by E. M. Leya
Xander gripped her shoulder in support. They'd debated on allowing her to go to court for the trial, but it was Faith who had insisted she go. She wanted to see what happened to them, and she wanted to make sure the truth was told.
Luckily, she never had to testify. There was plenty of evidence to prove their guilt without the girls having to appear. They had each given statements, but other than that, the court was happy to not have to have them speak. Faith had spent hours talking about the case in therapy, and when it finally came down to deciding if she should go or not, it was Xander who finally said they should allow her to.
In his own experiences, there had been closure in seeing his father get sentenced. Seeing him handcuffed and walked out of the courtroom had given him back some of the control his father had stolen from him when he'd been little. He hoped that even though she was much younger, Faith would have the same experience and it might help her heal a little faster by knowing for sure that the couple was locked up.
"They didn't look so scary now, did they?" Matt grinned up at Xander.
"No, they looked sick." Faith smiled. "I know it's bad, but I'm glad they're sick."
Xander bit his lip, glad that Faith had seen how weak and frail the couple had become. The case had been postponed due to medical issues that were never released to the public. Xander and the team knew exactly what those issues were. The couple was suffering the effects of what STK had done to them. While the woman would recover somewhat, though never fully be okay due to internal scar tissue, the man's health would keep declining, and depression would slowly get worse. It was common after becoming a eunuch. The body's chemistry changed, the hormones changed, and few people ever regained a normal life after.
There was no guilt. The bastards deserved everything they got for what they had done to children, and knowing that they suffered at his own hand gave Xander more satisfaction than it probably should have.
"It's not bad. It's called karma. When you hurt other people, it comes back to hurt you in some way. That's why I always tell you to treat others like you want to be treated." Matt kissed Faith's cheek. "Are you okay? Do you want to go home and talk more about it?"
"You promised pizza and ice cream." She turned to Xander.
"So I did." He laughed. "Do you want to go to the pizza place with all the video games, or get the pizza and go home?"
Faith didn't hesitate. "Video games."
"She's convinced she can beat you at that one racing game they have there." Matt met Xander's gaze.
"She can try, but I've been practicing." Xander bent and picked Faith up in his arms. "If I win, you have to get only one scoop of ice cream on your cone, but if you win I have to get you two scoops, deal?"
"Does that mean you only get one scoop if I win?" She narrowed her eyes at him.
Matt laughed. "She's smart."
"That she is." Xander kissed her forehead. "That's the deal." He offered his hand to her. "Shake on it?"
She took his big hand in hers. "Deal."
He set her down before she could protest about being too old to be carried. As they all grabbed each other's hands again and continued to the car, Xander thought about all she had been through. Faith amazed him. She was stronger than he'd ever been at that age, dealing with everything so differently than he had. He was so proud of her.
Matt glanced over at him. "You okay?"
Xander nodded. "Better than I think I've ever been."
Matt had been worried the case would stir old emotions, but it had done the opposite. Seeing justice served helped him to come to terms with what the team did for a living. It still might be against the law, but seeing the couple in court, seeing how weak they were, and knowing that because of that, they couldn't hurt another child, Xander found a new passion for what he did. He also found satisfaction that the justice system could work alongside the team, even if they didn't know it. Just like his father, others were spending their lives behind bars, punished for their sins.
As he smiled at Matt, he finally put his own past behind him. Faith and Matt were his future, and they were all that mattered. He might not have had a good start in life, but he had no doubt with Faith and Matt by his side, the last half was going to be a wild ride.
EPILOGUE
Faith stared at the zebras as they wandered around the enclosure, wondering if they were the same ones that had been there when her mom was with her so many years ago. She smiled at the memory. She missed her mom, some days more than others, but she was glad she had so many memories of her to get her through the harder times.
"Faith, smile," Xander called.
She turned and waved as he lifted his phone up to take a picture.
"Wait, I want one with her." Dad ran over to her side and wrapped his arm around her.
"Move to the left and I can get the zebras in the picture with you." Xander motioned.
