Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I draw in a breath, letting my gaze drop to our joined hands. “I am,” I say honestly. “Better than I have in a while. Thank you… for all of this. For letting me escape my own head, even if it’s just for a day.”
His hand tightens on mine. “I’d give you a lifetime of these days if I could.”
My eyes mist at the sincerity in his tone, but I force a smile to mask the sudden rush of emotion. “One day at a time, right?”
He nods, and then leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. I melt against him, letting the warmth and safety of his presence anchor me. And for one precious day, I let the nightmares and uncertainty stay locked outside, reminding myself that tomorrow—whatever it brings—will come soon enough. But for now, we have each other, and that’s more than enough to keep the darkness at bay.
Chapter 27
Boone
I’m standing on the cabin’s porch in the early morning light, sipping from a mug of coffee that’s already gone lukewarm. A thin veil of fog stretches over the lake, and the first tentative rays of sunlight touch the treetops. Normally, I’d find the sight peaceful—the kind of moment that makes you take a deep breath and appreciate the stillness.
But my mind isn’t on the scenery today. I’m thinking about Aubree, tucked inside the cabin, still asleep. Last night we lingered on the couch long after sunset, half-dozing in each other’s arms. It was a good kind of quiet, a peacefulness I haven’t felt in ages. Yet I can’t shake the tension coursing through me, waiting for Dean to call, hoping for a breakthrough that’ll let me get her life back on track.
That’s when my phone buzzes on the small wooden table next to me. I snatch it up in one swift motion, heart pounding the second I see Dean’s name flash on the screen.
I press the phone to my ear, not bothering with a greeting. “Dean?”
“Boone, got some news.” His voice is clipped, the kind of tone he uses when he’s got a lot to say and not enough time to say it.
I swallow, setting my coffee down. “I’m listening.”
He exhales sharply. “We made a move on Charles—Aubree’s stepfather. Finally pinned him. We’d been monitoring his accounts, and last night he made another large transaction. We traced it to a company that basically ‘rents’ out mercenaries or ‘fixers’ for a fee. You pay, they do whatever you want, no questions asked.”
My jaw tightens. I have to take a second to calm the surge of anger that bubbles up. “So he was paying them to attack Aubree?”
“Looks that way,” Dean confirms. “He also hired them to track her down. That’s how they knew about the cabin. Remember that incident at your old place, the one by the Tennessee border? We pulled that attacker’s prints from the site—got a match for a guy on the payroll of this shady company. Charles used information from Aubree’s mother to find you two. Your location was compromised the second she told him Aubree was holed up somewhere in that region.”
I rake a hand over my hair, feeling a grim satisfaction in finally having answers—and fury at the same time. “So that’s how they found us,” I say. “Damn it. So it was never a random guess. He knew.”
“Exactly,” Dean replies. “But here’s the good news: we’ve got enough to bury him legally. We also confronted him with the evidence. Bravo Team cornered him at his office. He folded when we showed him the receipts and the testimonies from that company’s contact. He’s in custody. Aubree’s mother wants nothing more to do with him.”
A strange blend of relief and lingering tension floods me. “So… Aubree’s safe,” I say quietly, not quite believing we’re finally here.
“She is,” Dean confirms. “The cops are involved now. They’ve got Charles locked up, and it’s looking like they’ll press multiple charges—conspiracy, attempted assault, who knows what else they’ll tack on. He won’t see the light of day for a long time, if at all.”
I close my eyes for a moment, soaking up the words. Charles is caught. The threat is over. Aubree’s life can go back to normal. Part of me is still on high alert, waiting for the other shoe to drop, but Dean sounds certain. “That’s… amazing news,” I manage, my throat tight. “Does Aubree’s mom know everything?”
“Oh yeah,” Dean says. “She left him. I just got off the phone with her. She’s furious, wants Charles prosecuted to the fullest extent. By the way, she’s waiting back at Aubree’s place right now, if you two want to head back into town.”
“Of course.” I take a moment to tamp down the fierce protectiveness that’s so much a part of me. “Guess we’re done here, then.”
Dean lets out a breath, relief evident in his tone. “Yeah, partner, I guess we are. I hate that it went this far, but I’m glad it’s resolved. You can bring Aubree home.”