Hero (Alpha Mountain 1)

“Absolutely.” I pulled out the topo map Brandon had given me and pointed to the approximate location of the body.

When the sheriff was finished with me, I walked over to Taft, Kennedy, and Gram. Gram didn’t appear shaken at all. That woman was made of steel. “Good work, Ford. I knew you’d get them all down safely. I’m proud of you. Of all of you.”

I stooped to kiss the top of her head. “I love you, Gram.”

“I looped in Lincoln while you all were gone,” Taft reported. “Kennedy already sent him a copy of the video with a tag to Navy MP. It’ll be a fucking nightmare for them, but Buck should be cleared of the murder charge shortly.” He frowned. “Not sure if the drug allegations will remain. Kennedy hasn’t been able to identify the mystery CO in the video. Yet,” he added, confident we’d get it resolved.

I nodded. While we may have cleared Buck of the murder charge, I didn't consider this case resolved. We still had to unearth who was behind the drug trafficking operation and how far up the chain of command it went. Tully may have pulled the trigger in the video, but he wasn’t the mastermind. I also wanted to clear my name, not that I cared that much any longer. I didn’t give a shit what the Navy thought of me. On paper. I wasn't going back. My life was here in Sparks now. I had Gram, the Buchanans. The Alpha Mountain team was growing. Most importantly, I had Indi.

Speaking of which…

I caught her eye and made my way to her side. An EMT was asking if she needed to be checked out at the hospital.

“Maybe you should, Blue.” I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her up against my body.

Her fingers touched her neck and anger set back in. Someone had touched my woman. “No, I’m okay. I just want to go home.”

She was okay. Perfect. The bruises would fade. If she had nightmares, I’d be there to hold her. Buck could finally rest in peace, and the Buchanans could grieve for their son, the man they’d truly known him to be. And move forward with his untainted memory.

“Okay.” I led her away from the others. “May I come, too?” I asked tentatively. While I’d held the shit out of her up on the mountain, we were back in town. Our problems–no, my fuck up–hadn’t washed down a swollen creek.

“Yes.” Her laugh sounded relieved. “Definitely, yes.”

“Good,” I rumbled. “Because I have no intention of ever letting you out of my sight again.”

She stopped and turned in my arms to face me, her hands sliding up to my chest. I loved her touch. So did my dick although it wasn’t the best time for him to perk up and show her. “I don’t think that’s going to work so well, Ford.” Her tone was light and teasing.

“No?” I arched a brow. “Are you opposed to moving in with me in the cabin I’m having built? Maybe joining our team as a wilderness training expert? Soon it’s going to be more than the four of us.”

Her eyes shone as she looked up at me. “Hmm. That does sound enticing. Would you believe Brandon turned down my offer to buy the business after he found out I was dating you?”

That asshole. But I focused not on the loser but on the rest of Indi’s words.

“Dating? Is that what we’re doing?”

“Um…” She rubbed her lips together. “What are we doing?”

“We’re moving in together, woman. Or…is marriage on the table? Dammit, Blue, you’re mine, and I want everyone to know. So whatever that is, that’s what we’re doing.”

Indi’s laugh was low and sultry. She pulled my face down to hers. “That sounds good to me, Ford. All of those things.”

I kissed her hard then broke away and blinked. “Did you just agree to marry me?”

She was dusty and dirty but the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. “Yes? I mean, yes. Definitely. It’s always been you, Ford. You were my hero from the day you moved to Sparks. And you still are.” She lifted her lips to mine for another kiss.

This time, I went slowly. I moved my lips across hers, savoring the sweetness of the moment. Of her safety. Of having her. Of clearing Buck’s name.

When I’d returned to Sparks, I’d never dreamed things would end up like this.

I’d been pissed off and determined and willing to dig in for a long fight. But I’d also been hardened emotionally, and I’d backed away from the Buchanans because my own shame, and my grief made it too painful to see them.

Now, through Indi, I’d plowed through obstacles. Wounds were healing, old and new ones. And I experienced a lightness in my chest I didn’t expect to ever feel again. It resembled hope. Love. A future.