Page 46 of Fortune’s Control (Fortune’s Creek #1)

Lilah gripped my mother’s old quilt against her as we watched two deputies escort Nelson Davis into an ambulance. She pulled it over her shoulders, despite June’s heat, as the door slammed shut behind him.

“Is that it? Is it over?”

“It’s over,” I said.

Lilah repeated my words, and I couldn’t tell which of us spoke with more relief.

“Aiden. They killed him.” Her lip quivered as she wiped a cheek. “He tried to protect me, and they killed him for it.”

“He’s alive.” Her mouth fell open. “The bullet hit his shoulder, and he might have a concussion, but that’s it.” I showed the location on my body before placing my arm over her. Lilah settled against me as a covered body exited the cabin.

“Oh, thank goodness. We need to see him, Shane. I want to see him.”

“We will. Soon.”

Jack came up next to us. “It’ll be ruled self-defense.” He wracked both hands through his overgrown hair, sending it into a wild tangle, and undercutting his matter-of-fact delivery. “With our three statements, and the detective corroborating what he first witnessed, it’s straightforward.”

Detective Moore approached us, using his body to block Lilah’s view of his former partner being loaded into a second ambulance. “He confessed to two more incidents, believing it’d invite leniency for some damn reason.” He raised his brows, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Birmingham and Savannah?” Lilah guessed.

“There may even be others. For now, he’ll go to Atlanta so the D.A. can investigate further.”

“Investigate further?” Lilah drew back, horrified. “You can’t let him go.”

“You think I’d let him walk now? After all this? He’ll spend the rest of his life behind bars, with different jurisdictions fighting for their turn at a trial.”

She frowned, not satisfied with his answer. “What about Wilson Skane?”

“The process of dropping charges has already started.”

“What tipped you off to your partner’s involvement?” I asked.

Moore kicked at the dirt with his heel and spat.

“I worked with him for eight years, and never suspected a damn thing. He was a cop, one of the best in our department. It’s because of you two, and pointing out that the victims wore glasses.

He once mentioned his younger sister’s unsolved murder led him to join the police force.

I recalled a picture of her taken years ago, with her in glasses.

I found it again, in a hidden office folder, and there was another kid in the picture, a boy. ”

Lilah’s eyes bulged with comprehension. “Nelson?”

“He was too young to be Matt, so I wondered. Davis never mentioned a brother. It turns out they’re half-siblings on their father’s side.

They grew up together outside Charleston for years until Matt moved to Atlanta after their sister’s murder.

It could have been Nelson Davis who did it, or it’s what led him to start.

If you want my guess, he killed his little sister, his older brother covered it up, and he continued, right until the moment you two appeared.

Davis took time off for a family emergency, which is why you heard from me rather than him.

” Moore cleared his throat. “He didn’t return to work this morning as scheduled, and I guessed they were here. ”

“That explains how Nelson knew so much. He knew I lived here and had the address because his brother told him.” Lilah grabbed my arm. “It wasn’t my mother.”

I recalled the night Pirate disappeared, and Lilah’s fear of being watched. He’d been here all along, playing with her and waiting for his moment.

“This won’t give Sandy Cooper’s family closure or any relief.

Please tell them I hope…I hope they know she helped us find the man who did this.

I’ll be there for any trial, to help put him away forever.

” Lilah looked up at me, questioning, and I nodded, knowing what she meant to say. “Tell them we’ll both be there.”

A deputy, young enough that I wondered if he graduated from high school, came up to us. “We received a message from the hospital. Your friend will be out of surgery soon.”

Lilah cried out, while Jack and I offered more subdued sighs of relief.

“Do you still need us here?” I asked.

Moore wiped his face. “Go see to your friend. We can take it from here.”

“The sheriff will want formal statements in the morning,” the deputy added. “If you’d prefer that to be done in your home, let me know.”

I wouldn’t subject Lilah to an interrogation after this. “You know where we live. Tomorrow morning will be fine. Late morning is better.”

“Can we go now?” Lilah asked.

“Oh, hell, yes. Let’s go,” Jack said.

**** *

“Can you give us a minute?” I asked. Jack accompanied us to the hospital, since we were all eager to check on Aiden. “We’ll meet you inside.”

“See you on the inside.” He left without further protest.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened my arms to her. “Come here.” Lilah launched herself into them, and we held each other, neither wanting to let go first. Her body relaxed, bit by bit, as I murmured words of comfort into her ear. “It’s over now, thanks to you.”

“I did nothing. My attempted escape didn’t even work.”

“Your attempted escape wrecked their plans enough for us to finish the job. Besides, that isn’t what I’m referring to.

” She tilted her head, confused. I stroked her lips and kissed them.

“If it weren’t for you, Nelson Davis would be looking for his next victim while an innocent man rotted in jail.

You’re the one who trusted yourself enough to question what you were told. That’s on you.”

“When you put it that way.”

