Page 137 of Viking

“Welcome home, guys!” She beams, offering her beautiful smile to Townsend, then Dalton, then Wells. She hesitates like she isn’t sure if she should hug them but she decides better of it and throws her arms around each of the men.

“Townsend,” I begin, “everything good to go?”

“Yeah,” he answers with a slight grin. “Looking forward to some leave?”

I can’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, some time off sounds pretty good right about now.” Lila locks her arms around my waist, tightly side-hugging me. I don’t stop the smile that spreads across my face and drop a kiss in her hair.

Dalton gives a weary but genuine smile. None of us has slept more than the minimum required hours since the mission ended a few days ago. “Definitely. I’d say we earned it.” His eyes flicker toward Lila, and for a moment, I see something else in them, like he’s glad to see me with her.

She smiles brightly at Dalton, then untangles herself from me. Lila lets her fingers trail down my arm, lacing her fingers with mine. It’s the natural way she touches me, her effortless need to keep us connected. “You know,” she starts, bumping shoulders with him. “Ivy was asking about you the other day.”

He levels her with a look. “Don’t mess with me. She’s beautiful. And is so out of my league.”

She taps her finger to her chin, pretending to consider this. “If only I knew someone who could put in a good word.” She winks.

Wells steps forward, his easygoing energy only slightly off. “Everett’s right, she’s definitely out of his league,” he says, grinning as he claps his hand on Dalton’s shoulder. Then he turns to Townsend and me. “I’m thinking I might actually get some sleep for once, if I’m lucky.”

I glance at Lila, her hand still resting in mine. I can almost taste the freedom that comes with time off, and it feels damn good.

Dalton is right. We’ve earned it.

I turn back to the guys and Townsend speaks up. “Alright, we’re cleared for departure. You guys ready to get the hell out of here?”

I give him a sharp nod, the grin back on his face. “Absolutely.”

Wells and Dalton both nod, their voices a little more relaxed now and we walk back into the sunlight. There’s a sense of relief in the air, like the weight of the mission is finally starting to lift.

But seriously, I love you, brother.

I look up, taking a deep breath and nodding toward the sky.

See you on the other side, brother.

I press my free hand against the ache in my chest.

Pulling Lila against my side, I squeeze her shoulder, needing her to understand the weight of what I’m about to say next.

I want this. Her, with me, forever.

I want our home. Our life. The quiet mornings. The late-night talks.

The arduous moments that test us and remind us we belong together, and the light ones that make every test worthwhile.

I want her as my wife. The mother of my children. The woman I come home to after every mission and every deployment. Every time I climb in and out of that cockpit.

“Let’s go home,” I say.

Epilogue—Three Months Later

Hampton, Virginia

March 1, 2025

10:46 a.m.

Lila

March mornings in Virginia are crisp, the kind that remind you winter isn’t quite ready to let go but hints at the promise of spring. Logan insisted we go for a morning walk today, something we’ve been doing often since moving into his house. Our house.