Page 17 of Shield of Love

“Be careful,” I demand.

“One hundred percent,” he replies, surprising me.

“You don’t believe in absolutes,” I remind him.

“But I do absolutely believe in us,” Thayer answers. “That’s different.”

Epilogue One

Thayer

October 27th…

It takes forever to finish at what we thought was a safe house until Carlton chose to visit the dark side. Or perhaps she’d been visiting the good, playing a role, biding her time.

Jokes on her because her time is up.

What she did, what she attempted to do?

There’s no coming back from that.

Not that I think she cares.

I know she’ll be getting evaluated by people with far more intelligence, far more experience, with this situation than me. I want her to get the help she obviously needs, of course, but I’m not at a place in my emotions where I can forgive her for what she tried to do to Lillian.

For how she abused her position to prey on innocents.

As we’re wrapping up, at least my part of it, Myers orders me to leave. Technically, he orders me to take my ass home, while being fully aware that will not be my destination. “Tell Ms. Miller I look forward to meeting her.”

I don’t even ask how he knows. Nothing gets by him. Well, Carlton did, but she fooled everyone, so Myers can’t exactly count that as a failure. Not that he’ll agree. He’ll blame himself, wonder what he missed, and strive to do better.

“Soon,” I agree, confirming yet not that I’m going to see her.

Honestly, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with her. She calms me. Maybe even loves me. If not, I’m happy to wait until she’s there. I have no doubt it will happen.

We’re meant to be.

**Lillian*

“For money?” I ask, appalled at the lengths people will go to for what equates to paper and medal. Granted, they’re both of value, but not when weighed against a life.

“Unfortunately, the lines blur for some when there’s a payout like that.” Thayer said from what they were able to piece together by speaking with Carlton and ripping apart her world, looking for anything to shed light on why this all started, the shooter was hired to kill a particular Lillian Miller.

Instead of going after her first and completing the job quickly, he took pleasure in trying to throw off the cops by hunting down as many Lillians as he could before her.

The person who requested it was after the company their grandfather had chosen to bequeath that Lillian when he died. Yeah, her own cousin wanted her gone because he was jealous of what she’d gain when the time came. He didn’t care that it would come at the cost of losing a man she loved, a man that raised her.

Upon learning all of this, that Lillian had sobbed, saying she’d rather have her grandpa than the business. That she’d only agreed to it to ease his concerns about who would continue his legacy when he was no more as he didn’t trust anyone else. Appropriate considering.

“What about Carlton?

“She’s currently in a different type of facility, undergoing numerous tests to discern what can or should be done for her.”

“I’m glad.”

“The doctor says you’ve been cleared?” He already knows the answer. I heard him grilling the staff when he’d first arrived, the physician not bending to Thayer’s demands until receiving a nod of permission from me.

“You know this.”

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