Page 120 of Whispers in the Night

“No cases. No complications. I’m done with all that.” Dax drained his glass. “Speaking of which, I need to get back to work tomorrow. Got a suspicious death that’s looking less suspicious and more deliberate by the hour.”

Harper’s profiler instincts kicked in. “What kind of case?”

“Real estate developer. Ruled suicide, but evidence doesn’t track. And his business partner’s been dodging questions.” Daxshook his head. “Something’s off about the whole thing. But that’s tomorrow’s problem.”

“You’re not actually leaving early, are you?” Silas asked, appearing with fresh drinks.

“Thinking about it.”

“Stay,” Harper said. “Dance with someone. Enjoy yourself. The case will still be there tomorrow.”

Dax looked like he was about to argue, then sighed. “Fine. One more hour. But if anyone tries to set me up with their cousin or whatever, I’m leaving.”

“Deal,” Harper said, grinning.

As Dax stalked off toward the bar, Nora laughed. “He’s so grumpy. Who’s going to be brave enough to crack that shell?”

“Someone with a lot of patience,” Carson said. “Or someone who doesn’t take no for an answer.”

“Speaking of not taking no for an answer,” Silas said, pulling Harper onto the dance floor. “I believe I owe my wife another dance.”

“Wife,” Harper repeated, testing the word. “I like the sound of that.”

“Me too.” He held out his hands and when she slipped hers into them, he pulled her to her feet and whisked her away.

They danced through several more songs, surrounded by friends and colleagues who’d become family. The Blackridge squad trading stories about cases. Harper’s FBI colleagues sharing embarrassing academy stories. Everyone celebrating not just a wedding, but the found family they’d all built together.

Finally, as the reception wound down and guests started to leave, Silas and Harper said their goodbyes. Holloway hugged them both and told them he was proud. Morris made another inappropriate joke about their honeymoon. Dax had disappeared at some point—probably back to his case.

Carson and Nora were among the last to leave.

“Congratulations,” Nora said, hugging Harper. “You two are perfect together.”

“Thanks for paving the way,” Harper said with a smile. “You and Carson showed us it was possible to survive the chaos and find something good.”

“Just wait,” Carson said. “The first year is the easy part.”

“Thanks for the encouragement,” Silas said dryly.

They watched their friends leave, then walked hand in hand to Silas’s truck—decorated with “Just Married” signs courtesy of the detective squad.

“Ready to go?” Silas asked, opening her door.

“Where are we going again?” she asked as he helped her inside.

“It’s a surprise. But I promise you’ll love it.”

“The coast?”

He grinned as he prepared to close the door. “Maybe. You’ll have to wait and see.”

They drove out of the city as the sun set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Harper leaned her head on Silas’s shoulder, watching the scenery pass, feeling utterly content.

“Thank you,” she said after a while.

“For what?”

“For…everything. For making me believe I could have this.”