by J. A. Owenby
“I also have more information on Katy. Her real name was Brigette Pavelka. She was an illegitimate daughter of Dillon Montgomery, Brandon’s half-sister. When Brandon was arrested and tossed into prison, Brigette stepped up and took his place. She held a nursing degree, which made it easier for her to reach Claire. They also found the weapon she used to shoot Claire. It was a match for the bullet, along with residue on the gun. No other fingerprints were on it other than hers.”
Maybe it was wrong to feel such massive relief that someone no longer existed, but I did. One down, several to go, but I would take the win.
“I’ll call the minute I hear about the trial. The jury is about to reconvene,” Franklin said, his voice weary.
“Thanks, Franklin. I owe you,” Pierce said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“No, you don’t. We’re all in this together. We’ll see you all this Saturday for Friendsgiving.”
“Looking forward to it.” Pierce disconnected the call and inhaled deeply.
“Hopefully we will have some news shortly.” Pierce rubbed his face with both hands, then dropped them on his desk. The guys had come from the gym, and they were slightly sweaty and wore T-shirts and basketball shorts.
I sat down on Vaughn’s lap. “I just want it to be over.” I massaged my temples, stood, then sat down again. Apparently waiting for an update had me so rattled, I couldn’t decide what to do. “I know Gemma and Mac are on the same page.” I shook my head. “It’s crazy how one man impacted all of our lives. It was as if he threw a stone into the water, and the ripples touched us all. Devastated us all.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, Pierce’s office phone rang.
Pierce grabbed the receiver. “Yeah.” His face paled, then I witnessed one of the bravest and strongest men I knew collapse to his knees on the carpeted floor.
I jumped off Vaughn’s lap.
“Pierce?” I asked while Sutton kneeled beside him.
“Babe, what is it?” Fear laced Sutton’s words.
Panic ripped through me as I watched Pierce stare at the carpet, his features hidden from us while he listened to whoever was on the other line.
Pierce gasped for a breath, hung up the phone, and sat down on his ass. “The jury convicted them both. We fucking won.” He looked at his wife, his expression full of shock and relief.
Sutton cried out, then wrapped her arms around his neck.
Vaughn grabbed me and wrapped me in his strong embrace. “You did it, Claire. It’s over, baby.”
I stared at him wide-eyed, afraid to believe that I was free. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I hugged my fiancé, clinging to him.
“I couldn’t have done it without you. You were my strength when I didn’t have any.”
“I’ll always be here for you.” Vaughn rubbed my back, and I released him. He pressed a sweet kiss to my lips. “We’ll celebrate later.” He winked at me.
“Claire, your testimony was a slam dunk. Without it, the prosecutors don’t think they would have a conviction.” Pierce and Sutton stood, then my brother strolled toward me. “I’m so proud of you.” He pulled me into a huge hug.
“Thank you. For everything,” I whispered, the finality of the situation sinking in a little bit.
“Good job, Claire.” Zayne pulled me in for a big hug. “You’re one hell of a woman, and I have so much respect for you.”
“That means a lot to me.” I offered him a smile, grateful we’d moved past the secrets. I hoped we could develop a better friendship. After all, he was one of my fiancé’s best friends.
The room was filled with whoops of victory and full-on crying.
“If we want to attend the conviction hearing, it’s Wednesday.” Pierce blew out a big breath and leaned against the wall. Sutton held his hand, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
I sat in silence as the news soaked in. I was free. Vaughn and I didn’t have to run. We could live anywhere we wanted to. Love hard and live long. Buy a house, get married, and have babies.
I had fought for years to break out of the bondage. I’d taken my life back and rewritten my story.
Pierce’s phone rang again, and we all froze.
“Pierce Westbrook,” he answered. “Hey, Franklin. Yeah, I just heard from the attorneys. It’s fantastic news. A victory for us all.” Pierce fell silent as we all waited for him, hoping that nothing had gone sideways already. “Son of a bitch.” Pierce sank into his seat. “That makes a lot of sense now. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll tell Claire. The whole family is with me in the office as we speak. That sounds great. Have a good one.” Pierce replaced the phone in the cradle.
