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Dominic watched Presley’s eyes flutter and knew she was fighting off sleep. He hated to leave her for a second, but he needed to get out of his bloody shirt, shower, and check on Gia.

“I’m going to run home and change,” he told Kayne. “Do you want to come with me?”

Kayne glanced down at his now-ruined tux. “Yes.”

Dominic stopped at the nurse’s station to inform them they would return soon if Presley woke up. Exhaustion pressed down on him, but knowing Presley would recover was enough to add a lightness to his steps.

Few people were scattered around the waiting room this early in the morning. Dominic stepped outside and ground to a halt.

“Captain Bianchi, did you catch the person setting the fires?”

“We heard a firefighter was shot.”

“Is a serial killer on the loose?”

“How is Jessie King involved?”

“Whose blood is on your shirt?”

Holy hell, there were news crews, photographers, and reporters everywhere. Usually, he was calm and composed in front of cameras. However, he hadn’t expected them, so he’d had no time to prepare responses.

Kayne stepped up. “We have no comment at this time. Consult the Serenity Shores Police Department for updates.”

“Who are you?”

“What’s going on?”

“Who set the fires?”

“Is the public in danger?”

Dominic and Kayne pushed forward through the throng of people to the SUV. Kayne drove out of the lot.

“I should’ve anticipated the media,” Dom said. “This will be a huge news story.”

“I’ll call my office and have members of our public relations team get here as soon as possible.”

Before Kayne could place a call, his cell buzzed. He pushed a button on the steering wheel and answered.

“Hey, Kayne, it’s Olivia.”

“Speak of the devil,” he said. “I was getting ready to call you.”

“The media have already descended?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Monique Sherrod and Chas Bray are flying in and should be there soon. They’ll coordinate with the local police department to address the press. They’ll call you when they arrive.”

“You are a lifesaver, Olivia.”

Once he ended the call, he told Dominic, “That was Olivia Mylonas. She’s married to my coworker Alex. She owns TKO Productions, along with two other spouses, Taylor Costa and Kendall Demarchis. They handle all the public relations and are excellent at their jobs.”

“Good, because after what Presley told us about Jessie and the others, this will be a major shitstorm.”

#

“Presley, can you hear me? I really need to talk to you.”

Presley recognized the voice. Jessie King. She had no desire to speak with the woman who had lied to her for years. The woman who had killed Gwen. If and when she faced her, Presley would be on her feet and not lying in a hospital bed.

“Maybe it’s easier if you’re unconscious,” Jessie murmured. “You’ll never know how much I regret what happened that night. My only excuse is that we were young and stupid. I honestly thought Gwen was dead. There was so much blood. If Tamera had found a pulse, we would’ve called for help. I’m not blaming Tamera, or maybe I am. I don’t know.” She sighed. “I’ll return when you’re awake because I have a huge favor to ask you. You are the only one who knows what really happened that night besides me. Margy, Nancy, Charmaine, and now Tamera are dead. She didn’t make it. Her lungs were scarred from years of smoking.”

Jessie grasped her hand, and it was all Presley could do to avoid jerking it out of her grip. She wanted to know what favor Jessie was referring to.

“I ask that you not tell anyone what happened with Gwen. It’s completely selfish, I know. But I’ve become accustomed to my lifestyle. If people discover what we did, I’ll be ostracized, maybe even arrested. Sam might leave me . . . hell, he probably will anyway.”

Aw, too bad. Jessie would lose her life of privilege. Never mind that the others had lost their lives .

“I’ve never had an actual job,” Jessie continued with her personal pity party. “I don’t know how I would support myself. Pathetic, right? I realize people will wonder what happened. You can say you don’t remember.”

Presley couldn’t wait to have this conversation when she was out of the hospital. Actually, it wouldn’t happen. Jessie obviously hadn’t seen the camera Val and Rena had set up to tape her confession. Presley assumed the police were now in possession of it. Plus, if Rena was still alive, she would spill her guts to save her own hide.

“What the hell are you doing in here?”

Dominic.

Presley cracked a lid to see Jessie spin around. “Dominic. You scared me. I came to check on my dear friend, Presley.”

#

Dominic felt better after a shower and a bite to eat. Gia was worried about Presley. He assured her she was okay, and that lifted her spirits.

After a call from the police with a demand disguised as a request, he and Kayne stopped by the station. FBI agents had arrived from the Minneapolis office. Dominic gave his official statement, which was short. He’d had a minor part in the ordeal. Kayne had given his last night but had to repeat it for the feds. Presley would need to speak with them when she was able.

The captain allowed them to watch the video Rena had recorded of Jessie’s and Tamera’s confessions. Dom clenched his jaw so hard he was surprised he didn’t crack a tooth. Learning how Jessie and the others had assumed Gwen was dead and set the fire that had killed her was almost more than he could take. He couldn’t imagine Presley hearing it from their lips.

