Tori stared at him. “It was created by a lot of blood, Mr. Lamont. It’s really in your best interest to donate it to the historical society. Your brother died for this. Do you really want to profit from it?”
He didn't say a word, but his sister did.
“He won’t be. We’ll donate it in honor of Jeffery. He finally hit it big.”
The man relented. “We’ll take care of it right away.” From his pocket, he pulled an envelope. “Thank you, Julian.”
They shook hands.
“I couldn’t have done it without my team. They’re the best in the world.”
He would bet his life on it.
“I’ll tell everyone how good you are. Don’t worry.”
He wasn’t.
Already the media was circling. When this got out, they were back in the limelight.
It was just their cross to carry, and it might just overshadow the rag tabloid besmirching their family name.
That was a win-win.
As the Lamonts walked away, they all stood there, staring at the house. It had been haunted by greed from the past, but now, justice had been balanced.
Claire was the first to speak, “I can’t wait until the next case. This was awesome! What’s next?”
As if they timed and practiced it, Beckett and Julian answered at the same time.
“No more damn haunted houses!”
~ Epilogue ~
That Week
When they returned, the business was still standing. Justin and Vivian had done the job, and Julian was pleased. What started out as his business was growing into a family affair, and he was damn proud.
Of his wife.
His brother.
His team.
Littlemoon Investigations was a force to be reckoned with, and if the newspapers, TV reports, and journalists were a precursor to what was on the horizon, they had nothing to worry about. They were going to be there a long time.
Julian had built something that would endure.
Now, he was about to add one more link to the chain. As he sat in his office, he waited for the man to enter. When Beau arrived, he looked nervous as hell.
“Have a seat.”
He did just that.
“I want to talk to you about something.”
In the week they’d been home, Tori’s mother had repeatedly tried to get access to their business. Only, her plan to get money from them didn't work as well as she hoped. With their last case, it buried her paltry family connection. She’d not only lost her fifteen minutes of fame, but also her son.
“I’m sorry about what happened.”
Beau had spent the better part of the week apologizing for the sins of his parents.
It was getting old.
“Stop. We all know this isn't your fault. What I want to talk to you about is something bigger.”
The man waited, running his hands through his red hair. It stood in peaks. “Okay. Sorry.”
Julian shook his head. The man was going to need to be fixed, he could already see it now. Then, he thought back to his wife and that had been worth it.
“What are your plans, son?”
He swallowed. “I was going to hang out with Tori a little while, get my own place, and find a career.”
“You’re not going back to where you’re from?”
Beau shook his head.
“Good.”
He looked confused.
“I have something for you.” With that, Julian slid the papers across the desk to him. He watched and waited as Beau read them.
“It’s confidentiality papers. I don’t understand.”
It was time.
“In order to work for our company, you have to be licensed, bonded, and sign them.”
He stared at Julian. “Are you offering me a job?” Could this really be happening to him?
Julian nodded. “You’re getting out of the military, plus you stood up for my wife, and that means everything to me. We want you to stay. I know you have no experience in this, but neither did my sister, and she’s got a knack for it.”
Beau didn't know what to say.
“If you want the job, it’s yours. You’ll have to be trained, but then you’ll get your partner.”
He didn't hesitate. Immediately, Beau Christensen picked up the pen and signed his name.
Julian grinned. “Congrats, Beau. You’re officially one of the team.”
The man held out his hand. “Thank you, Julian. You don’t know what this means to me. It’s a second chance to get to know my sister.”
He was well aware. This wasn’t done for Beau, but for Tori. His wife deserved a break in life, and Julian suspected that this man would be it.
“You should go tell your sister the good news.”
With that, the man headed out of the room.
Out by the communal coffee machine, Tori stood there with the rest of the team. When she saw him approaching, she smiled. The last week with her brother was amazing.
He was just like Trey, and a little piece of her was beginning to be reborn.
“How’d it go?” she asked, as he finally reached their side.
“Julian gave me a job.”
Tori knew that was the plan. “Did he now?”
Beau grinned wickedly. “This is awesome.” Without warning, he lurched at Tori, hugged her, and swung her in a circle.
Julian watched from their office door.
The look on her face said it all.
This was the right thing to do.
For them.
For her.
For their deceased brother.
Now, they could get back to work. There were so many others who needed their help.
* * *
A Few Days Later
It wasn’t easy to get away. After all, they had a busy office to run, but when Beckett had come to them, explaining what he wanted to do, they couldn’t say no.
His plan was going to be something they wouldn’t want to miss.
Instead of working, they were all heading back to the Rez. Julian really didn't mind, since they’d be able to stay in the cabin and get some horseback riding in the following day.
It would be a worthwhile trip.
