Loving Lilly
Page 16
Lilly dropped down to the couch, shocked, her mouth hanging open. “He’s gone?”
Grif nodded, his unique blue-hazel eyes steady. “Completely. I saw the body myself. Detective Wright called me early this morning to let me know. No foul play suspected. They found a goodbye note on the seat beside him.”
She dragged in a lungful of oxygen. “What did it say?”
Grif’s gaze flickered, as if he didn’t want to tell her. “Please Grif, you have to tell me.”
He looked to Kendall, who nodded her head.
“It proclaimed his innocence, of course, told his family goodbye. I had heard that he and his brother, Amy’s dad, had had words when the details in the reports came out.”
Diego squeezed her shoulders as she sat, stunned.
“He also apologized to his kids for taking their mother away.”
Lilly gasped, stunned. “He admitted that?”
Grif nodded. There was silence in the room for several long moments.
“I just don’t know how to feel,” she admitted. “I’m a little pissed actually that he did that. He took the easy way out, leaving us hanging. We’ll never see justice done now.”
“No, but you have to take heart in the fact that he’ll never molest anyone again.”
Lilly looked at Diego. He was completely right. Ray would never assault another woman or child again. Never belittle her or anyone else again.
Heaving a breath she looked at the people grouped around her and forced a smile. “I’m okay, guys, really. I mean, he was my father’s friend, never mine. I’m disappointed of course. And as wrong as it sounds I’m happy he died. In the end he did the world a service. Do the other girls know?”
Grif shook his head. “Detective Wright was heading to Carbondale to tell Donna. I told her we would go speak to Brenna.”
Lilly nodded. “I think I’ll go with you, if you don’t mind.”
Brenna looked fearful when she opened the door. Lilly stepped forward and told her the gist of what Grif had told her. So many different emotions crossed Brenna’s face but she finally settled on anger. “The asshole killed himself?”
Lilly nodded, pulling Brenna into a hug. The other woman vibrated with fury that eventually morphed into tears. Lilly cried with her, aware that they would have to go through their own grieving process for the man that had had such a devastating effect on their lives.
Epilogue
Diego cradled Lilly to him a few nights later, the hot water sloshing around them. He wasn’t much of a bath guy but if it made her feel better he’d do it. Hell, he’d walk through gunfire for her, or a crowded ballroom. That had to be true love.
She ran her delicate fingers through the water, then coasted them down his knee. They fit perfectly together in the tub and he found himself appreciating the closeness.
Lilly had been quiet since Grif and Kendall had dropped the news. There had to be a lot of emotions fighting in her mind. Personally, he was glad the miserable old fucker was gone. All he’d done was prey on women and he’d been just as arrogant and full of himself as Diego had first thought. Hell, knowing what he did of Ray, this had been his way of getting back at the family that had turned their backs on him when news of his criminal proclivities had come to light.
The world was well rid of him.
“You know, I think I’m disappointed because I had him so dead to rights. We had concrete evidence that he had tried to attack me, and now it’s all just wasted effort.”
He tightened his arms around her. “It wasn’t though. We didn’t know how this was going to go down. You did the best you could in the situation you were given.”
She nodded against his chest then turned her head to press a kiss to his jaw. “I love you, Diego.”
“And I love you, Lilly. More every day. I will never regret the situation we were in because ultimately, it brought us together.”
Leaning back even further she met his gaze. “You are completely right. Although I think you would have fallen for me eventually.”
The grin she gave him absolutely melted his heart. “I think I had begun to fall for you long before the Gala,” he admitted. “I just didn’t feel like I had anything to offer you. I don’t come from money. I don’t come from a good family. I’m a street kid from Detroit.”
Lilly rocked her head against him. “But you love me. That puts you above all others. I don’t care that you don’t have a lot of money and your mom is a witch. As long as you love and respect me, we’ll have an incredible life. And we’ll create our own incredible family. Just like Grif and Kendall have done.”
Diego pressed his lips to hers, unable to believe he’d found a woman so strong and level-headed. When he pulled away he nudged her shoulder. “Come on. This water is getting cold and I know exactly how to warm you up.”
With one of those indulgent smiles she followed him out of the tub and to the bedroom.
The End…
If you would like to read about the ‘combat modified’ veterans of the Lost and Found Investigative Service, click on the covers below to learn more:
Other books by J.M. Madden
A Touch of Fae
Second Time Around
A Needful Heart
Wet Dream
Love on the Line Book 1
Love on the Line Book 2
The Awakening Society – FREE
Tempt Me
Urban Moon Anthology
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About the Author
NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. J.M. Madden loves any and all good love stories, most particularly her own. She has two beautiful children and a husband who always keeps her on her toes.
J.M. was a Deputy Sheriff in Ohio for nine years, until hubby moved the clan to Kentucky. When not chasing the family around, she’s at the computer, reading and writing, perfecting her craft. She occasionally takes breaks to feed her animal horde and is trying to control her office-supply addiction, but both tasks are uphill battles. Happily, she is writing full-time and always has several projects in the works. She also dearly loves to hear from readers! So, drop her a line. She’ll respond.