Faith leaned into her dad's embrace. The zoo was one of her favorite places, and to spend it with both her dads now was exciting. She loved going places with them.
It had been a hard year, even though a lot of good had happened. Her dads getting married was her favorite part, but there was also starting a new school that she had to work through. She was terrified of school, even still, she wouldn't walk out the front doors in the afternoon until one of her dads was there to pick her up and she could see them. In the mornings, they both walked her to her class before saying goodbye.
It was hard not to be scared.
Therapy helped some, but she still didn't like to talk about everything that happened. She was embarrassed and ashamed of a lot of it, even though Xander had told her that she shouldn't be. Xander was easier to talk to than anyone because he knew exactly how she felt. He didn't try to understand, he did understand.
Still, even with him she held back.
"I'm going to run to the bathroom." Dad kissed her cheek before walking away.
"Okay." Faith wandered over to Xander. "I'm having so much fun." She looked around. "Can we go see the tigers again?"
"Sure, anything with stripes, right?" He nudged her playfully.
"They still aren't as cool as zebras." Faith moved with him down the walkway, closer to the bathrooms. "Do you have to work tonight?"
Xander shook his head. "Nope, not until Sunday unless something comes up."
"Can I ask you something?" She glanced around, making sure there was no one too close to hear them.
"Anything."
"Did you save me from the bad people?"
Xander's eyes went wide. "Why would you think that?"
She shrugged. She'd wanted to ask about it for a long time, but had been almost scared to, because they seemed to always be secretive about things that had to do with their work. "Well, Dad told me you work to help kids, then remember when you were shot?"
"I can't forget that." Xander rubbed his shoulder.
"When Dyson was talking about what happened, he said he painted a path to the kids for the police to follow. When the police found me, I heard them say someone had painted a path for them to follow." She stared into his eyes. "You saved me just like you and Dyson did the kids that night you got shot, right?"
Xander didn't say anything for several minutes. "Why are you asking this now? That happened almost a year ago."
"I was scared you'd get mad if I asked, but I guess I'm getting braver."
Xander smiled. "Yes, you are." He hugged her, and as he did, he whispered against her ear, "it's a secret. I'm not allowed to tell you."
She pulled back. "I knew you did." She hugged him hard, then stepped back. "Thank you."
"The police found you." He narrowed his eyes at her, but she could tell by the way he was looking at her that the team had been the ones to paint the path for them to follow.
"I love you." She smiled.
"Hey, do I get some of that love too?" Dad walked up.
"I love you too, Dad." She hugged him. "So, can we go see the tigers?"
"We can head that way, then
we need to think about leaving," Her dad told her as he exchanged a strange look with Xander.
It was a look that she knew very well. They used it when they were up to something and didn't want to tell her.
"Then can we get ice cream?" She figured she might as well ask while they were in a good mood.
"Sure." Xander reached for Dad's hand, then hers.
"This day can't get any better." She started to walk toward the tiger enclosure.
"And, maybe after ice cream, we can stop by the pet shelter and see about getting a dog," Matt said behind her.
Faith released Xander's hand as she turned to look at her dad. "Really?"
Xander laughed. "Told you she wouldn't believe you."
Dad nodded. "You and Xander have talked me into it. What do you say, still want a dog?"
Faith flew into his arms, tears filling her eyes. "I love you so much."
As Xander stepped into the hug, she'd couldn't remember ever being happier. Life was good, and it was just about to get better.
She hugged her dads hard, never wanting to let go. Well, at least until they got the dog!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emma Marie Leya, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her daughter and two dogs. When she isn't writing, she is an avid swimmer with a passion for the mountains. You can often find her playing outdoors.
You can contact Emma and find out more about her books at…
https://www.facebook.com/E.M.LEYA/
ALSO AVAILABLE FROM E.M. LEYA
Most of the books are available on Amazon and on Kindle Unlimited.
Find E.M. Leya's Author Page on Amazon by clicking here.
