Christmas Eve arrived wrapped in fresh snow.
The house overlooking the Hudson River glowed with warm lights.
Inside, the fireplace crackled softly while Atlas slept beneath the Christmas tree, surrounded by gifts she had already tried to unwrap.
Emily laughed.
"I think someone believes every present is for her."
Victoria smiled.
"She's probably right."
For the first time in many years, Christmas felt like home.
No fear.
No bodyguards.
No secrets.
Only family.
Gabriel arrived first, carrying a homemade apple pie.
"I baked it myself," he announced proudly.
Emily raised an eyebrow.
"Should we be worried?"
Father Michael entered behind him, laughing.
"I made a second one."
"Just in case."
The room filled with laughter.
Walker arrived a little later, carrying a bottle of sparkling cider.
"I figured someone had to bring something that wasn't burned."
Gabriel looked offended.
"My pie is excellent."
"We'll find out," Walker replied with a grin.
Dinner lasted for hours.
Stories were shared.
Old memories became lighter.
New memories were made.
Victoria looked around the table.
Just months earlier, some of these people had been strangers.
Now...
They were her family.
Later that evening, snow began to fall again.
Emily stepped outside onto the porch.
The river shimmered beneath the moonlight.
She smiled as she heard the front door open behind her.
Victoria joined her, wrapping a blanket around both of them.
"It's beautiful," Emily whispered.
Victoria nodded.
"It is."
For a while, they simply watched the snow fall.
Then Victoria took a slow breath.
"There was a time when I believed I would always end up alone."
Emily turned toward her.
"And now?"
Victoria smiled.
"Now I can't imagine a single day without you."
Emily's eyes softened.
"You'll never have to."
Victoria reached into her coat pocket.
Her heart pounded.
She had faced assassins.
She had negotiated with criminals.
None of those moments had frightened her as much as this one.
She slowly knelt in the snow.
Emily stared in surprise.
"Victoria..."
Victoria opened a small velvet box.
Inside was the platinum ring.
Simple.
Elegant.
Perfect.
"I spent years believing love made people weak."
She looked into Emily's eyes.
"You showed me that love is the greatest strength I've ever known."
A tear rolled down Emily's cheek.
"You gave me a home."
"You gave me hope."
"You gave me a future."
Victoria smiled through tears of her own.
"Emily Carter..."
"Will you marry me?"
For a heartbeat, the world stood still.
Emily laughed softly through her tears.
"You actually made me speechless."
Victoria smiled nervously.
"I'll take that as a bad sign."
Emily immediately shook her head.
"No."
She gently cupped Victoria's face in her hands.
"It's the best moment of my life."
She kissed Victoria with all the love they had built through every danger they had survived together.
When they finally pulled apart, Emily whispered the one word Victoria had been longing to hear.
"Yes."
Victoria slipped the ring onto Emily's finger.
It fit perfectly.
Behind them, the front door suddenly opened.
Atlas ran outside first, barking happily.
Gabriel, Walker and Father Michael followed.
Gabriel looked from Emily to Victoria, then noticed the ring.
"No way..."
Emily held up her hand.
"We're engaged."
Before anyone could say another word, Gabriel threw his arms around both of them.
Walker smiled broadly.
"I've waited a long time to see a happy ending."
Father Michael quietly wiped away a tear.
"No," he said gently.
"This isn't the ending."
He looked at the two women standing together in the falling snow.
"It's the beginning of the rest of your lives."
Above them, snow continued to fall over the Hudson River.
For the first time since fate had brought an FBI agent and a mafia boss together...
Their future belonged not to the past—
but to each other.