Page 73 of Pick Yourself Up
She nodded. “I am. My head is still a bit fuzzy, but that’s clearing up. I think I’m good. Not ready to let go of you or Boomer, but good.”
He chuckled softly and kissed her again. “Same.”
So, they sat on the bumper of a thug’s car and let the people around them take care of business while she leaned into Gray and let the safety wrap around her.
It was over.
Chapter 20
Follow Up
Gray couldn’t let Amber go. The fear continued to roar through his blood, although seeing Allard and his fellow thug trussed up helped. He hadn’t caught the man’s real name yet, but he was the same asshole who’d hit Amber back at The Sidderlight. He’d be sitting his ass back in jail for the foreseeable future, right alongside his buddy.
Marcus approached with a grin. A smile that didn’t bode well for the assholes. “I’m going to come to the farm tomorrow for full statements from you both. No need for that tonight. I’ve got empty cells waiting for these two. They’re not going anywhere just yet.”
Gray nodded. “Not for a long time, I hope.”
Marcus smiled. “I’ve got a call into a friend of mine who is the lead FBI agent over in New Hampshire. Another call into the local cops back in Chicago. Not only have these two broken parole in pretty much every way imaginable, they’ve crossed state lines to do it. Seeing as they work for a major crime family, things got very serious when they did that. So, they won’t be in Phail long, but they’ll be in FBI custody and then in prison for a long time to come.”
He nodded. “Good. That’s great news.”
The chief agreed. “It is. Putting away the scum of the world is always a pleasure, and it’s even better when we know we have all the evidence we need to keep them there.”
Then the police chief turned to Amber. “You can rest easy. The family they work for is going to be pissed at them, not you. These idiots will be safer in jail. The Lauzons prefer to keep a low profile. I’m sure they’re going to cut their ties with these two.”
“Do you think they’ll send someone else after us?” Amber’s voice trembled, but her eyes were clear now.
Marcus shook his head. “No. These two were acting independently. Well, Spade was following Allard’s orders. But they weren’t following Lauzon’s orders. The family wants the entire Sidderlight mess to fade into the past. And this one too. I’ll have a friend in Chicago keep an ear to the ground, but I believe this incident is completely over as far as the two of you are concerned.”
Amber sagged in his arms even as relief coursed through him.
Marcus took his leave, and the crowd thinned. When Graham arrived with a tow truck, Gray stood aside to let them take the vehicle.
Amber patted his chest. “I can walk.”
Reluctantly, he lowered her feet to the road and then tucked her into his side. Boomer took up position on her left and she ran her fingers through his fur.
Knox approached and pulled her in for a hug. Then Jolie. Thea and Dodge. New friends from Phail and Midnight Lake.
“Time to head home.” Gray’s voice was thick and growly, but no one seemed to mind. He figured they all understood.
In moments, they sat in the back of Knox’s truck with Thea in the front seat and Jolie squeezed in next to Amber and Boomer.
The ride home was quiet, and when they turned into the drive, his nerves settled further.
They passed the B&B where he’d have a window to fix the next day. It could wait.
At the farmhouse, they found a note taped to the back door. It was from their neighbor, Lorraine.
Thanks for letting us know Amber is going to be okay and that those jerks are in jail. Mort and Callum helped me cover up the broken window with a piece of plywood and turned off the alarm with the code you gave me. My troop patrolled the orchard with Hemsworth and Fox. There was no trace of anyone else. The ducks are in the Quack Mobile for the night.
Amber’s eyes filled with tears as they read the words. “That’s so nice.”
Jolie hugged her sister. “They’re pretty great neighbors.”
Amber nodded. “We’ll have to have them over for a meal again soon. See how we can help them for a change.”
Now that she knew them all, Gray knew Amber wouldn’t stress out about inviting them over again.
