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“Basement secured,” Martinez’s voice came through the comms, breathless but triumphant. “They only burned about half the documents. Rest is intact—shipping records for weapons, client lists for drug distribution, the whole network laid out. Sheriff, they were supplying half the state with fentanyl.”

The magnitude of it hit me. This wasn’t just moving product—this was a major distribution hub. The weapons would’ve armed gangs and militias. The fentanyl would’ve killed more teenagers like the college kid who’d overdosed.

“Hunter’s status?” I demanded.

“Stable and complaining,” Coop reported. “Vest caught one, thigh caught another. He’s more pissed about missing the fight than the holes.”

Relief flooded through me. Wounded but alive. We’d all go home tonight.

“Eight suspects in custody,” someone tallied. “Two deceased. No friendly casualties beyond Hunter.”

I stood among the captured weapons and drugs, watching suspects get cuffed and led away. I wasn’t sure where Ray Matthews was in all of this, but I’d find out. I wanted to talk to him myself. Wanted to see his face when he realized his leverage was gone.

But first, despite it going against protocol, I was going to text Piper. She deserved to know.

It’s done. Sadie is safe. Raid complete. Everyone’s coming home.

Then I forwarded Beckett’s photo—our daughter with her “favorite uncle.”

Three dots appeared immediately. Piper was awake, waiting. Then:

Thank you

Two words that contained multitudes. Relief. Joy. Gratitude. Love. Everything we couldn’t say yet but would, when both our children were safe under our roof.

“Hell of an operation, Sheriff,” Kowalski said, appearing at my elbow. His expression held genuine respect. “Sorry about before. Whatever you were waiting for—I’m going to trust it was important.”

“It was. A hostage situation off-site.”

Kowalski nodded. “Hostage safe?”

I nodded.

“Good. This bust is going to make careers,” he continued, gesturing at the weapons and drug tables. “Biggest trafficking bust in the region this year. The amount of fentanyl alone—we probably saved dozens of lives tonight. Kids who won’t overdose because this poison won’t hit the streets.”

He was right. Every package of fentanyl we’d seized was a potential overdose prevented. Every weapon was a shooting that wouldn’t happen. But all I could think about was the photo on my phone—my daughter safe—and the woman waiting at home to hold her.

Outside, red and blue lights turned the warehouse into a discotheque of justice. Suspects were loaded into vehicles. Evidence teams arrived to catalog our haul. But I only had one thought.

“Somebody take me to Ray Matthews. I want to talk to him.”

I wanted to look that bastard in the eye when I made sure he understood he would nevereverthreaten my family again.

Chapter 31

Piper

The text messageblurred through my tears. I read it again, then once more, my brain refusing to process what my eyes were seeing.

It’s done. Sadie is safe. Raid complete. Everyone’s coming home.

My knees gave out. The kitchen floor rushed up to meet me, cold tile shocking against my palms as I caught myself. The phone clutched to my chest, I curled into a ball and let the sobs tear through me.

Three months. Three months of phantom cries in the night, of reaching for a baby who wasn’t there. Three months of my heart being ripped out fresh every single day.

A photo loaded below Lachlan’s text. My hands shook so badly I nearly dropped the phone trying to open it.

Sadie.