Page 103 of All Along The Watchtower

“I need to take this. Be back.”

With a quick squeeze of Bree’s hand, I ducked into the house and answered. “Langston?”

“I guess celebration is in order.”

Not at all what I’d expected from the federal agent. “Is it?”

“It’s Peyton’s birthday today, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Is that why you’re calling?” I knew I sounded borderline rude, but this man never came with good news. Every time his number popped up on my phone, my stomach twistedinto knots, dreading whatever fresh hell he might be bringing to our doorstep.

“Yes, and no. I have a rather unconventional gift.”

“What’s that?” My fingers tightened around the phone, bracing for impact.

“We took down Northwest Global. The key players have already been arrested, and we expect their operations to be shut down within the month. We got the evidence we needed through another informant, so there is no longer any plausible reason for anyone connected with the company to have any interest in Peyton, no matter how remote. It’s over.”

“What about the two goons they hired, who were spotted in Norfolk?” I hadn’t stopped looking for them since Dax had brought that potential threat to my attention.

“Pinched last week on another job. They’re out of commission. Oh, and I happened to touch base with the police who handled the recovery of your moving pod. Yours wasn’t the target. One of the other units was being used for drug trafficking. Idiot who was supposed to pick it up couldn’t remember which one it was, so he stole the whole fucking truck. Seriously. It’s over.”

“It’s over,” I repeated, not entirely believing it. The words felt foreign on my tongue.

“Your daughter is safe.”

“She’s safe.” I let out a shuddering breath and covered my eyes, fighting back the sting of tears I hadn’t expected. “She’s actually safe. Truly?”

“Truly.”

“Oh, thank God.” The tension that had been dogging me for weeks finally released at the confirmation, leaving me light-headed with relief. My knees actually wobbled, and I had to press a hand to the wall.

“Thought you’d want to know.”

“I appreciate it. And Langston?”

“Yeah?”

“With all due respect, you’ll understand if I say I hope I never hear from you again.”

The other man laughed. “Understood, and no offense taken. Though from what I hear about how your kid pieced together what happened with the murder on your island, she could have a future in the Bureau down the line.”

“Hopefully, she’ll decide to be something nice and safe. Like a podiatrist.”

Langston chuckled again, the sound warm with understanding. “Hope springs eternal. Have a nice life, Donoghue.”

I was still standing there several minutes later, staring at my phone and trying to process everything, when Bree came to find me. Her footsteps echoed softly in the hallway as she approached.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

I pulled her into my arms and beamed, unable to contain the joy bubbling up inside me. “Everything is fantastic. That was Agent Langston. They took down Northwest Global. Peyton is safe.”

Those gray eyes I loved so much brightened, hope and relief washing across her face. “Truly?”

“Truly.”

I spun her in a giddy circle. Finally, finally, the dark cloud hanging over us had lifted. As Langston had said, that was something worth celebrating, and I knew exactly where I wanted to start. I captured Bree’s mouth in a kiss, pouring out all my relief and happiness. She tasted of strawberry lip gloss and the promise of a tomorrow I hadn’t been free to imagine. But now I could. There’d be no more looking over our shoulders. No morewondering if today would be the day someone came for my daughter.

Bree melted against me, fingers sliding into my hair. God, I loved this woman. Loved how she’d stepped up to protect my kid without hesitation. Loved how she called me on my shit but supported me, anyway. Just… loved her.

---