Grabbing the boys and the bags, we hurried into the hospital and up to the third floor, finding a hallway full of family as Winter screeched from inside the room.

I winced, realizing I was no longer a spectator in her plight. I’d be doing what she was doing next fall if my calculations were correct.

“Ah!” she growled from inside the room, the door just cracked enough to hear.

“How’s it going?” I asked, handing off Mads to his mom as Rika took Ivar from Will.

Another scream pierced the air, and a nurse ran past us, entering the room.

“Should be soon,” Alex said, the rock on her hand gleaming as she held her phone to her ear.

Aydin had to rush to Chicago this morning for a meeting, but he was supposed to be flying back now. He and Alex had taken over most of Evans Crist’s responsibilities, both of them in Meridian City most of the time and loving it. They liked the noise and the hustle and bustle.

Michael sat on a chair next to Athos, enthralled as he watched her play some game on her phone while she wore huge headphones over her ears.

He pointed to something and she shoved him off, not wanting help. “Daddy, stop it.”

He smiled, watching her now instead of the game.

They had told her when they adopted her this past winter that she could call them whatever she felt comfortable calling them, but it only took a few weeks for her to love the fact that these were her parents. She wanted everyone to know Michael and Rika were her mom and dad.

And who wouldn’t love it? She had everything she could ever want in life, and she certainly knew that.

They were the lucky ones, though. They’d all found each other.

“What?” Damon shouted from inside the room.

We all stopped, looking at each other.

“It’s a boy?” he blurted out. “Are you sure?”

We leaned in, and I folded my lips between my teeth to contain the laughter.

A baby cried, there was some shuffling, and then we heard Damon’s playful little growl. “Ugh, what am I going to do with you?”

“Damon!” Winter growled. “I’m going to kill you. You better love him. You do, right?”

There was a pause, and I met Alex’s wide eyes with my own.

Drama…

Damon and I ran the construction business together now, him building and me designing, so I’d gotten used to his…brand of humor.

Finally, he answered. “Y–yeah,” he stuttered, not sounding convincing. “Yeah, of course, baby. But like, are you sure there aren’t any more in there or something?”

“Damon!”

Will collapsed against the wall, shaking with laughter, and I shook my head, reaching over and taking the squirming Ivar out of Rika’s arms.

I set him down on the floor, holding his hand as we walked and Will followed.

Another boy. Fun, fun.

I looked over at Will, amusement written all over his face, but I could tell the wheels were turning.

“You sad?” I asked.

“Why would I be sad?”

I shrugged, leaning against the wall as Ivar reached for me and I picked him up. “He’s got two kids on you now.”

“It’s not a contest, Emmy.” Will leaned next to me as he let Ivar wrap his little hand around his finger. “I’m fine. I’m in school right now, anyway. We’ve got plenty of time. We’ll have our family and fill all those rooms. Whether it’s in three years or five or ten.”

“Or eight months,” I offered, a tingle fluttering under my skin. “Eight-ish. Give or take.”

He stood there silently for a moment, and when I finally looked up, he was staring at me and not breathing.

“Are you serious?” he murmured.

I couldn’t contain the excitement. “Are you ready?”

He grabbed me and kissed me, laughing against my lips. “I am never not ready for anything with you.”

And with the long, hard road it took to get us here, I’d never trusted any other words more. I kissed him, nothing clouding my happiness with him for another second ever again.

This was always our story.

We want what we want.

Thank you so much for reading Nightfall. Your support and encouragement over the years has kept this series going, and I really hope you enjoyed it.

Good books, for me, end as if it’s a new beginning. Please turn the page to read the epilogue, but please be aware that the epilogue ends on an intrigue—or two—to ensure readers that the fun and mystery continue in Thunder Bay.

If you like your stories wrapped up tidily, please feel free to end the book right here. If you’re excited to see what everyone is up to, then read on and enjoy!

Will

Ten Years Later

“I want to drive,” Em teased.

I locked the chain dogs from the underside of the car, securing us to the track, but kept the brakes on as the kids buckled themselves in.

I pushed the green button, turning on the headlights. “Should your mother drive, children?” I asked.

“No!”

I laughed to myself, grabbing my helmet as Emmy sat her butt down in the seat next to me in the railcar.

“Because of you, we have to wear helmets now,” Finn said to her.

“We caught air one time,” Em retorted. “Once!”

“Dad, please?” Indie begged from the seat behind me.

I snorted. Of course, I wasn’t letting their mother drive. She had as much of a lead foot as I did, but the kids felt safer with me in control.

“I’m going to remember this, Indie,” Em chided our eldest. “When you’re old enough to drive, I might not be so indulgent.”

I glanced over my shoulder at our daughter, her brown eyes looking guilty as our shared secret went unspoken.

But Emmy noticed, glancing between us and guessing. “You did not,” she griped. “You let her drive this?”

I shrugged, turning back around and hearing our other girl, Finn, giggling. “She could reach the pedals.”

“She’s nine!”

“You let her dye her hair,” I pointed out as if that was worse. “Without consulting me, I might add. Whyyyy am I still married to you?”

“Revenge.” She twisted forward again, facing the track ahead and muttering, “Making me miserable brings you pleasure.”

I burst out into a laugh, leaned over, and hooked her pretty little neck, pulling her in. I pressed my lips to hers, unable to stop my mouth from moving to her cheekbone, nose, and over her glasses to her forehead. She loved to be kissed, and her eyelids fluttered closed as she turned to mush in my hand.

God, she was fun. Happy, unhappy, sad, and hot—I never stopped loving that she was in my life. Her strengths made me feel lucky to be a part of her, and her weaknesses brought out the best in me. I rose to every occasion with her like I never had with anyone else.

And after ten years, and two daughters and a son—and the immense joy we had making them—I knew without a doubt that it was all worth it.

I rubbed my thumb across her soft cheek, breathing in her hair. “Love you.”

“Waiting…” Indie Jones Grayson groaned, answering before her mother could.

I chuckled and pulled away. “Everyone buckled in?”