Page 130 of Sing For Us

Ten minutes later, we walk out the front door.

The spring air hits my face, crisp and smelling of florals, and I immediately think of Anita. Knowing she saw us.

I got your son, Anita.

We owe Noa’s mama everything. She figured out where Dario’s hiding spots were and told my parents to take Dario down. My baba probably forgot about the contents of the burned letters and everything they discussed because of his brain tumor. I’m just happy that I can look at my father’s notes in a different light right now.

As we step out of Marijin Kutak, I look back once. I feel an overwhelming swell of pride tightening in my chest. Dario spent his entire life building an empire based on fear, believing he was a god. But the family we built out of blood and loyalty—dismantled him. He never anticipated me falling in love with his son.

The drive back to Noa’s house is quiet, the tension quickly draining out of the car. When we finally pull into the driveway, the heavy weight that has hung over us for months is entirely gone. We walk out to the back patio, the mid-morning sun warming the stone tiles. Adam sinks into a lounge chair, pulling Sara down so she sits next to him. When Hana and Josh are done congratulating us, they also slump down on the comfortable couches. I sit next to Noa and place my head on his chest.

He is safe. We are safe.

I look at Noa, really look at him, and my heart aches with a fierce, all-consuming love. The hollow look that haunted him for the past few months has vanished. In its place is a profound, quiet peace. He deserves to feel tranquillity. Dario tried to break him, tried to teach him that love was a fatal flaw, but watching Noa lean back and take a deep breath of the fresh spring air is the ultimate victory.

His embrace is warm and profound. I’m overwhelmed by how proud I am of what we’ve accomplished. And how deeply I love the man sitting next to me.

We killed Dario. We survived him. We outgrew him.

“So, what’s next for you, Lana?” Oliver asks me as he puts one arm around Josh and one around Hana. I’m praying that Noa is oblivious to what he’s doing.

“If Noa is willing to have–”

“Yes. You’ll be living here and working with our team. We’ll of course work with yours as well. No questions needed.” He interrupts me for the sweetest reason, and I start giggling. So does the rest of our friend group. Smiling has a different meaning now, more profound. Honest.

“I’ll have Senad lead my estate when I’m not there. I want to thank you all for everything. I mean it.”

“Are you turning into a sap? How sweet.” Oliver jokes with me, and I roll my eyes in response. I give him the middle finger, and he blows me a kiss.

“You need to watch out with your flirting; Noa’s sitting right there,” Josh warns him. Instead of apologizing, Oliver blows a kiss in Noa’s direction as well. We all break out in a laughing fit, and when we calm down, I want to cry. This is what life’s all about.

But I’m also bone-tired.

“I think it’s time that we all leave and sleep for six fucking days straight.” Can Adam read minds? As he’s standing up, he’s silently ordering everyone to head out. They follow his cue, and we start saying goodbye to each other.

Sara and Hana hug me at the same time and I struck the jackpot a hundred times over to be in company with these women.

“We’ll see each other in a couple of days. Good?” Hana asks, and I nod at her.

Sara whispers something in my ear before she leaves. “You two are perfect for each other.”

I let go of her and look at Noa, who’s saying goodbye to the rest.

I exhale. “We are. I’ll call you.”

Once they’ve left, I run into Noa’s arms, and he picks me up before setting me down again.

“You are the most extraordinary woman I know, little hummingbird. I couldn’t have done this without you.” He’s so cute, but I have to correct him.

“You could have; I just didn’t let you. I love you, Noa, more than words will ever be able to describe.”

“You are my heart and soul, and I’ll take care of us for the rest of our lives.”

I wink at him and place my hands on his chest. I decide that I should toy with him. “Are you asking me to marry you? Because that sounded like a proposal.”

“I didn’t think I needed to ask you?” he asks while the corners of his mouth curl upward. I softly slap his chest, and he feigns stumbling backward. Without the weight of Dario and all the uncertainty, Noa seems so light and free.

“We do have to do one more thing before we take a well-deserved nap,” I tell him. He furrows his brows as he has no idea what I’m talking about.