Page 91 of Stars and Scars

“All of my millions of followers just saw you confess your feelings for me. There’s no backing out now, buddy.”

He lets out a boisterous laugh, and then he kisses me. Truly, deeply, kisses me. We break apart and I bite my lower lip.

“Take me home, Gray. My real home.”

24

GRAYSON

The impending dawn glows on the horizon when we return to LA. I’m still sore from last night, but I’m not about to miss an opportunity to be with the woman I love. Finally, I have her all to myself, and there’s no one trying to kill her.

Charlotte has been texting with the Platinum Security crew most of the drive. She has burst into spontaneous laughter on several occasions, without explaining why. Now, though, she seems in a mood to share.

“Hawaii! That’s the winner.”

“What?” I’m at a complete loss.

“That’s where I’m going to send my parents for their anniversary. It got the most votes from my followers.”

“Ah, that’s great.” Just hours after a near death experience, Charlotte is already thinking about what she can do for others. She never ceases to amaze me.

“In other news, the police still want to talk to us,” she says. “But Jax worked things out with his buddy on the force and we can go in on Monday. That gives us the whole weekend.”

“Did they root out the rest of the cult?”

“Yes. Wyatt has several zealots he’s convinced to go along for the ride, but their loyalty has limits. They’re turning against him and testifying for the prosecution at Wyatt’s trial.”

She shakes her head. “Of all the things, I can’t believe that award I got set him off.”

“I think it was just the final straw, Charlotte. The fact is, Wyatt really has done a ton of hard drugs for a long, long time and that takes a heavy toll.”

“I don’t think you can blame this just on drugs.”

“Of course not, but given his jealous and narcissistic personality, the drugs may have exacerbated an existing psychosis.”

Charlotte gives me a quizzical look, and I laugh.

“What? I studied psychology as part of my work with the CIA. You always start with a profile of your subject.”

“Oh?” she grins ear to ear. “Are you going to profile me?”

“Hell no. You scare me.”

She chortles so hard she almost can’t breathe.

I pull up outside of her house. While Charlotte gathers her things, I check on a couple of texts I got while on the road.

A grin spreads over my face when I read the news. Marcellus Lovato just got arrested at the airport on over a hundred charges.

“What are you smiling about?” Charlotte asks as she opens her door.

“Just some old business that’s sorted itself out,” I reply. Tonight is too special of a night to bring it down talking about a piece of work like Lovato. But it feels good to put away one of Castillo’s inner circle and get a little justice for my sister.

I exit the Jeep as well, stuffing my phone in my pocket. Charlotte uses her phone to turn on the lights, and put in the security code as we walk up the sidewalk. She sighs as she enters the house.

“Oh my god, it feels so good to be home. No offense to your quaint little cabin.”

I chuckle and take her in my arms. It feels good to hold her and not worry about the next attack, cyber or otherwise.

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