Later, after Yara is tucked into bed, I join Morello on the back porch overlooking the moonlit yard.
Cicadas hum in the darkness, creating a soothing chorus.
"It's really over, isn't it?" I murmur.
Morello slides an arm around me, radiating strength and comfort. "It's over. You're free."
I nestle against him, wondering how I could ever repay the man who saved us from the shadows. And not just from one incredibly dangerous man with global reach, but two.
As if reading my mind, Morello tilts my chin up to look at him.
"This is about more than duty for me now," he says, his voice a low rumble. "You know that, right?"
Heart pounding, I nod. "I know."
Under the stars, we seal a silent promise for the future with a lingering kiss.
My lips tingle as we part, my pulse racing.
Morello's hand comes up to cradle my cheek, his touch impossibly gentle for a man of his formidable presence.
"I didn't know if this could be real," I admit in a hushed voice. "If we could have this."
Morello presses his forehead to mine. "It's real. I'm here, for as long as you'll have me."
Emotion swells in my chest. Just days ago, my world had consisted of nothing but fear and uncertainty.
Now here I sit, in the arms of this incredible man who had vowed to keep me and Yara safe.
I think of his tireless dedication, the way he'd shielded us without hesitation or complaint. The way he breached protocol and risked his own life multiple times in order to save ours.
He could have walked away after neutralizing the threat, could have moved on to the next case.
But he'd chosen to stay, to see us through to the other side.
And I realize then that he isn't just our protector anymore.
Somewhere along the way, he has become our family.
"Stay with us," I whisper. "Not just for now, but always."
Morello's eyes darken, relief and desire mingling. "Always," he echoes.
He draws me close once more beneath the boundless sky.
And though challenges still lie ahead on the road to our new life, in this perfect moment, there is only joy.
I gaze up at Morello, hardly believing this is real.
After everything we've endured, it still seems far too good to be true that I can feel this safe, this cared for.
Morello brushes his thumb over my cheek, his eyes searching mine. "What are you thinking?" he murmurs.
I lean into his touch. "That I don't want this moment to end," I admit.
His expression softens. "It's only the beginning for us," he promises.
Slowly, giving me time to pull away, he lowers his mouth to mine.