Page 153 of Oblivion

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DANTE

We both held our breath as the elevator slowed at my loft. There was a subtle pause from Penny after the doors opened, like she was waiting for an invite in.

While my smile was calm, my pulse ran wild, hammering within my ribcage and making it impossible to breathe freely.

I dashed my head to the side and lifted our luggage. “In you go, Lemon Drop. My place is now your place.”

“Thanks,” she whispered, and gave a shy, pretty smile on her way past.

I followed behind. Each step slow and calculated, and my eyes never left her as she kicked off her shoes. I toed mine off without looking, and left them in the middle of the entrance.

I had better things to worry about. More pressing matters at hand. Moreimportantmatters to attend to.

Dropping the bags next to my discarded shoes, I erased the four paces between me and her and snagged her inner elbow. She spun into my arms with the barest tug.

Her eyes met mine. Those baby blue irises that completely owned me from the first moment we met. She blinked once, twice, then a third time, with words poised on her lips.

Dropping my mouth to hers, I claimed those words by kissing her, groaning when she kissed me back with matching fervor.

We had so much to talk about, her and I. So much learning and living to do, but as long as she was in my arms, I was ready to take on the world and all it threw at us.

With my hands remaining on her lower back and threaded through her long hair, I pulled away, breathless, and so fucking ready for more.

“Welcome home, baby.”

EPILOGUE

Penny

One year later…

Sitting side by side on Chen and Mei’s couch, Dante’s arm lay draped around my shoulders while his fingers idly rubbed tiny circles on my exposed shoulder.

He’d put a ring on my finger three months ago, and it was by far the most amazing day of my life. I looked down at the diamond ring and smiled. Simple and breathtakingly pretty on my slender finger, it was perfect in every way.

Just before our engagement, life finally fell into place. Things had settled with my family, and Mom and I had well and truly mended our rift. Uncle James—well, my biological father—had given Dante the once-over and ultimately gave his blessing before Dante proposed.

I had absolutely nothing to do with Paul. The last time I saw him was that fate-laced day in his office. And, now that I was working for a prestigious law firm and earning a wage not to be scoffed at, I couldn’t have cared less that my ties with him were burned.

Dante had tracked down Ronan and made him sign a statement that effectively confessed to Paul hiring him with the sole purpose of taking me.

Paul was made aware of the document, and also advised that if he came for me, then we would come for him and destroy his entire corrupt empire. HisandRonan’s.

The memories induced a shudder, and I tucked closer into Dante’s side. Tonight wasn’t the time for destructive self-reflection. We were back in Fort Campbell to get through the first anniversary of Forrest’s death as a team.

Earlier in the year, after enduring weeks of grueling hours on the witness stand as every sordid detail of Ward’s life was re-scrutinized, Dante received the final verdict in Ward’s case.

Ward was charged and found guilty, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice,of premeditated murder after evidence revealed he had altered the repelling schedule so he and Forrest would be alone at the top of the tower that morning. Anonymous email threats directed to Forrest were also linked back to Ward, which had escalated in the weeks prior to the incident.

Not only had Ward been found guilty of Forrest’s death, he was also charged and found guilty of the war crimes he committed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

After a thorough search of his house, a number of illegal weapons were found, but it was the dozens of body parts that were most disturbing. Fingertips. Ears. Teeth. An item taken from each of his victims, kept as gruesome trophies, and ultimately given as evidence to bring him down.

Ward was stripped of his medals and dishonorably discharged from the Army, as well as sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for Forrest’s death.

The tremendous strain on Dante and his team had lifted; they’d finally gotten justice for their brother.

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