Chapter 20 - Eternal Peace
By dawn,
the police lights had faded,
leaving the forest quiet once more.
The intruders had been hauled away in federal vans,
the final remnants of Daniel Carter's criminal syndicate permanently eradicated from the earth.
Daniel walked back upstairs into the master bedroom,
where Claire stood holding their daughter by the window,
watching the morning mist rise off the pine trees.
He wrapped his arms around both of them,
burying his face in Claire's hair as a deep,
lasting sigh of relief escaped his lips.
"It is really over this time,"
Daniel whispered softly.
Claire leaned back against his chest,
her hands resting over his,
feeling the warmth and safety she had fought so hard to secure.
"I know,"
she whispered back,
smiling as the morning sun warmed their faces.
They had walked through fire,
betrayal,
and war,
yet they had emerged on the other side stronger,
united,
and truly free.
The past was finally buried beneath the mountains,
and their future stretched out before them,
brilliant,
May you like
peaceful,
and entirely their own.
