Page 196 of Ronan

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“Ronan Pierce,” she says, smiling slow and sure. “You’re stuck with me.”

“Good,” I reply, pulling her back into my arms. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

We kiss again—deeper this time, laughter and heat and love woven together—while the ocean keeps its watch outside and the future finally, finally opens in front of us.

For the first time in years—

Everything is exactly where it belongs.

One Week Later

Ronan

The coffee is terrible.

I drink it anyway.

Lena sits across from me at the small café overlooking the harbor, sunlight catching in her hair, ring flashing every time she lifts her cup. She’s scrolling through her tablet, relaxed in a way I’ve never seen her before.

Not alert.

Not tracking.

Justhere.

“You know,” she says without looking up, “we probably should talk about a date.”

I arch a brow. “You proposing logistics now?”

She finally looks up, smiling. “I like plans.”

“I like results,” I counter.

She laughs, and the sound does something permanent to my chest.

I reach across the table and lace my fingers through hers, grounding myself in the warmth, the reality of this moment. No enemies. No clocks. No blood on my hands.

Just us.

“You good?” she asks quietly.

I nod. “Better than good.”

Because for the first time in my life, I’m not wondering what I’ll lose next.

I’m thinking about what we’ll build.

Lena

The wind off the cliffs smells like salt and wildflowers.

Ronan waits for me at the end of the aisle, dressed in dark blue instead of black, eyes steady, soft in a way only I get to see. When I reach him, he takes my hands like this is the only place he’s ever meant to stand.

“You ready?” he whispers.

“I’ve been ready,” I tell him.

When we sayI do, it isn’t loud. It isn’t dramatic.

It’s certain.

Later, when the sun dips low and the music fades into laughter, Ronan presses his forehead to mine and murmurs, “I still can’t believe you said yes.”

I smile. “I can.”

Because loving him was never the risk.

Losing him would have been.

THE END

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