Page 100 of Romeo

“The kind of crazy in love that has me wanting to walk away from everything I’ve ever known just so I don’t have to ever live another moment without you.”

I can’t fight the smile that graces my face as I lean down and press my lips to hers.It’s so much more than a kiss, though.It’s the breath in my lungs.The beat of my heart.And with every passing moment, my worries about where I fit into her life slip away.

Because they don’t matter.Whatever obstacles we face, we’ll face them together.

I may not have been looking for love, but it found me.

And I’ll never let it go.

“So what do you say, Mr.Hunt?What do you plan to do next?”she asks as I pull away and rest my forehead against hers.

“I told you when we first met,” I reply with a grin.“It’s my job to take you home.”

She laughs and wraps her arms around my neck.“You did tell me that you don’t fail.”

I nearly did.I’d come so close to losing her in that fire.Leaning down again, I kiss her gently then whisper, “I will spend my life erasing your pain, Jules.”

She rests her head against my chest.“I love you, Riley.”

“I love you too, Jules.”

Epilogue 1: Jules

Two weeks later.

Odie Sable Landers.

Seeing his name etched in cool stone still doesn’t make any of this feel real.Bending down, I lay a single yellow flower on top of the fresh mound of dirt.When he was young, yellow was his favorite color.

And even after everything, I’m struggling to see him as anything more than a scared child who’d just lost everything.

His actions led to the darkest moments of my life.Because of him, I suffered great pain—but he was still my brother.For a little while, at least.And I’m choosing to believe that there was at least a moment there when he loved me as his sister.

I turn to my right where his mom is buried, my dad beside her, my grandfather beside him.My mother is on the other side of my grandmother, who lies in eternal rest on my grandfather’s right side.

Every member of my family is here in the dirt, their names etched in marble.

Yet, I don’t feel alone.

Lord, thank You for the times I did get to share with my family.I pray that they are up with You now, saving me a seat at the table.Amen.

Riley stands at my side, Romeo sitting at his.He doesn’t make any sounds, just stands there, a wall of protection from the dozens of reporters who have been trying to get to me ever since the news about Glen Dodger broke.

The fallout is larger than I could have expected.The clinics Dodger ran overseas were raided, and over three dozen teen girls were rescued.

Three dozen.

My stomach churns just thinking about them.

Riley told me that Frank Loyotta, who runs a veteran-operated company called Find Me, is working to locate their families and get them the care they’ll need moving forward.It’s a win, and that’s what I have to remind myself, especially in those moments where the anger threatens to consume me.

It’s given me a new mission, though, and I signed up for college just this morning.I’ll be taking classes online to earn my bachelor’s degree in social work.That way, I can step up and help those who have been trafficked and are trying to find their footing again.

I want to make a difference.And now there’s no one telling me that I’m not good enough.

I glance over at Riley and smile.He’s already watching me and reaches out to take my hand in his.He tells me every day just how great I am.How strong I am.How God created me with His own hands.

And I’m starting to believe him.

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