Page 135 of Ace of Spades

I make myself walk toward him, one step at a time, the sound of my boots like gunshots against the wood floor.

"You’re not who I expected to see," I say, voice cool even though my whole body’s about to catch fire.

He smiles, slow and rough. The kind of smile that used to tear me apart.

"Maybe I should start with the important stuff," he says, standing as I get closer.

"I have full custody of Josie now. Official. Finalized."

I blink. My chest aches so fast and sharp I almost double over.

"Levi..." I breathe.

He nods. "She’s doing good. Thriving. Happy."

He steps closer.

"I worked on myself. Therapy. Groups. Even got myself a stupid goat," he says, voice rough with humor. "Josie named him Theo 2. Little bastard keeps eating my shirts."

I snort before I can help it, covering my mouth with my hand.

He grins wider, then sobers.

"I’m moving back into the house," he says, voice quieter now. "Carter got a job offer up north. It’s just me and Josie now. And we’re ready to come home to Breaker's."

He lets the words hang there.

Heavy. Hopeful.

"If you’ll have us," he adds, voice cracking just a little.

Silence stretches between us, thick with everything we lost and everything we could still have.

I cross the final distance to him, standing toe to toe.

"You really think you get to just come back here," I say, tilting my head. "No conditions?"

He lifts a brow. "Name it, Captain."

I lean in, so close I can feel his breath on my lips.

"Only under one condition," I whisper.

He stiffens.

"You have to be my first mate."

The smile that breaks across his face could light up the whole island.

"Always was, Angel," he says, voice rough with emotion.

And then I grab the front of his hoodie and yank him down into a kiss that tastes like every dream I never dared to hope for.

He groans low in his chest, his hands coming up to cup my face, my waist, my everything, like he’s trying to make sure I’m real.

We stumble back toward the poker table, never breaking apart.

He lifts me onto it like I weigh nothing. Spreads me out like a winning hand.

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