“That was an unexpected call. Claire, Dr. Bolan, called for an investigation after Katy … Brigette tried to kill you this last time. She was one of your nurses after you’d been shot. They believe that she was putting drugs into your IV bag that caused your organ failure.”
My mouth gaped open. “She shot me, then worked at the hospital she knew I’d be admitted to.”
“She wanted to eliminate you in order to protect the Dark Circle Society,” Pierce added, folding his hands together on top of his desk.
My nose wrinkled in disgust. “It’s sickening enough that men ran that organization, but a woman selling other women?” My stomach soured at the thought. “It’s a good thing she’s dead, and I’ll leave it there.”
36
Events continued to unravel over the following weeks. Saul had been convicted and sentenced to life, along with Coen and a few other MC members. Dillon Montgomery received three lifetime sentences without the possibility of parole. I didn’t think he would survive long, though. Pedophiles weren’t tolerated in the prison system. Even criminals didn’t put up with children being raped or sold. I estimated the days until we received the call that he’d been murdered. I would celebrate and dance on top of the tables when it happened, too.
Friendsgiving came on the heels of the good news. Gemma, Mac, and I cried together that the nightmare was finally over. We hugged, allowed the tears to flow, then enjoyed the day with our loved ones. It was good to see Franklin, Janice, Cade, and Hendrix again, too. I’d spent more time with the girls, so it was nice to enjoy their significant others.
With a full belly, Vaughn and I made it up the stairs after our guests had left.
“I needed that,” I said, flopping onto my bed, sinking into the soft silver comforter.
Vaughn crawled onto the mattress next to me. “It was pretty awesome.”
He tilted his head, facing me. “How are you doing now that you’re not looking over your shoulder every second of the day?”
I bit my lower lip. “I still feel like I am. Do you think I’ll ever get over that feeling?”
“I do. It will fade, but Gemma should be a good person to ask in the meantime.”
I nodded. “I think now that the danger is over, we will talk and spend more time together.”
Vaughn rolled over on his side and propped his head up on his fisted hand. “Are you ready for tomorrow?”
I took his other hand in mine. “I can’t tell you how ready I am.”
He leaned over and kissed me gently. We’d been together since the middle of summer, and his mouth still melted me into a puddle. I hoped that would never change.
Vaughn steered the Mercedes along the backroad that wound around the Spokane River.
“I love the water,” I said, staring out of the passenger window.
“Me, too. I also like the privacy back here.”
Vaughn pulled into a circular drive, and my eyes widened. I glanced at him as we stared at the house.
“Twenty acres, too. Plenty of trees. The owners also planted a lot of maple and aspen trees. I think autumn will be gorgeous here.” He pointed to the right side of the property, where the leaves had already changed. Vibrant red and yellow caught my attention and I sighed. I loved fall and all the breathtaking colors it offered.
We exited the car, and he took my hand, leading me to
ward the entrance. Pierce had called in a favor for us to look at a house that hadn’t been listed yet. Since he knew the owners, we were granted permission to view the home without a real estate agent.
Vaughn entered the code into the lockbox and out popped a little drawer that contained the house key. Grinning widely, he asked, “You ready?”
“Yes,” I replied a bit breathlessly. Apparently a modern-style home wasn’t common in the country and this home was an exception. The majority of them were in town.
Hand-in-hand, we strolled into the living room. Vaulted ceilings with a wall of windows allowed the last golden embers of the fading sun into the room. I located the light switches and flipped them all on. Flames of the gas fireplace created a cozy ambiance.
“I think they left it on for us.” Vaughn led me through the living area and into the formal dining space. A chandelier hung over the table. “We could host the holidays here.”
I nodded, feeling a bit giddy. “That would be amazing.”