She bit her lower lip, and I fought the urge to kiss her again. It didn’t work.

“I’m putting it that way.”

“Shane?”

“Right here, sweetheart.” I nuzzled her cheek with my own, letting her feel the rough shadow.

“I love you.”

The whispered tone and the raw vulnerability she placed into those three words stirred me. “Me too. More than anything. I love you.” I pulled the quilt from her hands, setting it in the back seat. “Are you ready to go inside?”

The hospital’s bright lights shone into the truck’s front window. Lilah stared up at the building. “Can we visit the gift shop first?”

“Sure, whatever you want.”

After a quick gift shop detour, I knocked on the open door, unsurprised to find his hospital room overflowing with visitors.

Sam sat in the chair closest to his son, with Dean standing behind him, while Lainey leaned against the far wall.

Evelyn read through his patient file, nodding with apparent approval as Jack poured Aiden a glass of ice water.

Lainey ran to Lilah, embracing her. “We all heard. Are you okay?”

“I am now.”

Deciding to give them privacy, I checked on Aiden. “For a man with a bullet wound, you look pretty damn amazing.”

A pale undertone muted his tawny skin, negating the benefits of his constant sun exposure. He eyed Lilah over his cup of water. “How is she?”

“Worried about you.”

His features took on a glum cast, with him biting on his lip as one eye ticked. “I knew something was wrong. If I’d…” He shook himself and trained his characteristic smile on me. “You should know I pitch right-handed.”

“Not happening.”

“I intend to challenge you for the role of team captain in three days.” He glanced down at his left shoulder. “Four days. Five at the most.”

“We’ll talk later.” We wouldn’t, but I could indulge him until then.

I leaned against the bed, putting all the weight on my right leg, while taking care not to cause him pain.

“Thank you for being there today. You’re the reason she’s safe with me, with all of us.

If it weren’t for you, I don’t know…” I couldn’t bring myself to finish.

“I didn’t do anything,” he insisted.

I leaned down so only he could hear this part. “The love of my life is safe because of you, and I will spend the rest of my life paying you back. You saved me twice.”

Lilah joined us and passed over a small paper bag with the hospital name written on one side.

Aiden opened it and peered inside. His head fell back from a bellowing laugh.

“It’s every kind they had. Hopefully, your favorite is in there,” she said.

He opened the bag, spilling the contents onto his lap, and wheezed, “It’s in there with no audit to be found.”

I expected Lilah to choose a balloon or a box of chocolates, but she headed straight to the gum rack while complaining about the lack of shoeboxes for sale. From Aiden’s reaction, it appeared she made the correct choice.

He asked what happened at the cabin, and by silent agreement, Lilah and I let Jack explain.

“Does this mean it’s all over? My granddaughter doesn’t need to worry about stalkers or crazy people anymore.” Evelyn asked.

“I may testify, but that’s not decided yet,” Lilah said before turning towards me. “It’s decided that I’ll resume riding my bike into town.”

“No argument from me,” I said. Her car sat at the farthest part of our driveway, unused since the time she first asked to borrow a bicycle. It amused me at first, and now I recognized it as another tendril in the life she built here in Fortune’s Creek, where she belonged. With me.

“What’s this?” Aiden picked up a chocolate bar, confused.

“Oh, that’s mine.” Lilah covered her mouth, embarrassed, as he handed it over. She opened the package and tore off a piece of chocolate. “Do you want some?” she asked me, handing it over. “Anyone else?”

I gritted my teeth and took a small bite.

“Wait. You haven’t told her yet?” Dean asked.

“Told me what?” she asked.

“He doesn’t like chocolate. Shane can’t stand it.”

All my friends joined in with similar statements.

“Thanks for the assist,” I bit out, glaring at my former friend. “It’s bitter, and I prefer desserts that are fruit-based.”

“Fruit-based?” Lilah added a strange lilt to the word, like she struggled to comprehend my preference. “Why did you keep it a secret?”

“It never came up. You weren’t supposed to find out.

” I would not reveal my plan of eternal suffering in front of an audience.

“Should we go? That way, Aiden can rest. Also, I recall Dean volunteering to take over his business, including finishing up that retail shop and rebuilding the cars, until Aiden is ready. How long will that be, Aiden? Two weeks?”

He grinned, shoving a piece of gum in his mouth. “It might even be three.”

“Let’s make it four to give you plenty of time for recovery. Thanks for volunteering, Dean. Consider using your vacation time.”

“Well, that’s an idea,” Sam volunteered. “I’ll step in as well. It’ll be a chance for me to spend time with my sons.”

Jack added, “You can put me on the volunteer list, Dean. We can spend our afternoons together.”

Dean, the most standoffish of our circle, looked about to choke .

“Thanks for stepping up.” I clapped his shoulder. “We’ll return tomorrow to check on Aiden.”

We confirmed Jack’s ride home, said our goodbyes, and left, both of us ready to go home where we belonged.