Carmela nodded down the road. "I told her to wait for us by your SUV with Sam. Now, can we get out of here? Rosa doesn't like cemeteries."

Rosa or Carmela? "Cemeteries are sad, not scary."

"Whatever. Can we go?"

Silver had no right to do this to her, dammit. He was trying to run her life, trying to "fix" her.

"It's okay. Don't feel bad." Carmela's gaze was on Kerry's face. "Mr. Silver was wrong, wasn't he? You don't want us."

"I didn't say that."

"Because you feel sorry for us." She lifted her chin. "Well, you don't have to do that. We'll get along just fine."

Pride, fear, and resilience were all there in her expression.

And the dawning of life and rebirth.

"Silver wasn't wrong." She took Carmela's arm and started toward the car. "I do need you. I'm a lousy housekeeper and I'll work you to the bone. And Sam will drive you crazy. You have no idea how messy he can be." Her pace quickened as she saw Rosa. "And I have a yard that I've neglected terribly. I want to plant something wonderful. How are you and Rosa at gardening?"

EPILOGUE.

OAKBROOK.

ELEVEN MONTHS LATER.

It's about time you got here." George's face lit with a smile as he opened wide the front door. "I was about to bail. Brad's been as mean as a lion with a thorn in his paw."

"So what's new?" She stood there smiling at him. "Brace yourself. I'm going to do something that will offend your sensibilities." She took a step closer and gave him a quick hug.

He sighed. "Some people never learn to strike the correct balance."

"I didn't say good-bye. So I said hello. That's the correct balance. I wasn't sure you'd still be here, George."

"Why not? I never leave a job unfinished. It's terribly untidy."

"I thought you considered this job finished."

He shook his head. "But I think it may be heading in that direction. How is our Carmela?"

"Fine. She and Rosa are both in school and doing well. I don't know what I would have done without them. There's nothing like teenagers to keep you from dwelling on the past. They always live in the present."

"That's what Silver intended when he sent them to you."

"I know." She looked past him at the library door.

He was there. She could feel him.

And soon she would see him, touch him.

"I believe I'm de trop," George said. "Did you bring luggage?"

"Just Sam." She was already on her way down the hall. "Would you get him out of the car?"

"My pleasure. I haven't been trampled or slurped in months."

She paused outside the library door. Stupid to be this scared. She knew what waited for her in that room.

She opened the door.

"Good God, it took you long enough." Silver scowled as he turned away from the window. "If I wasn't as patient as Job, you'd be in big trouble."

She started to laugh. "Patient? You? Are you trying to tell me that you haven't been nudging me for the last three weeks?"

He was silent a moment. "Maybe a little. But you could have shut me out anytime."

"Yes, I could. And I should have done it. You've got to learn to let me make my own decisions. You're lucky I'd made up my mind before that."

He went still. "About what?"

"That I shouldn't let you intimidate me, that I can hold my own with you, and that there's no reason why I shouldn't take what I want."

"And what do you want?"

She smiled at him. "You tell me." She started across the room toward him. Jesus, she loved him. She loved every rough edge, every protective barrier, and that vulnerability he'd never show to anyone but her. "Come in and see for yourself."

He looked at her, and a slow smile lit his face. "Don't mind if I do."

Linked.

BOOKS BY IRIS JOHANSEN.

FIRESTORM.

FATAL TIDE.

DEAD AIM.

NO ONE TO TRUST.

BODY OF LIES.

FINAL TARGET.

THE SEARCH.

THE KILLING GAME.

THE FACE OF DECEPTION.

AND THEN YOU DIE.

LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT.

THE UGLY DUCKLING.

LION'S BRIDE.

DARK RIDER.

MIDNIGHT WARRIOR.

THE BELOVED SCOUNDREL.

THE MAGNIFICENT ROGUE.

THE TIGER PRINCE.

LAST BRIDGE HOME.

THE GOLDEN BARBARIAN.

REAP THE WIND.

STORM WINDS.

THE WIND DANCER.

end.