liam, how’s the arm?” Boone asked.
Dax had hauled himself off the hoist and into the cabin before he could secure himself, Xander had taken an evasive maneuver, and Dax had slid to the open door of the helo.
Liam had grabbed his wrist seconds before his teammate had tumbled out.
The sudden jerk had dislocated his shoulder.
But in the end, saved his brother’s life. So, he’d take the pain.
He exhaled. “Better now that it’s in place. But not gonna lie, it aches.”
“Stick with the anti-inflammatory meds and don’t power through the pain. Take what the doc prescribed. You need to keep that muscle relaxed, or it’ll hurt worse.” Xander gave his medical two cents on the topic.
“I’ll be good. Just hate that the team will be grounded.” Six weeks. That’s what the doctors had told him.
“We could all use a little R&R,” Dax added.
No one on the team had come out unscathed. But thankfully, his injury was the worst.
“So, back to the sweating question.” Once Boone locked onto something, the man wouldn’t let go.
“Does it have something to do with what’s in your pocket?” Rafe smirked.
Boone’s eye widened. “Wait! Does that mean what I think it means? And why didn’t you tell the rest of us?”
“What he said,” Dax piped in.
“I’m hurt that you didn’t confide in us.” Xander’s toddler impression had Liam rolling his eyes.
He shook his head. “Kinda wanted it to be between Raven and me.” He glared at Charlie Two.
Rafe didn’t say anything, only gave him a cheesy smile.
“Fine. I’m planning to propose as soon as we get back.” He hated that he’d be down on one knee with his arm in a sling, but that was life. Things rarely happened as planned.
“What are you worried about?” Dax asked. “That woman is head over heels in love with you. She’ll say yes.”
“That might be true, but marrying her is a big deal. One I’m not taking lightly. Just you guys wait until it’s your turn. See how you feel then.”
Liam was confident Raven would say yes. They’d talked about the future. But he wanted to give Raven the world. To show her every day in every way that he loved her. That summed up the reason for his nerves. He was terrified he’d mess up.
Clearfield, Virginia – BlackKnight Security Headquarters
Six Months Later – Thursday – 1630 Hours
Code Name: Raven
Raven sat on her front porch and checked the time once again.
What was taking the guys so long? She pushed the rocker into motion.
Birds chirped and warbled in the trees that framed the small yard of her portion of the compound.
If someone were dropped in at the end of her driveway, they’d never realize the house was part of a large master plan.
She nibbled on her thumbnail while she waited.
The mission was a success, but the team had taken a hit, injury-wise.
Cuts, bullet burns, large bruises, and Liam’s dislocated shoulder.
She pushed down the anxiety threatening to bubble over.
This was his job. And he and the guys were the best at what they did.
But that didn’t stop her from worrying about the man she loved.
Gravel popped under the tires of Liam’s truck as it rolled down her driveway.
She released a lung full of air and stood. He was home.
Liam slid from the driver’s side. A black sling hugged his arm to his body. His long legs ate up the distance between them until he stood before her. “Hi.”
Raven threw her arms around his neck, careful of his shoulder. “You’re back.”
“Yeah, honey, I am. I missed you.” He kissed her temple.
“How is everyone?” She leaned back and gestured to his arm. “And you?”
“Only bumps and bruises.”
“Right. Did you forget I heard the whole thing?” She arched an eyebrow.
He chuckled. “No, I didn’t forget. I just don’t want you to worry.”
“I’m always concerned about you. But I also know you are highly skilled at what you do.” She cupped his jaw. The scruff from his newly acquired beard tickled her palm. “Besides, I have a lot more skin in the game now.”
“You do, do you?” A teasing smile crossed Liam’s lips.
“Seems to be that some super awesome soldier wormed his way into my heart. Gotta make sure he comes home after every mission.”
“I like the sound of that.”
She tilted her head, a bit confused by this response. “Of what?”
“Coming home to you.” He kissed her forehead and took a step back.
Raven immediately missed the connection.
Liam ran a shaky hand through his hair.
“What’s wrong?” Now she really was getting concerned. The only time she’d seen him this shaken was when he’d rescued her in Alabama.
He blew out a breath.
“Liam?” Her stomach knotted.
His hand slid into his pocket, and the next thing she knew, he went down on one knee.
Her hand flew to her mouth, and tears flooded her eyes.
“Raven, I’m not a man who has fancy words.
But I know this—You’ve changed me. You’ve shown me how to let go of the guilt from my past and live in the moment.
My life makes sense with you in it. I never want to lose that—or you.
” He pulled a gorgeous diamond solitaire from the box and held it up. “Raven, will you marry me?”
The tears pooling on her lashes spilled down her cheeks. Oh, this wonderful, tenderhearted man.
He stood, ring between his fingers. “Please.”
Finding her voice, she smiled. “Yes, Liam, I’ll marry you.”
He slid the ring onto her finger, then wrapped his good arm around her and tugged her close. His lips met hers in a slow, tender kiss. Neither of them in a hurry for it to end.
Jade had found a man willing to deal with her traumas and fears without hesitation. A man who encouraged her and supported her. A man who loved God and made her feel loved for the first time in her life.
Enveloped in Liam’s embrace, she’d found her future—her forever.