And then it hits me—the love Alex and I share is so rare. Not everyone experiences love this deep. Love that slips into the heart, and lives in the soul, and becomes as life-sustaining as breathing air. I have that, and I will never take it for granted.
Alex leans his head back, gazes into my eyes. "I once told you that our lives were perfect just as they are—that I didn't want or need more. I was wrong. I need you—by my side forever. I want to give you everything, my heart, my soul, my life. All my love. Vow to protect your heart and your love, and I want my vow to be binding."
My thoughts scatter. I'm breathless. My heart is racing.
"Marry me."
Every part of my body tingles. I'm paralyzed, physically and mentally. Alex is staring at me, his eyes soft, but also wary.
"You want to marry me?" My mouth is suddenly dry, and I can barely manage a whisper.
He smiles, and his gaze never leaves mine. Nothing feels real. My head is swimming. Am I breathing?
"Marry me, Kylie," he asks again.
This can't be real…can it?
"Ky—"
"Yes!" Adrenaline surges through me. For the first time in my life, I'm certain of what the future holds. My future is in front of me. "Yes, Alex, I'll marry you."
Epilogue
"Reyes," the patrol officer manning the front desk bellows.
"Yeah?"
"I think you need to take this phone call."
I glance up from my computer screen and look at him. He better not be interrupting Candy Crush for some bullshit he doesn't want to deal with. "Yeah, alright, transfer it back here."
My desk phone rings, and I grab the receiver, "Sergeant Reyes."
"Hey, it's Turner." Kevin Turner is one of my buddies from high school. We still keep in touch since we both went into law enforcement—just different areas. Turner's a guard at the state pen for as long as I've been on the police force.
"Hey, man, it's been a while. How's life with convicts?"
"Stimulating as ever," he quips. "Except we have one less—escapee from the infirmary. Someone you know."
That catches my attention. The hair at the back of my necks lifts, and a chill runs through me. I've put many men in prison, but I have a feeling I know who's escaped. "Who?"
"James Wells.
I knew it. I run my hand down my face. "Christ, when did this happen?"
"A few hours ago. The Warden's trying to keep a tight lid on it. The marshals have been called in, but nothing's gone public yet. Thought I'd give you a heads up, though."
I take a deep breath. "Thanks, I owe you. Call me so we can get together for a beer or two—I'm buying."
"Well, you've got yourself a date," Turner jokes, and then hangs up the phone.
I drop back in my seat, and try to wrap my brain around this. Fucking poetic justice—Kylie works her ass off to keep Wells in prison, and a month later, he slips out and is free. Considering how things have ended up with her, I'm not sure if I give a shit. If it were just Stone affected by this, I wouldn't care, but—damn—that woman is still under my skin.
I grab my coffee cup and head for the break room. I'm not obligated to tell anyone about this, we have nothing to do with the case at the moment. So, why do I feel the need to let Kylie know? Because she could be in danger, and I want her to be on the lookout? If Wells is smart, he's on his way out of the country.
I pick through the leftover pizza, and grab a slice of pepperoni, so cold there's an orange layer of grease covering the meat and cheese.
Am I so desperate to talk to her again, that I'm looking for any excuse to get in contact with her? That's probably closer to reality, but I don't want to deal with it right now.
One of the other unfortunate detectives tagged for duty tonight comes in, shakes snow off his jacket, and hangs it on the hook in his cubicle.
"Snowing out there?" I ask, take a bite of pizza, and quickly regret that decision as the grease coats my tongue.
"How'd ya know? You must be a detective or something?"
"The best one here," I state, and puff out my chest for added effect.
He snickers. "Right, that's why you pulled the shittiest duty of the year."
"Fuck you." He blows me a kiss.
I toss the pizza in the trash, and take a sip of the coffee hoping it will somehow get rid of the disgusting taste in my mouth. "Where've you been?" I ask.
He grunts. "Up to the state looney bin. Some doctor misplaced one of his patients, and they asked me to come look in all their closets. Didn't find him, and had to drive all the way back since it's not our jurisdiction anymore."
My stomach drops as if I swallowed a fifty-pound boulder. "What's the patient's name?"
"Uh," he pulls out his note pad, "John Sysco. It looks like he just walked right out the front door, and no one stopped him."
"Do they think he has an accomplice?" Sweat covers my body, and I'm breathing fast now.
"Has to—surveillance camera shows him in street clothes. Don't know how he got them, there's no one suspicious that visits him twenty-four hours prior to him leaving."
I take a deep breath, and exhale.
"I heard the dude's loaded," the detective says. "He's probably on some tropical beach, never to be seen again."
"Yeah," I mutter, "probably right." I head back to my desk, sit, and stare at the wall. Sysco and Wells both escape on the same day—hadn't expected that. It's too much of a coincidence for them not to be cohorts. I wasn't aware they even knew each other, although, they share a thirst for revenge and a severe hate for Alex Stone—something I can relate to very well.
