Page 109 of Lord of Vengeance

“We were so worried about you,” Steven said.

“Are you okay?” Damon asked as he moved to walk around the table. I could tell what he was thinking. This was tough for both of us.

“I’m fine. However, I have some news and I wanted all three of you to hear it from me first.” I glanced at Kathleen, wondering if any moments in our friendship had been real or all nothing but lies. To find out she was on the list Constantine had provided had nearly driven me into depression. How had I not known she was having a love affair with one of my deputies?

When I held up my hand showing off the ring, she squealed and raced toward me. When I put the same hand out to stop her, the immediate look of concern in her eyes was a slight admittance of her involvement.

“Not so fast. I’m curious when you were going to tell me that you two were sleeping together.” I shifted my gaze from my former friend to Steven, shaking my head as I did so.

The two of them looked at each other, both remaining silent.

“What are you talking about?” Kathleen finally asked.

I’d talked with Damon, letting him know he’d be taking over as the temporary sheriff until things settled down but that I wanted him to have the permanent job.

“I think you know exactly what I’m talking about. You killed Brandy, Steven, and you covered it up, Kathleen. I honestly don’t know what to say at this point. I’m not certain which is worse. The fact you both betrayed me for years or that you tried to implicate Damon because he was getting too close. Either way, it doesn’t matter any longer. Steven Jameson and Kathleen Simpson, you’re both under arrest for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence, and an entire list of other atrocities. I will see to it that both of you land in prison where you’ll remain for a very long time. I hope it was worth it.”

“You can’t do this!” Steven insisted.

“Oh, I can and I will. Because I have the law behind me.”

There was no need to lament over spilled milk, something my mother used to say. It was time to shut the door on the past, enjoying what I never believed I would have.

A family.

A man who adored me.

A soon to be brother- and sister-in-law.

And maybe one day we’d have children.

EPILOGUE

Diego

There was nothing like a California sunset. I had to admit that. It was more special now that I had a beautiful woman in my life.

I felt blessed, lucky. They were two things I never anticipated feeling nor believed I deserved.

As I walked out onto the deck, I took a deep breath, studying the woman I would be marrying soon intently. She’d gone through hell and back several times, the amount of work she’d done after retiring from her position weeks before inspiring.

It would certainly put some bad men behind bars for a long time. In return, the residents of Sitka were no longer fearful of losing more of their good people to an unwanted drug. We’d also pulled out of the area, removing drugs from our repertoire entirely. We didn’t need the money or the trouble providing them to our wealthy clients would bring.

I walked down the stairs, shoving my hands into my pockets as soon as my bare feet hit the sand. There was something very special about the quiet surrender to peace the ocean brought to both of us. While she was strong, I sensed her continued anxiety and sadness, something I couldn’t take away from her and it burned me inside.

We’d managed to locate a few additional members of the Death Squad, the Brotherhood members providing very special warnings to stay clear of us. We would see how that went. For now, all was quiet.

As I moved behind her, she tensed from the onslaught of electricity. When I brushed her long strands of hair from her shoulders, she exhaled and the sound was exaggerated, loud enough to be heard over the gently rolling waves hitting the shoreline.

I lowered my head, pressing my lips against her heated skin as I wrapped my arms around her.

“It’s beautiful here.”

“Not nearly as beautiful as you are.” I dragged my tongue down the side of her neck and she shivered in my hold. The woman was my everything.

The feel of having her in my arms, the lightness of her aura was enough to slay the dragon in me. That had never been done before. Maybe it was all about her goodness, an innocence that couldn’t be faked, but if that was the case, I’d just shattered her world along with mine.

She tasted of sweet cherries, succulent and ripe, and her scent lingered, swirling through my system. I was incapable of pulling away from her, still worried about what could happen in the future. I could be forced to drag her somewhere safe if I wanted to keep her.

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