Bound by shadows: A Love Against All Odds (Bloodthirsty series)

Epilogue: The Shadow of a New Threat

Six months later

The sprawling mansion in Malibu offers a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean, where the sun dips low, casting a golden hue over the waves. I stand on the balcony, my hand resting gently on my growing belly. Lupé and I have built a life of love and security here, far from the chaos of our past. Inside, our children's laughter echoes through the halls, a comforting reminder of how far we've come.

But today, that sense of peace feels fragile.

My phone buzzes on the marble counter beside me. It's a message from an old colleague at the FBI, someone I haven't heard from in months. A frown creases my brow as I open the text, reading the words that make my heart skip a beat:

"We have a problem. It's bigger than anything we've faced before."

My breath catches in my throat. The urgency in the message is unmistakable. My fingers tremble as I start to type a quick response, asking for more details. But before I can hit send, another message comes through:

"They're coming for him. And they know where you are."

A cold wave of fear washes over me. I instinctively wrap my arms around my belly, as if to shield my unborn child from the invisible threat. My mind races, connecting fragments of intel, past encounters, and the vague, unsettling rumors I had dismissed in recent months.

There's a new player in the game. Someone more ruthless, more dangerous than anyone we've faced before. And now, that enemy is closing in on the one person I can't afford to lose.

My gaze sweeps over the ocean, but instead of its usual tranquility, all I see is the looming shadow of what's to come. I can almost feel the danger approaching, creeping closer with each passing second.

The sound of the front door opening breaks me from my thoughts. Lupé's voice carries up the stairs, playful and full of warmth as he talks to our children. I force myself to smile, hiding the fear that gnaws at my insides. I can't let them see my worry, not yet.

But I know that this peace—this beautiful life we've fought so hard to build—is about to be shattered. Our enemies have found us. And this time, they won't stop until they've torn everything apart.

As Lupé walks onto the balcony, wrapping his arms around me from behind, I lean into him, savoring the moment, even as my mind races with what I need to do next.

"Everything okay?" he asks, sensing my tension.

I hesitate, then nod. "For now."

But deep down, I know that our hardest battle is yet to come.

And as the sun dips below the horizon, casting long shadows over the mansion, I whisper a silent vow: we will face this new threat together, no matter the cost.

But the darkness is closing in, and this time, we might not emerge unscathed.