STAND ALONE BOOKS
LOVE PLUS ONE — (mmf erotic romance)
OUT OF THE FLAMES — (mm romance)
FINDING HOPE — (mf romance)
THE JUDGE — (mmff erotic romance)
WESTERN INHERITANCE — (mm erotic romance)
UNCLE — (mm romance)
A LITTLE BIT ROCK AND ROLL— (mm romance)
COMING HOME — (mm romance)
TRUSTING TRENT — (mm romance)
LEARNING TO LOVE — (mm romance)
VACATION — (mf romance)
BIGFOOT — (mm romance)
JULIE — (mf romance)
LOST IN THE CROWD — (mm romance)
PASTOR'S DAUGHTER — (mfm erotic romance)
THE BOSS — (mm romance)
PUSHED (mm romance)
A VAMPIRE FOR HALLOWEEN (mm romance)
MASKED — (mm romance, light bdsm)
TIME GONE BY — (mm romance)
THE PRINCE (mm fantasy romance)
SECOND CHANCE (mm romance)
LOVE UNDERCOVER – (mm romance)
KITTEN CLAWS AND PUPPY BREATH- (mm romance)
PRIDE – (mm romance)
PAIN – (mm romance)
POCKET CHANGE – (mm romance) Coming 2018
TOUCHING THE HEAT Coming 2018
RAGS AND RICHES SERIES
WINTER FREEZE (mm romance)
LOVE JAKE (mm romance)
ONE MORE NIGHT (mm romance)
HEALING TOUCH (mm romance)
CAMERA SHY (mm romance)
INKED (mm romance)
THE WAY INSIDE (mm romance)
AS I AM (mm romance)
BEGIN AGAIN (mm romance)
THE ROAD HOME (mm romance)
SOUND OF SILENCE Coming 2018
TALES OF THE MERMAN SERIES
SAGE — Tales of the merman 1 (mm romance)
RANDY — Tales of the merman 2 (mm romance)
HEARTS NOT PARTS BOOKS
LOVE IN TRANSITION — (transgender male to female romance)
FLUIDITY (gender fluid mm romance)
TERRIN PASS PACK SERIES
BITTEN (shifter mm romance)
FOUND (shifter mm romance)
BLINDED (shifter mm romance) Coming 2018
MOTEL MINI SERIES
DEBT PAID — motel mini 1 (mmm reluctant erotica short)
MY SON'S BEST FRIEND — motel mini 2 (mm erotica short)
*SIBLING SEDUCTION — motel mini 3 (mf taboo erotica short)
MY HUSBAND'S LOVER — motel mini 4 (ff reluctant erotica)
*DOUBLE TAKE — motel mini 5 (mm taboo twin erotic short)
PAYBACK— motel mini 6 (fmmm reluctant erotica short)
BLACKMAILED-motel mini 7 (mm blackmailed erotic short)
PIERCED-motel mini 8 (ff friends to lovers erotic short)
*MOTEL MINI BOX SET Books 1-5 MM, FF, MF, Taboo, and Reluctant
*Book may not be available at all retailers
SINFUL TEMPTATION COLLECTION
HORIZONTAL ANALYSIS with Nicole Colville (mm romance)
ABSOLUTION with Nicole Colville (mm romance)
ROCKY PEAKS SERIES with Nicole Colville
The Journey Home (mm romance)
CHRISTIAN ROMANCE
HARMONY- (mf romantic suspense)
THE CHALLENGE- (mf New Adult romance)
FRENCH BOOKS
LE JUGE (French Edition) — (mmff erotic romance)
*MOTEL MINI BOX SET FRENCH Books 1-5 MM, FF, MF, Taboo, and Reluctant
DETTE PAYÉE — motel mini 1
LE MEILLEUR AMI DE MON FILS — motel mini 2
*SÉDUCTION FRATERNELLE — motel mini 3
LA MAÎTRESSE DE MON MARI — motel mini 4
*DOUBLE PRISE — motel mini 5
*Comptable pourrait ne pas être disponible chez tous les détaillants