Page 67 of The Veteran

“Did they find the money?” I asked, thinking back to what had started all of this.

“Yes,” Ronan said. “The headboard of Sage’s childhood bed had been hollowed out and the cash was stored inside. They’re going to check whether the serial numbers match what was stolen.”

“Huh. I wouldn’t have ever thought to look there.”

“Me neither,” Ronan said.

“Your free spirit is smart,” Zeke remarked. “Feisty too.” He shook his head, admiration gleaming in his eyes. “I wish I’d seen her nut Baker with the crystal wand.”

I grinned. “She’s pretty incredible.”

On the bed, Sage stirred. Willow turned toward us and shushed, raising a finger to her lips. I nodded and bent over Sage to drop a light kiss on her forehead.

“I love you,” I whispered.

27

SAGE

I regained consciousness slowly. After a while, I became aware of voices. I tried to latch onto their words but couldn’t make sense of them. The tones were familiar and reassuring though—one soft and sweet, the other rough and raspy. My eyelashes fluttered as I willed my eyes to open. At first, all I could see was white, but then details came into focus and I realized I was looking at a ceiling. I turned to the right and gazed into a pair of gorgeous brown eyes. Warmth filled me. I reached for Kade’s hand and he slipped it into mine.

“I love you,” I murmured, having a vague recollection that I’d already told him so before we arrived at the hospital.

He smiled, and it lit him from within. My heart gave a weak ka-thunk. “I love you too, sweetheart.”

“So do I,” the softer voice added.

I craned my neck further and spotted Willow sitting beside Kade, her expression a mixture of concern and relief.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

I closed my eyes for a moment and tested each of my limbs. Whatever painkillers they had me on must be potent because all I could feel of the wound on my upper arm was a dull burn.

I opened my eyes. “I feel grateful that things worked out all right.” I turned back to Kade. “I made a poor decision and I’m sorry I put both of us at risk like that.”

His lips pressed together. “We both made mistakes. We’re lucky we lived to learn from them.”

I sighed. “I should have known there was something suspicious about Mick reaching out to me like that. They must have gotten to him somehow.”

“Money,” Kade grumbled. “He was in debt and they promised him a share of the cash if they found it. When the police interrogated him, he said he’d tried to tell Getty and Baker that you wouldn’t be any help, but they were willing to share the money regardless of whether you led them to it or if they found it another way, so he couldn’t see any downside.”

“Asshole,” Willow hissed.

“He’s ill,” I said, managing with a bit of distance to find it in my heart to not feel as bitter toward Mick as I had before.

“I’m not forgiving him.” Willow’s gaze was flinty. “This is one time you can’t talk me into doing the forgiveness practice.”

I sighed. “Fair enough.” To be honest, I wasn’t sure I was ready for that myself yet. Understanding was one thing. Forgiveness, another. “So, what else has happened? Did they catch Getty?”

Kade nodded. “He found the money in the hollowed-out headboard of your old bed and was packing it into a duffel bag when the police arrived. They recaptured him and he’s been returned to prison.”

“Good.” I was all for second chances, but Richard Getty didn’t deserve a third. “Who ended up with the money?”

“The police. It’ll be held as evidence.”

I tried to swallow and noticed for the first time that my throat was dry. “Can I get a drink?”

“Sure.” Willow passed me a water bottle. I drank from it thirstily until the bottle was nearly empty, then passed it back.

---