Over the next half hour, we walked through the kitchen, dining area, four bedrooms and bathrooms, and the three-car garage. The home was stunning and well cared for.
“One more to look at,” he said, pulling me into the house. We walked down the hall and to a room on the left. “I wanted to save this one for last.” He leaned down and gave me a quick peck on the lips. “I love you.” He swung open the door and stepped back.
“Oh. My. God. Are you shitting me?” I ran past him, nearly knocking him over. I couldn’t take it in fast enough. There were brand-new sprung floors, three mirrored walls, two heights of ballet bars. I could easily fit fifteen people in here without smacking each other as they danced.
“His daughter was just accepted to Julliard.”
“Wow, that’s some serious talent.” I broke into a run, leaping into a grand jeté. “Fuck, that felt good.” With a few pirouettes, I returned to Vaughn’s side. “I love it. I love the entire house.” I pulled him to me.
His arm sliding around my waist as he guided us across the floor.
“You’re such a good dancer. I think I want to keep you.” I laughed.
“That’s a good thing because you’re never getting rid of me.” He spun me around, our laughter filling the studio. His expression grew serious. “Can you see us here long term?”
“I do, but where are you at with it?” I mentally pleaded with the universe that Vaughn loved it as much as I did.
“The kitchen is even amazing. We have plenty of room to host holidays and parties, have your parents up anytime they want to visit. And when we’re both ready, make some beautiful babies.” His mismatched eyes found mine, excitement glinting in his gaze.
“It sounds like a dream.” I cozied up to him, peering at him through my eyelashes.
“Let’s make it a reality, Claire.” His mouth hovered over mine while his hand cupped the back of my neck, then his lips pressed against mine.
37
The closing for our new house was scheduled in five more days, right before Christmas. It was the best gift ever.
I had also spoken at length with Hendrix and Gemma, and I was scheduled to begin choreographing and teaching the dancers after the first of the year. For now, I wasn’t going to tour with them, but they had said it was an open invitation. I’d blown out a massive sigh of relief when they explained I could join the team on stage whenever I was ready.
After Vaughn and I had talked, I realized that I needed time to breathe before rushing off across the country. I could still dance, but my heart wanted to stay close to him while I attended therapy. Plus, we had planned a few trips to Europe. Pierce and Sutton said they would cover the location for the wedding and fly our guests to the event. We didn’t have a date set yet, and I was okay with that. There was no doubt in my mind that Vaughn loved me. He proved it every single day.
It was crazy how everything was falling into place. Some days, I had to remind myself to enjoy the moment and stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. If I’d learned anything, it was to treasure the time we had with our loved ones. Dying twice had taught me a few things.
“Can you zip me up, Vaughn?” I pulled my long blonde hair over my shoulder so it wouldn’t get caught in the dress. Sutton and I had gone shopping for evening gowns. Pierce’s friend was hosting a holiday party, and we were all invited. My nerves had kicked up as Sutton and I were applying our makeup and curling our hair together. This was one of the things I would miss the most when Vaughn and I moved, but at least she was only twenty minutes away.
“Sure.” Vaughn trailed soft kisses up my bare back, then whispered, “You’re so beautiful.”
The sound of the zipper filled the quiet room, and I turned toward him, adjusting his black bow tie. He’d opted for a gold cummerbund that matched my dress. He was mouthwatering.
“How are you holding up?” He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. “The last party you attended …”
“I remember. I think I’m just going to stick by you and Zayne. I suspect my sister and Pierce will be talking business, so if you get pulled away, I’ll buddy up to Zayne. I don’t think anyone will leave me on my own this time.”
“Damn straight. No way is that happening.”
The mansion was overflowing with people as we arrived. Zayne rode with us while Pierce and Sutton led the way. Valet parking awaited us, and a handsome young man helped me out of the car. My form-fitting dress hovered above my feet, and I lifted it slightly in order not to face-plant in front of everyone. My black wrap covered my shoulders, but I shivered against the below-freezing temperatures. For some reason I’d chosen a sleeveless gown. Lesson learned.
