Page 130 of One Little Kiss

From: [email protected]

Subject: Time to let go

Dear Pacen,

I know you’re still checking these emails because I’m smart like that and can follow the trail. I’m not even expecting you to reply anymore, though. I checked this morning. I’ve sent you 327 messages. You’ve returned only one.

I’ve been tempted over the years to call the number. The number I know you’ll answer, but I don’t. I’m trying to respect your wishes even though I’m not sure how to run this company without you. I hate my father with the passion of a thousand suns for putting me in this position, but I hate myself more for getting you involved.

We were too young to see and do what was asked of us. I was too scared to do it alone. For that, I’m sorry.

You’ve been my best friend for over half my life. I never knew you wanted more until that night. The night that changed us. Ruined us. Broke us. I’m sorry for it all.

Our fathers took more than our childhood. They took our future. My father fighting to do what’s right. Your father fighting to do what’s easy. I wish we’d known then that we’re more than their mistakes.

I’ve been waiting for you, Pacen, because I thought for you to heal, you needed to face the monster that tried to destroy you. I wanted to give you that chance, but maybe seeing your father pay for what he’s done isn’t how you heal. I just wish I knew how to make us right again. Your friendship has always mattered to me, Pacen.

Anyway, I’m writing today to tell you that your father is no longer a threat. He can’t hurt you or my family ever again.

I hope that brings you some sort of peace.

~Ash

I hit send, then turn up the volume on the flat screen TV that takes up an entire wall of my office. I watch as Macomb is escorted into a black SUV in handcuffs and chains around his legs.

Every news outlet in the world has picked up this story. Pacen would have heard about it eventually, but I felt like I owed it to her to let her know it was my doing. I put him away as much for her as for my family. With the evidence I’ve given the FBI, he’ll never be a free man again.

Now, I can only hope Colton will forgive me. Family is all I have left.

EPILOGUE

COLTON

“You ready for this?” Lochlan asks at my side. He’s standing up for me next to all of my brothers because they couldn’t get over themselves long enough for me to choose a best man. So, I chose none of them.

“Loch, I’ve been waiting for her my whole life.” I turn to my friend, who’s apparently shooting laser beams from his eyeballs. Following his line of sight, I punch him in the arm.

“What the hell is going on with you and Tilly?”

Without a care in the world, he shamelessly glares at my sister-in-law. “Nothing,” he eventually grunts. “We’ve just run into each other a few times.”

“So you’ve said. Remember what you told me the first time I saw your sister?”

Another grunt from the neanderthal. If it wasn’t so close to home, I’d laugh. I’ve never seen Loch this worked up before.

“Well, the same holds true for my family. Preston would kick your ass if you hurt her.”

“I’m not going to hurt her,” he mumbles, just as the music begins to play.

My jaw drops to the floor as the band plays “Build Me Up Buttercup”. Weston comes barreling down the aisle with Lexi running close behind. When they get to me, I scoop him up.

“Sorry,” Lexi groans. “He caught sight of you and took off.”

I kiss her on the cheek. “It’s okay. He should be down here with us, anyway.”

She hugs us both and steps to the other side of the aisle as all my sisters-in-law dance toward us. My own personal flash mob and it has tears spilling down my face. Laughter and extreme love causing all my emotions to overflow.

“At least I dodged that bullet,” Lexi stage whispers.