As they pulled up to the house that he grew up in, he could see that Beckett was a nervous wreck. He was in the back of the car next to Claire, sweating up a storm.
This was going to be fun to watch.
Here, he was going to be meeting Clarissa for the first time, and proposing to Claire.
The man was obviously a glutton for punishment.
Getting out, they all headed toward the house.
“Now, don’t lie to her, be yourself, and you’ll be okay,” Tori warned.
The man nodded.
Claire didn't know why Beckett was so hell bent on meeting her mother. They were still moving into her apartment, and this could wait.
“It’s okay, Beck. She’s not that bad,” she offered.
Tori lifted an eyebrow.
Okay, so she was lying. At least she was trying. Poor Beckett looked scared shitless to be meeting her mother.
“I’m okay,” he offered, patting his front pocket. The box was still there, and it gave him so much peace.
Tonight was the night.
While he was worried about meeting the woman, the proposal was scarier. Beckett never really did this before. With his first marriage, he’d rushed into it. There never was a ring or romantic gesture.
He’d been young.
Inside, they walked straight into the chaos. There were grandkids, siblings, and in the center of it, a small, older Native woman.
Beckett knew this was the mother-in-law to be. Claire resembled her.
“Here are my kids!” she stated, beginning to hug and kiss them all. Julian went first, and then Tori was embraced as something was whispered in her ear.
When she laughed, the woman patted her cheek. “Justin and Vivian just arrived too. They’re in the kitchen.”
&n
bsp; Before they could say anything else, Clarissa had moved down the line.
“Claire!” the older woman said, pulling her other daughter into her arms.
“Hey, Mom! I missed you.”
And she did.
“This is Beckett. He’s my boyfriend.”
At the mere mention of the word, the room went absolutely silent. Clarissa had her gaze firmly on the man.
“Come here,” she stated.
Claire tensed. She’d only ever brought one guy home before, and that had ended badly. Well, for her. Her sister gained a husband, and she earned a broken heart.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mom,” Beckett said, hugging the woman. When he did, he lifted her off the ground in a big bear hug.
She laughed outrageously, patting him on the cheek. When Clarissa was back on her feet, she stared up into his face. “Oh, you’re definitely part Native. You have the cheekbones.”
He grinned, showing them off.
“Now, when’s the wedding?”
You could hear a pin drop.
“MOM!” Claire said, knowing this was going to happen. After all, this was how Clarissa rolled.
Before she could object even more, Beckett took it as his sign. Turning, he stared at Claire.
“The wedding is going to be soon,” he said. Pulling the ring from his pocket, he held the black box in his hand. “Claire, I love you. I never thought that I’d feel this way about anyone in my life, but you proved me wrong. When I see you, I’m nothing but happy. You make me smile, your exuberance fills me, and I know that you’re the woman I’m meant to be with.”
Her eyes filled first with shock that this was happening, and then tears from his beautiful words.
“Beck…”
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you to marry me, be my partner, and never leave my side. I can’t imagine waking up a single day without you. I promise to keep you safe, make you happy, and never let a single day go by without you knowing that you were always meant to be mine.”
Tori handed her a tissue.
They all knew this was coming.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Beckett got down on one knee and opened the box. Inside sat a gorgeous ring that he’d had made for Claire. While it didn't come close to her radiance, nothing ever would, so it would have to do.
“Beckett!” Claire stared at the fiery ring, sparkling against the black velvet.
“Marry me. Make me whole, Claire,” he asked, taking her hand in his. “You’re all I need in life.”
They all watched her.
Claire nodded, unable to speak. This was the happiest day in her life. Where this cabin once brought her pain, it now gave her so much joy. Now, they could come home all the time.
Beckett slid the ring onto her finger. “I love you.”
“I love you too!” she said, jumping against his body as she took them both to the floor.
The family laughed, and Clarissa braced her hands on her hips. “Claire Littlemoon! I raised you better than that! You don’t tackle company!”
She glanced over at her mom. “He’s not company. He’s going to be my husband.”
Clarissa’s eyes filled with tears. “Yeah, you’re absolutely right.”
As Beckett lay beneath her on the floor, he saw the world’s fattest dog heading their way. “What is that?” he asked, wondering how the dog stayed on his feet and didn't tip over.
Clarissa spoke up, “That’s Roger. You can’t marry my Claire unless you pass the test.”
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his secret weapon. It was a peanut butter cookie. Tossing it to the dog, it was gobbled up. Then, Roger lumbered over to lick Beckett’s face.
“Someone warned you!” Clarissa said.
They all looked around. Finally, Tori cracked first.
“Victoria!”
Julian knew what was happening next. They’d just ruined Clarissa’s fun. They were going to be on dish duty tonight. Then, when he glanced at his sister, it was all worth it.