I slipped my arm through Vaughn’s, my engagement ring catching the light from the chandelier as we entered the marble foyer.
Zayne stepped up on the other side of me. “May I?” His green eyes sparkled while he held his arm out to me.
I looped mine through his, then planted a kiss on his cheek. “I wonder how much trouble we could get into tonight?” I grinned.
“Do you have something in mind?” Zayne returned my smile.
“Everyone needs to keep their heads down,” Pierce said, joining us with his stunning wife at his side. “We had enough excitement the last time.” He adjusted his cuff links, then led us farther into the house.
I bit my lip. Never had I dreamed I would have two gorgeous men on my arm tonight, but here I was, rubbing elbows with the wealthy, surrounded by hunky bodyguards.
I peeked up at Vaughn. With my heels on, I could whisper in his ear without standing on my tiptoes. “You should scout out a good spot for us to hide.”
Vaughn raised an eyebrow at me, a mischievous expression on his face.
“I’d love to. I’ve thought about pulling that dress up and having my way with you since before we left the house.”
I laughed. “Just tell me when and where.”
Forty minutes later, I’d settled down considerably and wasn’t as antsy. The few glasses of champagne had helped, but so had Vaughn and Zayne’s company.
Vaughn had excused himself, leaving me alone with Zayne. We scanned the crowd, people watching.
“Do you ever want to get married?” I asked, pointing to the couple arguing in the far corner of the room.
“Some day. Now that I’m not traveling as much with work, I think about it.” Zayne glanced down at me, a lopsided grin easing across his face. “Vaughn scouting out a closet for you two to play in?”
I nearly choked on my drink. I wiped off my lips and smirked. “How did you guess?”
Zayne’s deep chuckle rumbled through his chest. “I know my man.”
“Like you’ve never done anything like that?” My eyes narrowed while I assessed his features.
“Oh yeah.”
“I am well aware that you and Vaughn have shared women, too.” I poked him in the arm.
“Yup, but never without their consent,” Zayne replied, unfazed by my comment. “I think one reason you and Vaughn are such a
good fit is that you’ve both lived a lot of life, and with that, you’re clearer on what you want in a partner, career, friends, and who you consider family. You two just lined up together. I’m happy for you both.”
I softly nudged him in the arm with my elbow. “Thanks. That means a lot to me.”
We stood in silence, then I peered up at him. “Would you be so kind as to escort me to a restroom? I’ll text Vaughn and let him know we’ll be upstairs for a few minutes.”
Flashes of Vladimir flickered in my head, the blood draining from my cheeks.
“Hey …” Zayne grabbed my arm gently. “It’s okay. I’ll stand outside the door. Other than that, I’ll have eyes on you the entire time. Don’t be scared.”
“You’re right. Sometimes I forget that Dillon, Coen, and Saul are locked up.” I swallowed and set my empty glass down on a table in front of me.
Zayne offered me his arm, and I slid mine through his.
We reached the stairs, and I lifted the hem of my dress. “I’m always worried I’ll trip or fall down the steps in my heels.”
Zayne chuckled, taking it slowly as I attempted to gracefully take each step with great caution. We passed multiple couples in the hallway, which helped my nerves. My focus darted to the closed doors, and I hoped no one was getting hurt. The party was so loud … I shoved the thoughts down.
“This is it.” Zayne stopped in front of the bathroom.
“Damn, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to wait.” I pursed my lips together.
“Do you want to find another one?” Zayne offered, nodding at a couple that passed by us.
“No. I’m good.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, the door opened, and my focus landed on one of the most beautiful women I’d seen. Her eyes were hazel and flecked with gold, and her long black hair framed her striking cheekbones. In her heels, she was close to my height with a petite build. I wasn’t sure if she’d aged well or if we were about the same. Her tongue darted over her glossy full lips while she stared at me. Slowly, her attention traveled to Zayne, then she collapsed on the floor.