Page 14

One year later…

Lulah

As Python—I mean, Sergeant Callen—gets down from the witness stand, Jeff nudges me playfully. He’s been chatty ever since Carter Mulkins—AKA Slash—was tossed from the courtroom for flying over the table and trying to attack Case.

I glance at him, loving that he cares enough to keep checking on me. Admittedly, I’d freaked out when it happened. Not the kind of freakout others would notice, but my Daddy Grizz did. It took me ten minutes to stop trembling after it happened and the whole time, Jeff held me tight, rubbing my arm and helping me breathe through my silent panic attack.

“It still shocks me every time I see him,” he whispers against my ear.

“What?” I whisper back.

“Python, a Mountie. Mind-blowing. And he’s a good one. He just blew the defense team’s case out of the water.”

“Yup, they’re done. Not even Alan Shore from Boston Legal could save them. But what blows my mind is that there’s a suit jacket that fits over those arms.” I chuckle quietly and he pinches my knee.

The judge’s gavel knocks, ending the day with closing arguments scheduled for the morning.

Jeff twists in his seat as soon as the judge leaves the room to give me a look. The look.

“What? It’s true. They’re huge. Look.” I point at Case, who’s chatting with the prosecutor.

“I’m not arguing your observation, babydoll, but do you have to notice?” He shakes his head, a small playful smile curving his lips.

Damn, I love this man.

“He’s got nothing on you, Daddy Grizz, don’t worry.” I rise from my seat and kiss him on the cheek. “Let’s wait for him in the hall,” I say, glancing at the spot where the commotion happened earlier.

When Jeff doesn’t move my gut sinks. He’s still watching Case. I touch his arm.

“Are you wondering if you’d be a sergeant now if you’d been hired all those years ago?”

He turns, blinking at me with a frown. “No, now I’m wondering who his tailor is, thanks to you.” His lips turn scowly a second before he scratches his tidy beard. “And maybe what his workout routine is. We have a wedding to think about. And I want to look that buff in my tux.”

Smirking, I poke his arm. “These are plenty buff enough. And his routine probably includes bench pressing Harleys.”

“Probably.”

“Seriously, though. Are you okay?”

Taking my hand, he gives it a squeeze. “Yes, I’m fine. My private investigation firm makes me a hell of a lot more money than a sergeant's salary. And I’ve got the girl.” He shrugs. “I win.”

“Well, there’s that.” I snort a laugh and we rise, noticing Case heading toward us. “You ready?”

Jeff gathers a breath. “I am.” He looks down at me. “Are you?”

I nod. “I trust him. He did his best to take care of me while keeping his cover. That could’ve cost him his career, or even his life.”

“Okay. That helps.” He pulls my hand to his lips and kisses it.

“Jeff, Lulah, how are you?” Case holds out his hand for Jeff to shake.

“We’ll be better once this trial is over, but we’re good.”

“I know this was hard being here, not knowing whether or not the crown attorney would need you to call you to testify, but we appreciate it. Now, onto Jon Fathers…” He pauses, then corrects himself. “Preacher. His trial is scheduled for June, and Jeff, we’ll definitely need you for that one, for both the trial and the victim’s statement, since we’ve charged him for Lisa’s murder. My testimony is solid, but yours will impact the jury more, which will help us get him put away for good.” He claps Jeff on the shoulder. “You’re almost done.” He waves us to follow him. “Let’s go somewhere more private.”

He takes us to a small conference room down the hall and Jeff and I take a seat.

“How does it look?” Jeff asks, leaning his forearms on the table, eager for Case’s opinion on the jury.

Case unbuttons his expensive suit jacket and sits. He looks just as comfortable in his suit as he did in his leather cut.

“This should be a fast one. After closing arguments tomorrow, I doubt the jury will take more than a few hours. This fucker’s going down.”

I bite my lip at his language, wanting to smile because I prefer him more candid.

“And you’ll get them all?” Jeff prods.

“Five years, Jeff.” Case nods his head. “I’ve got five years’ worth of evidence. Even the lowest-level member is going down, I promise you that. And if they’re not going down, they’re flipping on their brothers and will be just as vulnerable to backlash. No one’s going to be bothering you.”

“Okay. That makes me feel better,” I say and gather a breath. “And what about Gage?”

“His successful time in rehab and his cooperation with the investigation went a long way.” He nods again. “He’s been given immunity for his testimony, but in his case we’ll be relocating him, giving him a new name and a fresh start.” Case leans back in his chair. He’s so large he looks like an adult sitting in one of those kindergarten chairs.

“So I’ll never see him again?”

“I can pull a few strings, get you in if you’d like to say your goodbyes.”

“Thank you. I would. I owe him a lot.”

“You’re welcome. But funny, he says the same thing about you.”

I swallow the lump in my throat that Case’s words caused and watch as Case looks down and opens his suit jacket. I catch a glimpse of the tattoos on his hand as he pulls out an envelope and slides it across the conference table.

There’s a shift in mood as we all stare at the envelope. It’s time to talk about Reece and her biological father.

“DNA test,” Case says. “I haven’t opened it yet.”

His words have Jeff’s eyes snapping up, but I squeeze his knee under the table. He relaxes and nods.

“Okay.”

“Thought you might want…” Case lets his words trail off. He’s nervous, probably more nervous than Jeff. “Open it.”

Jeff nods, picks up the envelope and takes in a breath. “If this isn’t… if she’s not yours. We don’t?—”

A flash of something like fear, or maybe hurt, crosses Case’s features. He wants this. He wants to be Recce’s dad.

“No. We let him rot in prison, never knowing about her.”

Jeff’s head bobs, he flips the envelope over and slides his finger under the flap. I hold my breath as he pulls the paper out and opens it, turning it slightly so I can see.

Jeff blows out in relief and I stare at Case, watching his eyes turn glassy.

“Congratulations, Case. You’re going to be a daddy.”

THE END