The look being shared between Beckett and Claire said it all.
It was love.
And in the end, that trumped any mountain of dishes.
Any day…
* * *
One Week Later
It was just about the end of the work day. All the men were sitting in the conference room waiting for the women to return. They’d all run out to grab some takeout before they had their Friday night meeting.
Once this was done, they would eat, wrap the week, and enjoy the long holiday weekend. Everyone was looking forward to it.
It meant sleeping in.
Having lots of sex.
Oh, and planning a wedding or two.
Like pregnancy, marriage was running rampant through their office.
While the media was making them nuts, the team was sticking to the boatload of smaller cases to clear the backlog. After the meeting, they would decide what was coming up next week.
If the women ever got there.
Who would have thought that running out would take so long? It was Julian’s fault. He knew better than to let four women go anywhere.
Their luck, they’d stopped along the way.
“I’m starving,” stated Kane. “If I don’t eat soon, I may have to go all Donner party on someone.”
Beau looked worked up. He knew the big Native man didn't like or trust him. Somehow, he figured he’d be the first to go.
Julian laughed. “I know. Lesson learned. Four babes in an SUV is a very bad idea.”
“We can start working,” Justin offered. He had plans for later, and they didn't involve sitting here waiting for Chinese. If need be, he’d skip food for fornication with his wife.
“Yeah, we might have to.”
Before Julian could open the folder, the conference room phone rang.
“Yes, Lena?” he asked.
“Boss, there’s a call on line three for you. It’s the police.”
Julian looked up.
The last time a cop called, they were hired by the police commissioner to help with a case. Yet, Julian’s gut was telling him this wasn’t like that.
“Okay, Lena.”
He picked up the handset, not placing it on speaker. He could feel all eyes on him.
“Yes?”
There was silence from him.
“Where? When?”
More silence.
“Is anyone hurt?”
His heart skipped in his chest. “Yes, We’ll get there ASAP. Thank you, officer.”
Hanging up the phone, he was faced with four sets of nervous eyes.
“Jules?” Justin asked.
Julian hated breaking bad news, especially like this.
“There’s been a car accident. We have to head to the hospital.”
No one spoke.
He glanced over at the one man. “I’m sorry, but she’s hurt. It’s bad.”
It was all he had to say.
Life changed in that instant, and there was nothing they could do to stop it.
To Be Continued…
Coming Next:
Book three in the Harcourte Vampyre series
Dangerous Misery
Other books by Morgan Kelley:
Standalone books
The Junction
Serial Sins
The Blood Betrayal
Romance/FBI Thriller Series
Elizabeth, Ethan, and Callen
The Killing Times (book 1)
Sacred Burial Grounds (book 2)
True Love Lost (book 3)
Deep Dark Mire (book 4)
Fire Burns Hot (book 5)
Darkness of Truth (book 6)
Devil Hath Come (book 7)
Consumed by Wrath (book 8)
Redemption is Here (book 9)
Dead Shall Speak (book 10)
Pledging to Die (book 11) summer 2015
Slay Bells Ring (book 12) Christmas 2015
Croft
& Croft Romance Adventure Series
Greyson and Emma Croft
Celestia is Falling (book 1)
Vegas is Dying (book 2)
Christmas is Killing (book 3)
Love is Bleeding (book 4)
Heaven is Weeping (book 5)
Hell is Burning (book 6) fall 2015
The Littlemoon Investigations Series
Julian and Tori Littlemoon
Blood Red Rage (book 1)
Lost & Broken (book 2)
Unthinkable Games (book 3)
Truth is Found (book 4) winter 2015
The Carter Chronicles Trilogy
Callista, Nathaniel, and Lucas
Sinner Repent (book 1)
Sinner Realized (book 2)
Sinner Reborn (book 3) summer 2015
The Oracle Chronicles Series
Nathaniel Carter and Avalon Miller
Oracle Rising (book 1) Jan 2016
Harcourte Vampyre Society
Jolie, Jacques and Flynn
Dangerous Revelations (book 1)
Dangerous Choices (book 2)
Dangerous Misery (book 3) spring 2015
Dangerous Retaliation (book 4) summer 2015
The Justice Series
Greyson, Emma, and team.
Dark Justice (book 1) winter 2015
Anthologies
All the couples in one book
Illegal Fantasies-
Behind Closed Doors(1)
Romance Under Arrest-
Behind Closed Doors(2)
Holiday Reinforcements-
Behind Closed Doors (3) 2015
Please feel free to visit her at her website
www.morgankelley.com, or visit her blog at
www.morgankelley.blogspot.com
Xx~ MK ~xX
Unthinkable Games (LIttlemoon Investigations Book 3) Page 42