Page 100 of Shockproof

Bargain with the big man himself using my life for hers as long as it means she’s secure.

Protecting Arlette Carmichael from now through eternity is my new mission.

And needless to say, I think I’ve spent my whole life preparing for it.

Epilogue

About 4 ½ Years Later…

Arley

“Angel Cake,” beautiful blue lettering, glides down to land on the keyboard in front of me, “I thought we agreed to no work on anniversary trips and family vacations.”

Agreement implies both parties consented.

Nay, we did not.

He did the thing he always does, which I both love and hate even to this day.

He spoke.

Declared it.

And then refused to fight or argue or entertain anything else.

Thankfully, he didn’t try that tactic when it came to naming our twin girls, Allaira – and Alura aka Lair Bear and Lu.

Not that it would’ve worked.

Especially considering the pregnant woman he would’ve been up against was told to stay off her feet due to swelling, which meant that baking her worries and stress away wasn’t an option.

Without diverting my attention away from the data on the screen, I casually retort, “I’m not working.”

I’m really not.

In fact, working less over the past few years is absolutely something I have stayed committed to.

After having my life nearly ended one too many times by someone housing a revenge plot, I wasn’t responsible form I chose to continue to lean into the work less, play more mentality. As a result of that unfortunate period in our lives, I found a side of myself I really needed.

I found courage.

And a willingness to be seen.

And heard.

And at times understood by the world that had been too cold for too long.

Slater and I kept going to hockey games and eventually began renting a season box, which is best for the girls as well as me. We’ve been to concerts – both country and rock – although we don’t typically stay long. Even with earplugs helping filter the sounds, they’re quite overwhelming. Dining out weekly and double dating monthly and doing things I never pictured myself doing, like skydiving or giving the speech at my brother’s wedding all became big battles we won together.

While the incident inspired me to live more, it definitely encouraged my husband to work less.

After signing his official paperwork that declared the assignment over, he showed me his transfer papers that indicated he would betrainingfield operatives rather than continue being one. There wasn’t even time to respond to that before he was playing a Gym Class Heroes song on his phone and getting down on one knee to propose like he promised. Jokes about it lacking a tracking chip were of course exchanged – post me saying yes of course – and to no real surprise what was going to be an office quickie was interrupted by Blu who came to tell us Reynolds was going to make it as well as show me his transfer papers too.

Interestingly enough, about a month later – with the holidays and an anniversary vacation to Hawaii to visit my parents behind us – I got together for a lunch meeting with Harvey to discuss their transfers bringing up an alternative. The idea of a launching a more advanced training division than the one we currently had – particularly one for those that involved R&R for children – was my pitch yet Harvey not only took it, he expanded it to include various around the globe terrain training. The other numbers were pleased. Impressed. And when he put in to have Slater run point on the new program with Blu and Reynolds as the other members of the team, he got instant approval along with a hefty bonus.

Which was hissecondfor the year.

Dismantling Ivan’s operations contributed to his first, of course.

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