Page 163 of Nowhere to Hide
I laughed. “Deal.”
Stone melted into the sea of agents.
“He just looks like an old man, now,” I said quietly. “He killed so many people. Picking people who would go unnoticed.”
“Until you, Cilla. He chose wrong and I’ve never been more grateful. You’re the strongest woman I know.”
I wrapped my arm around his back. “Can we please never come back to this wharf?”
“So, the boat is off limits?”
I pressed my face into his chest. “Hell no, I expect to honeymoon on that sucker.” I linked my arm through his.
“Honeymoon?”
I grinned up at him. “I mean there’s no way you’re not marrying me at this point, right?”
He frowned. “I would like to have done the asking.”
“Oh, you will.” I pulled him away from the chaos toward the stairs to the parking lot. Every damn muscle in my body hurt, but I couldn’t stop the smile. “I love you, Locke.”
Shouts had both of us turning around.
The judge broke away from the federal officer. He pitched himself toward me, and Locke hauled me out of reach. The judge stumbled off the edge of the dock into the dark waters, his hands cuffed behind his back.
He sunk like a stone.
I gasped and sagged against Locke.
He looked over the edge for a moment before he led me away.
I wasn’t sure which was better. Him dying in the space where he caused so much pain, or being tried for his offenses.
Two officers dove in after him, hauling him out of the water.
The judge’s face was slack when they dumped him on the slip. Medics, who had been part of the emergency call, rushed forward and brought him back.
Locke turned me away from the scene. “He’s going to fucking pay for what he did.”
“I’m glad you didn’t kill him.” I pressed my forehead to his bearded chin. “I don’t want another death weighing you down.”
“All I care about is that you’re ok.”
“I am now. Can we go home now?”
“We can definitely go back to the tower. And maybe you could help me with something in a few days?”
“Anything.”
He lowered his mouth to mine. “I love you, Cilla.”
I wrapped my arm around his neck, and held on to his strong back with the other.
I was never letting him go again.
EPILOGUE
LOCKE
