Nightfall (Devil's Night #4) - Penelope Douglas Page 0,248

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?”

“Check,” they chimed in.

“Helmets?”

“Check,” William II screamed over his sisters from the seat behind Em.

He was actually William IV, but I was Will, we didn’t like Willy, Bill, or Billy, so everyone just called him II.

“Hold onto your phones!” I called out, reaching for the button.

Pushing it, the hydraulics started working underneath us, propelling us forward, and in moments we were coasting through the tunnel passing thirty miles an hour and then forty.

“Faster!” Finn cried.

The car rocked under us, bobbing along the track as the cool wind breezed across our faces, and Em