Page 53 of Bringing Chelsea Home

“How the mighty have fallen,” Griff intoned. “Sergeant Miller, there’s an early Christmas present for you, courtesy of Mother Nature herself.”

“Man, I have waited for this.” Handing a laughing Patrick his rifle, Miller strode to yank Big Daddy from the floor and handcuff him. “Obidiah Collins, aka, Big Daddy,” he began. “I’m arresting you charges of transporting and plans to transport minor children across state lines for immoral purposes, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder on multiple persons…”

He led a still sobbing Big Daddy away and Patrick joined them. “I’ve never seen Miller look so happy,” he said.

“Is everybody safe?” Elaine asked. “Did you find Chelsea and the other girls?”

“We did,” Griff confirmed. “And a whole lot more.”

Hearing the triumph in his voice, Elaine asked, “Whole lot more of what?”

“Missing and trafficked kids,” Griff answered. “Hidden throughout the building. KPD is hauling at least twenty adults downtown. We may need Families United help, Elaine.”

“I’ll see to it,” she said, grateful for the warmth radiating off of Griff’s body onto hers.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Griff asked Patrick. “I’d really like to kiss her and don’t want you watching. Especially due to her lack of clothing.”

“I never saw a thing,” Patrick protested in perfect innocence. “But I can tell when I’m not wanted.”

He ambled towards the door and Elaine called, “Thanks, Patrick. For everything.”

He gave her a cocky smile. “My pleasure, Elaine. Do you know what one Viking says to another one when they part?”

She closed her eyes. “I’m afraid to ask. What?”

“Be-sieging you!”

“Go away!” Griff shouted and laughing again, their friend left them alone.

“Are you really alright?” he asked, searching her face.

“Never better,” she said. “I knew you’d come for me.”

“I always will,” he whispered. “It’s like I told our team before we left the safehouse.”

“What was that?” She palmed his gorgeous face.

“Semper Fi.” And he kissed her.

EPILOGUE

Wednesday before Thanksgiving

“We had no idea that Brotherhood Protectors was going to get involved in this.” FBI agent D.D. Rice–aka Deidre Eric– defended. “I personally was put into East Tennessee just after The Cadre moved into the area as part of an investigation for drugs being moved through the area from points south.”

“And it was my right to call Brotherhood Protectors if I felt I needed special help after my best friend was murdered in front of me and died in my arms.” Elaine interrupted.

In her severely cut black suit, Rice looked nothing like the pretty hostess fromSapphire’s.At any other time, Patrick’s expression of stunned disbelief might have been funny. Knowing Agent Rice had tricked this brave man into coming to “rescue” her only made Elaine madder.

They were seated in a chilly, sterile room on the 20thfloor of a downtown office in Knoxville for a “debriefing.” Rice had suggested that they meet at the safehouse but Hank’s choice of language for what she could do with that idea had made the agent blush.

“We thought you might be part of a rival drug gang.” Rice’s patient tone bordered on patronizing. “After you showed up at the club, we needed to learn more about you.”

“And you called Lt. Danton into a dangerous situation and put his life at risk? Lied to him?” Hank asked from the room’s oversize computer screen. “Really, really, nice, Agent Rice.”

“I couldn’t risk my cover of Deidre Eric being blown,” Rice argued. “I didn’t know the bartenders were going to follow me. They both had crushes on me.”

“Which you no doubt encouraged,” Griff growled. “If they’d killed Patrick, his blood would be on your hands.”

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