Page 150 of Delicate Escape

Trace looked at me, waiting for a moment as everyone around us went quiet. “The FBI arrested Brendan Boseman on set today, andthe paparazzi trolling the place got more than a few shots. He was charged with seven counts of nonconsensual pornography, twenty-two counts of fraud, and ten counts of stalking. At the same time he was arrested, teams served search warrants on multiple properties and vehicles. They seized all his electronics.”

I froze, tears welling in my eyes. I swallowed hard, trying to keep control. “You got him.”

Trace’s expression gentled. “We got him. He is going to jail for a very long time.”

“I’m free,” I whispered.

Shep’s lips ghosted over my temple. “You’re free.”

A phone dinged, and I saw Anson shift in my periphery, pulling out a device. He stared down at the screen, a massive smile spreading across his face.

“It still weirds me out when he smiles,” Kye muttered.

Fallon smacked his chest. “Don’t say that.”

Kye caught her wrist, giving it a little tug as he grinned. “What? It’s true.”

Rhodes turned toward Anson. “What is it?”

Anson’s head lifted, but he didn’t look at Rhodes, he turned to me. “Just heard from Dex. Apparently, all Brendan’s money vanished from his accounts overnight. He’s going to have a hard time paying for that fancy legal defense team.”

My jaw went slack. “What?”

Anson just grinned wider. “And somehow, the exact amount that went missing was donated to women’s shelters and domestic abuse nonprofits across the country.”

The tears returned, and I didn’t even try to stop them.

Shep pulled backthe covers on my bed and helped me get settled. He didn’t move his gaze from my face as he slid in behind me. “How’s the pain level?”

I rolled carefully into him. “Not that bad.”

He sent me a pointed stare.

“I swear,” I argued. “But it’ll be a miracle if I can sleep with all the food your mom and Lolli fed me today.”

Shep chuckled at that. “It’s how they show their love. Well, that and poppy tea for Lolli, apparently.”

I grinned up at him. “I love what a troublemaker she is.”

Shep trailed light fingers over my back in a soothing gesture. He’d already memorized where each injury was and deftly avoided them all. “How do you feel about everything else?”

“I’m not sure it feels real.” Pressure built behind my eyes. “The most I’d ever hoped for was for Brendan to leave me alone. The fact that he’ll actually be brought to justice? It’s more like a miracle.”

And it wouldn’t just be a miracle for me. Dex had eventually found nine other women that Brendan had done similar things to. They would all get the gift of closure like I did. Knowing the peace that would bring was sweeter than anything I could imagine.

“You’re the miracle,” Shep whispered. “You never stopped fighting. Never gave up.”

Wetness gathered in my eyes. “I didn’t stand up to him. Because there were still tiny, dark places in my mind that believed his lies. But you showed me the truth.”

“Thorn,” Shep rasped.

“You gave me back my life. I’m different than I was before. But it’s a better different. I know where my value lies. I know I don’t take anything for granted.”

His lips pressed to my forehead as he breathed me in.

I just kept going. “Like today. Such a gift. Shep, you gave me the family I never had. And you’re right, the fact that it’s something we all chose makes it that much sweeter. Stronger.”

He pulled back, unshed tears glistening in his eyes. “Love you, Thea. That word doesn’t do the feeling justice, but it’s the best I’ve got.”

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