Page 124 of Red Queen (Red Thorns Crew 3)

But eventually.

I backed out of the driveway and pushed off down the road. I waved at John one last time as he stood on the porch, watching us ride off into the distance. I peeled around the corner, revving my engine one last time. And with the honk of my horn, we left our past in the dust.

Ready to set out towards our future.

Even though my house faded into the background, it didn’t feel as if I had left my home. Because my home was hitting the road with me, traveling wherever I went. Dani’s thighs against my own reminded me that she was my home. Forever. And I was hers.

Forever.

And together, we were stronger than I could have ever dreamt.

With my home wrapped around me and my eyes turned toward the airport, I blazed a trail onto the highway. We still had some hoops to jump through, but I knew we’d be just fine. With Cap watching our backs and the world ridiculing my father all over the news outlets, society would bury him before the courts got a chance. Leaving all of us to lead the lives we were born to lead rather than cowering in the shadows because of a madman.

I heard Dani giggling. “What are you laughing about back there, gorgeous?”

She snorted. “Who in the world would’ve thought that a man like you would’ve ended up with a bookworm goody two shoes like me?”

My smile made my cheeks ache. “I wouldn't have it any other way, either.”

“Me neither, handsome. Me, neither.”

Epilogue

Dani

Three Months Later

I leaned against the wrought iron balcony as the sun started cresting over the ocean. We were somewhere in California. Something secluded, which I didn’t think existed in this massive, overpopulated place. The sound of seagulls filled my ears as I drew in the scent of my coffee, allowing the hot mug to warm me through my palms. The sun’s rays felt delicate against my skin. The smell of the ocean beckoned me to its shoreline, my toes already tingling with the need for sand between them. For three months, we’d been here. In this little beach house with a second-story balcony right on the coast.

And last night we finally got the news we were waiting for.

“Insidious Ann Arbor Gangster Found Guilty On All Counts.”

Max’s voice sounded behind me, and his words made me smile.

“How does that make you feel, handsome?”

He set the newspaper on the table behind me. “Relieved.”

I nodded. “That’s one way to put it.”

“Two life sentences in prison with no possible chance of parole.”

“He’ll die in that place.”

His arm wrapped around me. “Which is exactly what he deserves.”

Max kissed my temple as I leaned against him. For three months, we’d waited for those words. We hadn’t had to go back and testify, and the captain was confident that the jury would come back with a guilty verdict. And late last night, she’d called with news that would surely streak across the headlines for the next three weeks.

Ashton Ryddle would be sentenced to a lifetime of nothing.

Where he couldn't hurt anyone else.

Max shuffled behind me. “I think maximum security prison’s going to be good for him.”

I snickered. “If he’s lucky, they’ll put him in solitary until he goes crazy.”

“The man’s already crazy.”

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