Page 57 of Ultimate Freedom

During this time, she had more people touching her belly than she’d imagined possible, seeing as how she was such a private person. Yet, it all just made her feel prouder and more cared for.

The day they’d found Glory gone; Demi had fussed continually. She’d prayed it had been the fawn’s own choice and not because she had fallen prey to a wild animal. Because she’d relied on Nito to protect the baby deer, they hadn’t kept it tethered.

When she’d shared her worries with Whit, he’d reminded her that the fawn’s leg had healed faster than they had imagined and even before they’d returned from fetching Bella, they’d let it wander around under its own steam.

So, when Glory reappeared in the shelter, curled up on the mat they’d set up for her, Bella had been astonished. “Demi. Come and see. There’s a fawn here on your porch.”

As she petted and fed the animal, Demi explained. “Glen and Charlie untied her once the big cast had been removed, and we’ve left it to her as to whether she wanted to stay by the cabin and be fed by us or do her own thing. When we returned from Terrace, I was kind of surprised to see the shelter empty and Glory gone, but Whit wasn’t. Now she’s back, and I can relax. Truthfully, I was worried for her safety.”

Bella rushed inside for her phone and took so many pictures that Demi teased her about when the baby arrived. “My goodness, Mom. You’ll need to buy extra space on the Cloud to store all of your baby’s photos.”

Bella’s shining face turned her way. “She’s just so beautiful, Demi. Seeing a wild animal wandering around like this is a huge deal and yet you all seem to think it’s nothing.”

Laughing, Demi admitted, “I went through that amazement when Mr. Chubbs first came to visit. Trust me, when a squirrel waits for you to feed him and then makes himself comfy on your shoulder, it is a big deal. I can’t wait to see him again when the weather gets warmer.

Then along came Nito, and again, I went through the disbelief. Now, I guess I'm recognizing that when a wild creature feels safe, it’ll accept us humans. Of course, they don’t particularly want anything from us unless they’re desperate. And that day Glory was in terrible shape. A small fawn left alone with her broken leg caught under a tree… she knew she needed help. Nito saved her by signaling to us there was a problem.”

Shaking her head in amazement, Bella’s voice lowered with awe. “Goddammit girl. You’re so lucky. Thank you for letting me stay with you and be a part of this adventure.”

“Of course. You’ll always be welcome. I’m just so glad that everything has finally settled down and life is normal now.”

Chapter Thirty-five

When Tanner arrived, he didn’t let anyone know he’d be coming. Instead, he rented a jeep and drove out to Hyder himself, remembering the way from his last visit.

He knew Bella had come here by the way Demi had texted him. Once he was sure she was safe, he’d begun maneuvering everything in his undercover assignment in such a way that the task force could move in and catch Vincente red-handed with the latest shipment of desperate young people.

All the essential police departments had been under pressure to get there at exactly the right time before the hostages were shipped off to various buyers. It took meticulous and precise organization to have the taskforce come together at the exact moment when all the elements were perfect.

In the final arrest, Vincente took a bullet and Tanner still didn’t know if he’d survive. The rest of the gang was rounded up as were the buyers in the various locations. The only one who’d slipped away had been the one he’d wanted arrested the most… Sadie. The biggest sadist of them all. That psychopath had been born without a soul. Having to put up with her fawning all over him for these last weeks had been pure hell.

Fighting his way out of every sticky situation she’d put him in, her pawing his person and trying to entice his passion, sickened him. The closest she’d come had been a surprise kiss which he’d angrily rejected, pretending shock, admitting to fearing her brother’s wrath.

If she only knew that his libido shrunk whenever he had to look into her face. Because he would never break his vows to Bella for anyone, he’d felt more disgusted by her revolting desires than any other emotion.

Some people might have called her beautiful, but in his mind, she was like a pitcher of frozen lemonade. Instead of the clarifying pureness of Bella and Demi, she’d yellowed from the hate buried inside.

Now that he could honestly say he’d done his undercover duty, had gathered the good-for-nothing freaks for the courts to deal with, and saved those sad, scared-faced young victims, he couldn’t wait to be with his beautiful Bella and their unborn baby.

Whatever problems she’d gone through, he would solve them by telling her the truth. He’d never leave her alone again. From now on he was finished with undercover assignments and had gotten a deal with the Bureau for the position of Assistant Agent in Charge, a coveted seat any one of the agents would have been thrilled to achieve.

As he drove along the highway from Terrace, excited to see Bella, happiness reeling inside, he noticed that the snow had begun to melt. Most of what was left covered the trees and bushes on the side of the road, but the pavement looked clear. Soon, spring would begin to bloom, and he wondered what it looked like in Alaska.

He knew there were still a few weeks left before his daughter or son was expected to arrive. He’d looked into flying home while at the airport and was told they wouldn’t allow it after thirty-eight weeks. They were getting pretty close so if she still wanted to have their baby in the Phoenix hospital as planned, this would be a short trip.

Humming along with the music on his phone, he pulled slightly off the road to let the vehicle behind him pass, not wanting to block the way for anyone in a hurry. When the stupid driver shot by, he felt disgust rise.

What the hell is wrong with some folks?

Jesus, the highway might be clear but there could still be black ice around any corner. He took measure of the small body of the driver wearing a tuke over his head and hunched over the wheel as if he were consumed by getting to his destination.

Stupid bastard.Keep driving like that, and you might not make it.

After a short time, he pulled into town and decided to stop for a coffee at the store before driving to the cabin. He noticed the car that had shot past him parked nearby and wondered what the idiot driver looked like. He walked in and saw the only person he knew in town other than Demi. Wondering if Glen would remember him, he approached warily.

“Hey, man. How are you?” Glen knew him instantly and his face lit up with a greeting. “Congratulations on the coming baby, dude. Bella and Demi will be thrilled to see you.”

Tanner scanned his face to see if he could be hiding anything, but Glen’s clear-eyed smile let him know that whatever grievances they had between them, Bella hadn’t bad-mouthed him in town. Of course, she wouldn’t. That kind of bullshit wasn’t her style.

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