Thanks to my team and all of you for being there every step of this journey.

EPOV

"One of my guys thought he saw someone matching his description about an hour ago in town," Mike tells me as we stand on the front porch of Bella's cabin. The flashing lights of the police and ambulance trucks outside disrupt the peaceful darkness usually surrounding the cabin, but it's a small annoyance compared to the reason they're here in the first place. "When the call came through to dispatchers from Bella's sister, we knew we had to get here as fast as we could."

I nod, reaching my hand out to shake his firmly with gratitude. "Thanks, man. We needed you out here tonight."

"Doesn't look like it," Mike chuckles, pointing towards Jasper in the back of the ambulance parked between the two cabins. "Bella did a fine job from what I can see."

Speaking of Bella, I watch from a distance as she gives her statements to another officer. I laugh, my shoulders shaking gently as I think back to the way my girl kicked some fucking ass earlier tonight. "She did, didn't she?"

Mike and I shake our heads on the porch, laughing like we're kids again. Eventually, I sigh when the weight of the night falls on my shoulders again. "What happens next?"

"We'll make a call back to Rhode Island," Mike replies. "Tell them everything that's happened here and compare it to everything they have there. You said her sister filed some reports back there against him?"

"Started to," I respond. "I'll give you her number so you can reach out to her. She'll be a great resource for you."

Mike nods. "Appreciate it. I'll have to take your surveillance tapes, too."

"Take what you need," I offer, my eye landing on Jasper just as the ambulance doors close him from the rest of us. "Him especially."

"We'll take him to the hospital first to be evaluated but he won't be moving far from the bars of his bed," Mike reassures me. He looks me over one last time before raising an eyebrow at my appearance. "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," I brush him off, ignoring the jab of my ribs. Jasper had managed to land a few heavy hits, taking advantage of the way his adrenaline and fierce determination to get to Bella had left me unbalanced, but I had one of the EMTs check me out earlier and declined any more intervention. At this moment, I see the officer talking to Bella step away from her and watch as she turns to look over the lake, her arms crossed as a chill snakes down her body. All my injuries will heal and I'll deal with them later. Right now, I know where I need to be. I place my hand on Mike's shoulder. "I'll call you tomorrow?"

"Absolutely, man. Glad everything worked out for you two."

I nod in appreciation, turning my back to him as I walk off the porch and over to Bella. She hears my footsteps on the gravel, turning to look over at me with a small smile before turning to stare back towards the lake. Without words, she lets me wrap her in my arms, her head resting against my chest as she closes her eyes and lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"We did it," she whispers hoarsely. Her eyes never open, and I'm suddenly aware she's dead on her feet. I shake my head.

"No," I whisper, scooping her into my arms and walking us over to my cabin. It remains untouched by the nightmare of tonight, and I want nothing more than to take her to bed so she can get the rest she deserves. "You did it."

She laughs softly against my chest, her sounds fading as her head touches my pillow. Moments later, the deep rise and fall of her body gives me the relief I need.

Finally, she's safe.

I wrap my arms around her when I slip into bed behind her, holding her to me without any intention of ever letting her go.

And they sleep.

See you tomorrow!