Page 68 of One Last Promise

They didn’t mention his criminal record, his history of drug use, his humble beginning, or even the former questionable profession of his wife, Courtney Baker.

And of course, they wouldn’t add anything about Pearl, the woman before all the fame.

Tillie sat back, her arms folded. And only then realized the room had gone silent.

“That can’t be the same man I fought with in Roz’s house. He’s . . . so cleaned up.”

“He’s a businessman on the outside, fighter on the inside. He’s always been a chameleon. The world has no idea.”

“I thought he was a small-time thug,” said Moose quietly.

“No. He’s powerful. Has money and judges in his back pocket and?—”

“Dangerous.” Moose finished.

“Why would he come to Alaska for money if he’s rich?” London said softly.

Tillie looked at her. Frowned. “I don’tknow. What if he was here for the fair like he said, and saw the reality show and decided he wanted his cash?”

Shep came back into the room holding a Sprite. He opened it and handed it to Tillie, along with a package of crackers. Looked at London. “What did I miss?”

“I told her about the missing money.”

“And then we saw the guy on television,” Moose said. “I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that the guy we saw hold a gun on your friend and you is Mr. Clean and Shiny on television.”

Her too.

And then silence.

“Listen. My sister was in love with him, and I couldn’t stand him, but we needed money. So I let him train me, especially for the Iron Maiden.”

“The Ninja Warrior event?”

“She won,” Moose said.

London’s eyes widened. “You won?”

“Two years.”

“Moose—”

“I’m just saying.” Moose looked at her. Smiled, with something that looked almost like respect.

And shoot, just when she thought she could tell him everything, she saw the person she wanted to be in his eyes. “That was a long time ago,” Tillie said softly. “I’ve tried really hard to be someone else, to start over. I’m not that person anymore.”

She took a sip of the soda and a bite of cracker, and it helped. “A month ago, I was a waitress. How did I get here?”

“In a chopper,” Shep said.

She looked at him.

“Oh, you meant . . . that was metaphorical.” He reached for a pizza. “I’ll just eat my pizza.”

London looked at him and grinned, her eyes warm. Then back to Tillie. “The answer is you got hereone step at a time.”

One stupid mistake at a time, but Tillie didn’t say that. “I’m sorry for all of it. For dragging you all into this mess.”

Moose covered her hand. “This is where we want to be.”

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