Sarah dropped the knife and sprinted into the hallway. A man stood in the doorway, silhouetted by golden sunset. Faded jeans. A simple gray T-shirt.
Worn boots. He looked tired, bruised, incredibly thin. But his green eyes were bright, shining with unshed tears. Mia dropped her wooden block.
She stared. Then a massive, radiant smile broke across her face. She ran across the floor and launched herself into the air. Thomas caught her, burying his face in her neck as he collapsed to his knees in the entryway, sobbing.
“I’m here, baby. Daddy’s here. I’m never leaving again. The bad men are gone.
”
Sarah walked slowly down the hall, tears streaming, hand over her mouth. Thomas looked up at her, still clutching Mia. He reached out his free hand, fingers trembling. “Are we safe?
” Sarah whispered, falling to her knees beside them. “We’re safe,” Thomas swore, pulling her into the embrace. The three of them held each other on the floor—a tangled mess of tears and overwhelming relief. “The empire is gone.
Alexander Caldwell is dead. It’s just Thomas now. Just us. ”
Sarah rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady, strong heartbeat she thought she had lost forever.
They had walked through hell. But finally, they were home.