Page 50 of Oh My Secret Christmas Baby
“You’re under arrest,” one of the agents says.
“For what?”
“For starters, insider trading, wire fraud, and assault.”
“Assault?” Maxwell wipes his nose with the back of his hand, smearing the blood that is dripping.
“Fertility fraud, which will boil down to assault in the first degree. Premeditated.”
“No.” Maxwell is shaking his head.
“The doc already flipped on you,” I tell him. All the blood drains not only from his nose but also from his entire face.
It’s like pure fucking heaven watching him go down. I’ll make sure he is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He’ll be lucky to ever see the light of day again.
“The charge sheet is long,” the sheriff tells Maxwell, holding up a folded stack of thick paper.
“Did you say fertility fraud?” Steven O’Tilli asks. I can already see the panic in his expression. I know his family are big investors in the medical area, and fertility is one of them.
They have invested in startups that have bloomed. They have been working on buying out smaller independent clinics to make a large national chain. It has been years in the making.
This will hit them hard if it doesn’t completely derail it. I know Maxwell has his fingers deep in this one. It is, after all, how he got Dr. Matthews pulled into his scheming. I don't sympathize with Steve. He was one I'd warned, and I'll actually enjoy the hit he'll take.
His greed has gotten the best of him, and greedy people always take from less fortunate people. The greedy never learn. Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered, and I'm more than happy to be the butcher tonight.
“Now, Hollis, don’t forget the attempted murder charge,” the sheriff adds. A few curses can be heard in the crowd. I have no doubt they don’t belong to the locals. All the people that turned a blind eye years ago because they didn’t want the rock the boat with the Holmberg family are now going to pay the piper.
“Don’t do this.” Maxwell starts to panic. “Candy, please.” He looks to her. She simply shakes her head at him in disappointment.
I get it to a degree. All that Maxwell has done is beyond fucked up, but I don’t think she nor I would change it. Not when it led us here. This is more than a silver lining.
Kindred steps forward. "She might not say it." She smirks. "But get fucked, bitch."
The crowd erupts into cheers and laughter. Maxwell is still pleading when he's pulled away by the two agents.
“It’s finally over.” Candy sighs, bringing my attention back to her.
“No, it’s just beginning.” I swoop her up into my arms. “Everyone, I’m taking my soon-to-be wife, who is having my twins.” Gasps ring out before people clap again. “Enjoy yourselves. Eat, drink, and be merry.”
Congratulations rain out as the music starts to softly play again. We’re almost to the door of the library when Candy makes an announcement of her own.
“And everyone is invited to the wedding!” I chuckle and carry her from the room up the stairs. I can’t wait another second to make her mine in every way. I kick the bedroom door closed behind me, taking my girl over to the bed and placing her down at the edge of it. "I hope you're okay with a bigger wedding."
"All I care about is you saying I do." Everything else is up to her. I'll be more than willing to help plan it, of course, but anything she picks I'll be happy with.
In fact, the idea of standing up in front of a crowd, everyone watching, doesn't irk me any longer. It's not only because I know the residents of New Hope don't only see my scars but also because Candy has made me feel more comfortable in my skin.
When I looked into the mirror, it could be jarring. Now my scars feel like a part of me. They belong there. It's the only waythat she knows me, and I like what she sees every time her face lights up when her eyes meet mine.
My hands go to her face, tilting her head back. “I love you, Candy.” I tell her the words I’ve been dying to say. I’d been holding them back for a few days now. I didn’t want to overwhelm her more, and Candy is so damn sweet that I didn’t want to guilt or pressure her into thinking she needed to return them.
I want them freely from her, and in true fashion, Candy gave herself to me. A gift I will forever be grateful for.
Chapter Twenty-Three
CANDY
Hearing those three little words from Hollis lights me up like the Rockefeller Christmas tree. Well, that and the fact that he looks sexy as hell in his custom tux.
