Page 149 of Mile High Secret Babies

“I love you, Cassian. I promise to stop running from what scares me. To build this life with you and trust that we’re stronger together than apart. To give our sons the family they deserve with both parents who love them and each other.”

The officiant pronounces us married, and Cassian kisses me before she even finishes speaking, pulling me close and kissing me like we’re not standing in front of a hundred witnesses.

Applause erupts. The boys are cheering, Finn louder than everyone else combined. When we finally break apart, Cassian’s grinning, and I’m laughing, and everything feels right in ways it never has before.

We walk back down the aisle together as husband and wife, cheered on by families who were once enemies and are now bound by alliance and marriage. By friends who’ve watched us fight our way to this moment.

Julian catches my eye and nods once, approval and pride clear on his face.

Nadia’s openly crying, which makes me cry more.

The reception follows immediately, turning the sitting room into a celebration space with music, food, and champagne flowing freely. The boys attach themselves to Cassian’s legs and refuse to let go, both of them talking over each other about how cool the wedding was and if they can have cake now.

“In a minute,” Cassian tells them, ruffling Finn’s hair while Liam tries to climb up his leg like a tree. “First, we have to talk to people and thank them for coming.”

“But I’m hungry now,” Finn whines.

“Then go eat the appetizers. But save room for cake.”

They run off toward the food table, and Cassian wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me against his side. “We did it,” he says.

“We did.”

“Any regrets?”

“Not a single one.”

Representatives from various families approach throughout the evening to offer congratulations and thinly veiled assessments of what this alliance means for territory agreements andbusiness relationships. Cassian handles them with smooth professionalism while I smile and nod and let him do the talking.

Julian makes a toast halfway through the reception. “To my sister and her husband,” he says, raising his glass. “To the alliance between the Vance and Rourke families. And to proving that even old enemies can become family when love and respect override territorial bullshit.”

Everyone drinks to that, laughter rippling through the crowd.

Later, when most of the guests have left and the boys are running around the yard with other children who came with their parents, Cassian pulls me onto the makeshift dance floor.

“I don’t remember requesting this song,” I say as slow music plays.

“I did. When you were busy talking to the Italian underboss.”

“You planned a surprise song at our own wedding?”

“I wanted one dance that was just us. No politics, no alliance symbolism. Just my wife and me.”

My wife.The words settle warm in my chest.

We sway together while the music plays, and I rest my head against his shoulder, breathing in his cologne and the faint smell of whiskey from the toast. Around us, people are talking and laughing and celebrating, but we’re in our own world.

“Thank you,” I say quietly. “For fighting for us. For this family.”

“Thank you for letting me in. For giving me a chance even when you had every reason not to.”

I tilt my head up and kiss him, soft and slow, not caring who’s watching.

When we break apart, Finn and Liam are standing at the edge of the dance floor, watching us with identical grins.

“Are you done being mushy?” Finn asks. “Because Nadia says we can cut the cake now.”

Cassian laughs and releases me, but keeps hold of my hand as we follow the boys toward where Nadia has indeed brought out the wedding cake.

I look around at our families mingling and celebrating together, at Julian and Declan actually having a civil conversation by the bar, at my sons covered in frosting but happy and safe and loved.

This is what we fought for. What we survived for. A family built from violence and lies and years of secrets, but a family nonetheless.

The End.