Page 58 of My Secret Santa Mason

“There’s a lot to love,” I agreed. “The town really does love her and I can understand why.”

Tanner nodded with an agreeing grunt before he continued. “He rounded up the rest of Viktor’s men—they’re all in custody now. Viktor and Wallace are getting shipped out to a higher security facility. Sheriff said there’s gonna be an investigation, but from what it sounds like, they won’t be a problem for a long time. If ever again.”

I nodded, and the relief that washed over me was unexpected. I’d carried this burden for so fucking long it had become a part of me, and now it was over, it was tough to imagine a life without it. But I was so damn ready to find out what it would be like to live without looking over my shoulder.

Knowing Viktor and his crew were locked up for good brought the closure I needed. Knowing they wouldn’t be a threat anymore—not to me, not to Cami, not to anyone in Silver Ridge.

After all, I might have been keeping to myself but this place was still my home.

“Good,” I said, my voice gruff. “That’s good.”

Tanner glanced over at me, a knowing look in his eyes. “So, you and Cami?”

I glanced toward her, watching as she laughed with Rae, her face lit up with a carefree kind of joy now that the nightmare was done.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “Me and Cami.”

Tanner grinned, clapping me on the shoulder. “Glad to hear it. You deserve this, Mason. If anyone does, it’s you.”

I shrugged, not sure what to say.

“Don’t fuck it up,” Tanner added.

I chuckled, shaking my head. “I’ll do my best.”

Tanner nodded, then turned his attention back to the parade. We stood there in comfortable silence, shoulder to shoulder, here to look after our women no matter what it took. We watched the floats roll by, the sound of Christmas music filling the air. It was strange how quickly things had changed—how everything had gone from life-or-death danger to this quiet, peaceful moment. But I wasn’t complaining.

After years of looking over my shoulder this was the kind of peace I wanted.

I had Cami now, and she had me. We’d face whatever came our way, but right now, I was just going to enjoy this.

I looked over at her again, my heart swelling with love. Real, honest-to-God love. And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid of it, either. Funny to think that a brute like me could be scared of something, but I guess we all had something we feared.

I wasn’t afraid of the future or what it might bring with her, though. As long as I had Cami by my side, I knew I could handle whatever came next.

Rae turned to us, holding Hunter up in the air with a grin. “Look at this little guy, Mason. He’s already obsessed with Christmas. Maybe next year you’ll be playing Santa for him again.”

I grimaced, shaking my head. “Don’t get used to it. This year might be a onetime deal.” I hadn’t even put the suit back on afterI’d been with Cami earlier. There were more than enough Santas to go around and take photos with the kids. I’d done my duty.

Cami slid her hand into my palm, her fingers lacing through mine as she looked up at me. Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “I don’t know,” she said teasingly. “I think you make a pretty good Santa.”

I laughed, pulling her closer. “Maybe. But don’t push your luck.”

She stood on her toes and purred in my ear, “I really liked getting you out of that suit, though, so there’s that.”

I growled, my body responding to her, but I would show her what I felt about that statement later tonight.

We were in public now.

She giggled, knowing what she was doing to me. I offered her a warning look—she clearly knew what she was getting herself into, and she blushed.

We turned our attention back to the parade, the floats passing by one by one, each more festive than the last. It was simple, but it was good. After everything that had happened, I knew this was what I wanted. The simple moments. The quiet, peaceful ones.

I looked down at Cami, watching as her face lit up with a smile as she waved to the kids passing by on the floats. She was my spark—my light. The one who had brought me back to life after years of darkness.

For so long, I’d lived in survival mode, always waiting for the next hit, the next threat. But now, with her by my side, I wanted more than that. I was done with the past. I wanted a future, the kind that I never thought was possible for me.

But what was it they said? Anything was fucking possible, right? It was Christmas, after all. And wasn’t this the season for dreams and wishes and other shit like that to come true?

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