I glance at my watch. Almost midnight. The party's still underway at Stone's, I'm sure. Matt Gaines got an invite, so he'll be there, rubbing elbows with the rich, and fundraising for his next campaign.
I pull up my text messages, and shoot one off to Matt.
Are you still at Stone's party?
Yes, he replies.
I hesitate, I'm pretty sure Matt figured out my feelings, so this just makes me look pathetic. Is Kylie there?
You mean the soon-to-be Mrs. Stone? Yes, she's here, and sporting the Hope diamond.
Fuck!
A picture pops on my screen, that bastard Stone putting a ring on Kylie's finger, and her smiling like this is something to be happy about. I'm pretty sure I'm going to blow chunks.
Something up? Matt asks.
My blood is boiling, and the last thing I want to do is give them a heads up of what may be coming around the bend. It's not my problem. She's not my problem. They'll figure it out when Wells and Sysco show up.
Nothing that can't wait.
I toss the phone on the desk. She's engaged to that prick! I pick up my phone, find the name in my contact list, and type another message.
Alex Stone and Kylie Tate just got engaged. Thought you'd want to know.
I press send, and turn off my phone.
Get a Free Novella from Anne
If you enjoyed Of Demons & Stones, please consider signing up for my Newsletter and receiving my Novella, Fly Boy FREE!
* * *
CLICK HERE TO GET FLY BOY
Acknowledgments
Writing a book is hard work. Editing a book takes nerves of steel, and a great deal of patience. I have the best editor in the world. Thank you, Helen Hardt, for your support, patience, and editorial throttling when necessary. You have been instrumental in my journey from writer to author, and the evolution of my books is a testament to that.
We all know that books are judged by their cover. My cover is gorgeous! Thanks to Shauna Kruse, Kruse Images and Photography, and model Stephen Hughes-Landers for the original photo. Drue Hoffman (you’ll see her name again) is my talented cover designer. She is amazingly talented, and I LOVE THIS COVER!
Book marketing and promotion is a necessary evil. I owe so much to Drue Hoffman, DRC Promotions, who is not only my marketing guru, personal assistant extraordinaire, but has become a great friend. Seriously could not have p
ulled this together without you!!
Bloggers are the unsung heroes in marketing for all authors, but most especially Indie Authors. We rely on you to help tell the world about our books, provide reviews, and share our latest news with everyone you know. You probably do not receive one-tenth of the accolades you deserve, and my THANKS (shouty as it may be in all caps), does not come close to the amount of thanks I would like to express to you all.
Readers…where would we be without you? You are the cream in my coffee, the cherry on top of my sundae. I am so blessed that you read my books. I am constantly humbled by the private messages I receive from you while reading, and will never be able to thank you enough for recommending my books to family, friends, or complete strangers through your posted reviews. I am so happy to give you Alex and Kylie, and hope you love them as much as I do.
About the Author
Born and raised in the Rocky Mountains, Anne L. Parks has spent the last 25 years moving all over the United States. Married to the Navy – well a Commander in the Navy – Parks has lived in various locales throughout the United States. She currently resides in the Washington D.C area, and is loving every minute. When not writing, she spends her time reading, doing yoga, mountain biking, and keeping track of four kids. And drinking wine.
2013 marked her debut in publishing, with her first novel, Strangers, which released on her 45th birthday. Readers fell in love with a story about two people dealing with grief, and finding love again. Abby and Bryce are the perfect couple to introduce Parks as an up-and-coming author.
Her second novel, The Return, released in December 2013, and was the catalyst for the Return To Me series, a five-book series about second chance love. Other books in this series include, Return To Newport, Lauren’s Return, Returning Home, and RSVP: A Return To Me Christmas novella.
Parks stepped out of her comfort zone, and delved into the paranormal with a group of highly talented authors. The result? Elementals, An Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Anthology, about four sisters fighting to save the earth – and each other – from their deranged mother.
Currently, Parks is hard at work on her the highly suspenseful Tri-Stone Trilogy. Of Demons & Stones, the first book in the trilogy, and Revenge: Of Demons & Stones Book Two, are both available at all major distributors. Book three, Vindication, will be available March, 2017.
Find Anne At:
@almparks2012
ALParksAuthor
www.alparksauthor.com/
[email protected]
Also by Anne L. Parks
The Return Series
The Return
Return To Newport
Lauren’s Return
Returning Home
RSVP
The Tri-Stone Trilogy
Of Demons & Stones
Revenge
Vindication (March 2017)
Stand Alone’s & Anthologies
Strangers
Celebrate - A Love Brothers Anthology (No longer available)
Elementals (No longer available)
Revenge: Tri-Stone Trilogy, Book Two Page 24