Page 130 of Silence and Surrender

The same look that made me fall in love with her all over again.

“Hurry!” Clara tugged my hand. “The fireflies are dancing!”

Below us, the vineyard glowed with tiny lights. Each one a spark of hope. Each one a promise of the future.

Each one a reminder of what we’d fought to protect.

“Coming, Clara,” I said, following her down the steps. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

Behind us, Isabella’s laugh mingled with the evening air. Free. Strong. Safe.

Home.

Later that night, I found Isabella in the nursery, organizing yet another round of baby supplies. The room was now filled with two cribs, each positioned to catch morning light through tall windows.

“The security team finished their survey,” I said, watching her fold impossibly small clothes. “Stryker’s adding extra measures on the north side.”

“Still worried?” She didn’t look up from her task, but her hands stilled briefly.

“Montgomery made bail last week.”

Now she did turn, one hand going protectively to her stomach. “They can’t possibly think—”

“No evidence he was directly involved in trafficking,” I reminded her. “Just financial crimes. His lawyers are good.”

“His lawyers are bought.” But she let me pull her close, the twins active between us. “You really think he’d risk coming here?”

“I think we destroyed everything he spent decades building.” My hands slid to her lower back, trying to ease the tension pregnancy put there. “I think he’s desperate and dangerous.”

“And you think he blames us specifically?”

“I think we need to be careful.” I pressed a kiss to her temple. “Just a while longer.”

She was quiet for a moment, and I knew she was thinking of her father. Of choices and consequences. Of prices paid for asking the wrong questions.

“Your first lecture at the university is next week, isn’t it?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Yes. The dean was particularly interested in my experience with international financial regulations.” I smiled, thinking about how different academic life would be from corporate law. “A fresh start, and just a short drive from here.”

“It will be perfect for you,” she said warmly. “You can shape the next generation of lawyers to actually have ethics.”

The twins kicked as if emphasizing the point, making her laugh. The sound still hit me in the chest—joy where there had once been only corporate precision.

“Sari called,” she said after a moment. “The authorities found more girls. In private ‘collections’ across Europe.”

I tensed, remembering the documentation we’d discovered. The careful records of lives bought and sold like paintings.

“They’re safe now,” Isabella continued softly. “Being reunited with families. Building new lives.”

“Because of you.” I pressed my forehead to hers. “Because you saw the patterns. Asked the questions. Fought for justice.”

“Because of us.” She touched my face, tracing scars from that final night. “Because you chose to help. To fight. To bring it all down.”

Epilogue

Colton

Some moments change everything.

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