Chapter-74

Over the next few days, we were like two animals trapped in a cage, fighting our instincts and our fears. We talked little, our communication mostly in the form of touch, of love-making that was both fierce and desperate.

But as the weeks went by, our anxiety lessened, becoming more a shadow in the background of our lives, than the monster it had been.

Though bound to the house, under the circumstances of the cartel actively seeking us, I tried to make the best of it. Torin getting nerves had become commonplace, but under it all, I knew the cause and tried to maintain.

However, though the fear receded greatly, for me, it had never completely left. I couldn't speak for Torin, as he had always kept everything close to his sleeve, and in our time together in the safe house, that hadn't changed.

After awakening one morning and nursing a cup of coffee, my phone rang, and picking it up I saw it was Casey.

"It's over," she told me. "You can return to your old lives."

I sat for a moment stunned, my excitement with the news she had imparted, marred with uncertainty. Was it over? Really? Could we just go back to being Torin and Marlowe, without having to constantly look over our shoulders every five minutes?

"Are you sure?" I asked her, my voice shaking.

"The case against the cartel is solid without the USB," Casey said. "Your and Torin's testimony will no longer be necessary. Agent Cody is on his way over to pick you two up."

As I was absorbing Casey's words, Torin walked into the room and I handed him the phone. "It's Casey. She says it's over."

Torin took the phone from me, announcing himself, then listened intently before hanging up. "I can't believe it," he said, his voice shocked as his eyes met mine. I could read in his that he was struggling to process what Casey had said as much as I was.

"Me either," I whispered. It had seemed so sudden.

Then a smile spread across Torin's lips. "It's over," he shouted joyfully. "We're free."

We didn’t waste a moment and began packing and gathering our things.

We were ready when we heard the crunch of gravel under tires, and our eyes met, for the first time in months the sound didn't send fear shooting through us.

Minutes later, there was a knock at the door, and a voice on the other side called, "Marlowe, it's Brian. Open the door."

Brian? What the hell? I looked at torin and he nodded. "You'll want to open it for him. Trust me."

With a slow nod, I made my way to the door, and opening it I stared at Brian, confusion swamping me as I gazed at the badge he presented for me to see. Several seconds of silence passed, before I gasped. "What the hell is this Brian?"

"Let's get you two out of here, and I'll explain on the way back home," he murmured.

~~

The first few weeks back were surreal. Jess greeted me with open arms. Tannin screamed and then grabbed me, pulling me tight. And Rook? Rook greeted me with the most tender hug I had ever received, then scolded, “Don’t you ever put me through that again!”

Brian had explained that he had been undercover on a case that had nothing to do with what I had endured, but when I had suddenly gone missing, it had set a ball rolling that Torin's evidence on the cartel had helped to sew up.

Weeks followed and I found myself falling deeper and deeper in love with Torin. He had set aside his biker life and had started his own construction company. I'd learned that when Carlos had killed his parents, they had left a life insurance policy in his name, garnering him his wealth.

Our lives flourished, I went back to work at the bar, and home to Torin.

Torin built us a house, and when it was finished, we celebrated with a bottle of champagne.

Then, one evening as we strolled along the boardwalk, Torin stopped, turned to me, and took a deep breath. "Marlowe, will you marry me?"

I looked at him, my heart racing. I’d never felt more alive than in that moment. "Yes," I said, tears filling my eyes.

The days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, as we prepared for our wedding. The stress of planning the event was overwhelming, but it was a good kind of stress. The kind that came with excitement and hope for the future.

Our wedding day was perfect. The sun shone down on us as we exchanged vows in front of a small gathering of our closest friends and family, even Burdock and Ginger, and a few of Torin’s closest friends from the club were there. We were surrounded by love and laughter, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I knew everything was going to be okay.

After the ceremony, we held our reception at the bar. Rook had bought the place from Jess, who had decided to move on to new ventures. Tannin, however, remained a familiar face behind the counter.

As we danced to our first song as Mr. and Mrs., I looked around at the faces of those who had supported us, who had believed in us even when we didn’t believe in ourselves.

The evidence against the Dinelli cartel was damning, and one by one, they had all been brought to justice. The headlines read, "The Fall of an Empire" and "Dinelli Dynasty in Shambles." Lucien had been caught trying to flee the country and was now behind bars, where he'd spend the rest of his days.

~~

Life went on. Rook transformed the bar into a thriving business. He had a knack for making people feel welcome, and it was clear that this was his true calling. In Torin's absence, Rook had become Reif's mentor, and Reif was now a fixture in his life.

Torin and I settled into our roles as husband and wife, building a new life from the ashes of the old. We had our moments of doubt and fear, but with each passing day, those moments grew fewer and farther between. We had come out on the other side of hell, and we were stronger for it. Our love had been tested and had emerged stronger than ever.

The future was uncertain, but in the warm embrace of the man I loved, with friends who had become family, I felt ready to face whatever lay ahead. Together, we had survived the storm, and now, we could finally begin to heal.

One evening, as the sun painted the sky with streaks of orange and pink, we sat on the porch swing of our newly renovated home, watching the world go by. The neighborhood was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos we had left behind.

"Do you ever miss it?" I asked Torin, referring to his old life.

He looked over at me, his eyes reflecting the peacefulness of the setting sun. ""The open road, the brotherhood... those were good times. But I wouldn't trade this for anything."