Page 95 of Finding Home with You

“You made your decision,” she says, cutting him off. “And now you’ll take the plea so I won’t be forced to reveal your dirty little secrets in court.” She stares across at him, a hard look on her face that tell me she means business. “And you and your fucking minions will leave Ryan and I alone,” she adds. “Forever.”

“Erin,” he says, reaching a hand across the table.

But Erin stands, pulling her hands away as she turns to me and says, “Let’s go.”

On the ride back to Rockport, I call Finn and fill him in on things before calling Joe to do the same thing. Everyone is still up in Rockport, cleaning up the mess from today, but Joe promises he’ll call the DA first thing in the morning to see what he can sort.

Just as we’re pulling into Erin’s drive, the captain calls.

“I need to take this,” I say, holding up my phone.

“It’s okay,” Erin says smiling. “I’ll see you inside.”

She leans over to kiss me quickly before getting out of the car and walking up to her front door. It still amazes me how calm she is about everything, how unaffected she seems to be. I know it has to be shock though, that her brain isn’t yet letting her process all the things she saw and heard today. It will come though and when it does, I’ll be there for her.

“Sir,” I say, answering the call as I remain sitting in the car.

“How’s Erin?” is the first thing he asks.

I smile. “Good,” I say. “Amazing actually, although I’m not entirely sure it’s really hit her yet.”

“It will,” he says. “She’s going to need you over the next couple of days and you both should really get some counseling over all of this.”

“Yeah,” I say, scrubbing a hand across my jaw. “Listen, we saw Fitzgerald.”

“What?”

“He’s taking the plea,” I say. “He’ll cop to everything provided we don’t ask questions about today.”

“He doesn’t get to make those kind of demands,” the captain says, his voice firm.

“I know,” I concede. “But he promises no more shit if we make it happen,” I say. “It’s the only way Erin will be safe.”

“Hmmmm.”

“I know it’s not the ideal situation,” I say. “And I know I should’ve run this by you first.”

“Yes, you should have.”

“But I can’t take risks like that, like today,” I add. “She’s pregnant, Sir,” I finally admit, knowing that this is a major part of why I needed this shit to end.

“Oh Jesus, Ryan, why didn’t you say?”

“I don’t know,” I reply, shaking my head even though he can’t see me. “I just know it needed to end.”

The captain lets out a long exhale. “Alright, let me talk to the DA, see what we can do. I gather you’re taking a couple of days?”

Now it’s me letting out a long breath. “Actually, Sir,” I start, my heart pounding in my chest as I think about what I’m about to say, the direction my life is now going to take as a result of this decision. But even though being a detective is all I’ve ever wanted to be, something I worked my ass off for years to achieve, this is not a decision I’m ever going to regret.

Everything’s changed now and weirdly enough it’s got nothing to do with what happened today and everything to do with what’s happened in the six months leading up to this moment.

I know what’s important to me now.

“I think it’s probably going to be a lot longer than a few days.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Erin