Chapter 9 - The Woman He Never Expected to LoveSix months later, the Hayes empire no longer looked like an empire.
Several properties had been sold.
Illegal businesses were closed.
Money was returned.
Former employees were interviewed.
Desmond cooperated with federal investigators for weeks.
Some people called him a traitor.
Others called him a hero.
He didn't care.
For the first time, he lived without looking over his shoulder.
Or almost.
Norah had left the assistant's position.
Desmond had offered her a partnership.
She refused.
Then he offered again.
She accepted.
Together they opened a legitimate logistics company.
Small.
Independent.
No hidden accounts.
No secret rooms.
No armed guards.
Just trucks.
Warehouses.
Contracts.
And coffee.
Lots of coffee.
One afternoon, Desmond found Norah standing beside a warehouse window.
“You're thinking too loudly.”
She smiled.
“I don't know what that means.”
“It means you've been staring at the same truck for ten minutes.”
“I was thinking about Arthur.”
Desmond came beside her.
“Me too.”
“I found something in the old files.”
“What?”
“A letter.”
“For you?”
“No.”
She handed it to him.
The handwriting was Arthur's.
Desmond opened it.
If Desmond ever makes it out of this life, remind him that survival isn't the same as living.
Desmond smiled.
“He knew.”
“He knew you.”
“He really did.”
Norah leaned against the window.
“You miss him.”
“Every day.”
She took his hand.
“So do I.”
Desmond looked at her.
“Norah.”
“Yes?”
“I have something to ask you.”
Her expression changed.
“What?”
He reached into his pocket.
Not a ring.
A small key.
“To what?”
“My house.”
She laughed.
“I thought you said you were done with secrets.”
“I am.”
“Then why a key?”
“Because I want you to have one.”
She looked down at it.
“You're not proposing.”
“No.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Good.”
He laughed.
“I was going to ask you to dinner.”
“Oh.”
“Unless you'd rather marry me.”
Norah stared at him.
Then laughed.
“You are terrible at this.”
“I know.”
“You nearly got me killed.”
“I know.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You have more enemies than anyone I know.”
“Working on that.”
“And now you're asking me to dinner?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Okay.”
They walked outside.
The sun was setting over the warehouse roofs.
No rain.
No gunshots.
No sirens.
No wedding.
Just two people who had survived the worst thing either had ever known.
Three months later, Desmond took Norah to the place where Arthur's car had crashed.
They stood beside the repaired barrier.
Flowers had been placed there.
Desmond looked at the road.
“I used to think this place was where my life ended.”
Norah slipped her hand into his.
“And now?”
He looked at her.
“Now I think it was where the old life ended.”
She smiled.
He reached into his coat.
This time he did have a ring.
A simple one.
No diamond large enough to make headlines.
No family crest.
No hidden tracking device.
Nothing except a small inscription.
Norah read it.
Choose me.
Her eyes filled.
“Desmond…”
“I don't have a perfect promise.”
“Good.”
“I can't promise there won't be danger.”
“That's okay.”
“I can't promise I'll never be afraid.”
“Neither can I.”
“I can promise one thing.”
“What?”
“I'll never make you wonder whether you're on my side.”
She smiled through tears.
“Yes.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
For the first time, Desmond Hayes cried in front of someone.
He didn't hide it.
He didn't apologize.
He simply held her.
And somewhere beyond the road, the sun disappeared beneath the horizon.
May you like
The past was still there.
But it no longer owned them.
