Page 60 of Crossroads of Innocence
“I can’t believe someone would be so evil,” Jude said. “I’m so sorry your mom got pulled into my mess.”
“You didn’t do anything,” Cruz said. “A criminal broke into your life and hijacked it for a bit. What he chose to do is on him. Not you. And luckily, everyone made it out in one piece. But it’s over.”
Jude sucked in a large breath. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I spoke with Detective Hocking. The nephew you photographed is the guy who Lincoln shot and killed, but a warrant got her team into his apartment. They found enough evidence to throw the whole family behind bars.”
“Wow, I can’t believe this is really over.” The noose of tension around his neck disappeared.
“Yep, and now all you two have to worry about is your recovery,” Cruz said. “Glad to see you’re both going to be okay. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to head down to the station and look after some paperwork.”
Wade waited for him to leave the room before pulling Jude close to his side. “Lay with me.”
“Is that okay?” Jude asked. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I don’t care.” He held his arm open, and Jude nestled against him. “Nothing hurts when I have you with me. Plus, the pain meds aren’t too bad either.”
“Is it weird I’m grateful I took those pictures?” she asked.
He entwined his hand in hers and kissed her knuckles. “And why do you think that is?”
“I’ve traveled a million miles and those photos led me right back here to you. I regret leaving the way I did, but I don’t regret the woman I am today because of it. Because I know without a shadow of a doubt I am where I belong. Right here with the man I love.”
Wade’s heart filled with joy as everything he ever wanted fell into place. “I love you too, Jude. Always have. Always will.”
EPILOGUE
Grimacing, Wade tightened his grip on the handrail as he struggled to climb the stairs to his apartment.
Jude hooked her arm around his waist. “You should have let me call someone to help you get upstairs.”
“Just a couple more steps. Almost there.” He held his breath and took the final step onto the small landing then handed Jude the key. He braced a forearm on the wall and drips of sweat fell from his temple. “Go ahead and open it. I need a second.”
With her arm still looped around him, she opened the door and helped him to the couch.
Exhausted, he plopped onto the soft cushion. “I’m sorry, babe. You’re nursing your own injury. You’re right. I should have had someone else help me.”
“Don’t worry. Now that we’re upstairs, I don’t plan on leaving for days. Give us plenty of time to recuperate together.” She curled beside him and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Our life together is going to be amazing if you keep repeating those words.”
He frowned. “What words?”
She grinned. “The ones that admit I’m right.”
Her teasing tone eased all his discomfort. “I’ll remember that. I gotta say though, I wish I could bounce back as fast as you.”
“I didn’t have a bullet lodged in my back. You’re lucky you got out of the hospital after only a week. Hell, you’re lucky you’re still able to walk. And how cute is it that you and your mom will have the same physical therapist?”
He snorted out a laugh. “Adorable. I’ll be surrounded by little old ladies for weeks. Which reminds me, can you grab my black backpack from the hall closet?”
She wrinkled her nose. “How did physical therapy remind you of a bag in your closet?”
He shrugged and struggled to keep from grinning. This was not how he ever planned for this moment to go, but he didn’t care. Recent experience had shown him life was way too short—too fragile—to ever let anything pass him by. To not seize every single opportunity to find happiness.
And right now, the only plan he needed was to make this the happiest day of his life.
“It’s weird not having Macey here. I can’t wait for Chet to drop her off later,” Jude said as she fetched the bag and tossed it into his lap, anchoring her fists on her hips. “Now what’s in that thing you just had to get your hands on as soon as you got home from the hospital?”
“Patience, please.” He unzipped the front pouch and found the little black box his mom had given him right after her diagnosis.