Instead of owning up to their actions, they had compounded them by letting Jerrod Moran think he was responsible. Two young lives had been lost because of five girls and their cowardice.

It’d gutted him to hear Val and Rena admit to staging the accident that had killed two of his firefighters. He called their families to inform them before they heard it on the news.

The two people that Kayne’s office had sent for public relations arrived. He gave them a statement to release, including his disappointment in his firefighter, Rena Robbins, and had them contact Charlie at the station.

The bullet from Presley’s gun had shattered Rena’s patella. She’d have to have knee replacement surgery and recover behind bars. She blamed Val for everything, saying she had threatened her. Dom didn’t care what excuse she used, as long as she was locked away for a long time.

Reggie Branch was now in stable condition and would recover. Dom planned on visiting him when he returned to the hospital.

Kayne was called back for more questioning since he’d released the bullets that killed both Eddie Smith and Val Anders. Instead of waiting, Dom told him he would meet him in Presley’s room and bummed a ride from one of the cops.

He heard a voice as soon as he pushed the door open. When he saw who it was, red clouded his vision.

“What the hell are you doing in here?”

Jessie spun around with a hand on her chest. “Dominic. You scared me. I came to check on my dear friend, Presley.”

He felt like a huffing bull, ready to charge. “Get. Out.”

Jessie gasped. “Dominic, why are you acting like this?”

He stalked forward, and she stumbled back, bumping into Presley’s bed. “You are a murderer.”

Jessie’s breath puffed in and out. Dom didn’t care if she passed out. If it were up to him, she would be locked in jail right now.

Jessie glanced back at Presley and then at him. “H-how did you know? W-what did you hear?”

“Your entire confession.”

Her mouth gaped like a fish. “How?”

“Val Anders filmed the entire thing.”

“What? Where is the tape?”

“In the custody of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

Jessie dropped into the chair. “No, no, no.”

“How did you live with yourself, Jessie? My God, Gwen was your best friend.”

“It wasn’t easy! I’ve regretted it every day since. Why do you think I drink so much? It helps me forget.”

“You lied to Presley’s face all those years.”

Jessie burst into tears. Dominic glanced at Presley to see her awake and listening. She mouthed something to him, and his heart bumped against his ribcage.

I love you.

“I love you too,” he responded.

“My life is ruined.” Jessie sobbed.

“I won’t tell you again. Get out.”

Jessie looked up at him with swollen red eyes. “Dominic, you’re my friend.”

“I was. Not anymore.”

“Look, I’m sorry for what I did.”

“Then why did you want me to lie?”

Jessie jumped to her feet with a gasp. “Presley. You’re awake?”

“I have been the entire time.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Jessie wailed.

“I have nothing to say to you.”

A knock sounded on the door. “I’m looking for Jessie King.”

Her eyes widened in panic. “Who is it?” she mouthed.

Instead of answering, Dominic said, “She’s in here.”

Two men in starched blue suits entered. Dom would’ve pegged them for feds even if he didn’t know they were in town.

One of the men took her arm and pulled it behind her back to slap on handcuffs. “Jessie King, you have the right to remain silent . . .”

“Please, Dominic, help me.”

Dom wanted to harden his heart, but he felt a measure of sympathy for her. She had been young, but it didn’t explain her actions as an adult. “I’ll notify your husband.” Instead of calling, he texted Sam to let him know Jessie had been arrested.

When they were gone, he walked over to the bed. With a finger, he brushed a lock of hair from Presley’s face. “How do you feel?”

“Better. I’m ready to leave here.”

“The doctor wants to keep you overnight since you were drugged. You’ll be able to go home tomorrow. He said you won’t be able to fly for a while.”

“That stinks.”

He cupped a hand around her face. “Did you mean it?”

“That I love you? Yes.”

Relief washed over him. He leaned down to kiss her, lingering because he missed her taste. Dropping beside her, he took her hand. “I love you too, Presley. So much it scares me. I don’t have only myself to think about. Every decision I make includes Gia.”

“I love her too.”

That brought a lump of emotion to his throat. His voice was husky when he said, “She loves you. I don’t want to be presumptuous, but you and Gia are my life now. I don’t want to live without you.”

She smiled. “I don’t want to live without either of you.”

“Gia hates it here. I’ve planned on looking for a new job for a while.”

“Your beautiful property . . .”

“It’s just a house. Without you, it will never be a home.”

#

Presley had been prepared to quit the job she loved for the man and child she adored. Hearing that he planned on resigning wasn’t something she’d contemplated. She knew Gia didn’t like Serenity Shores, but she thought Dominic was too ensconced in the community to leave.

Despite all that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, hope soared. “What if you came to Bloomington, and I showed you around?”

His smile was slow and sure, and she fell in love with him all over again. She had a feeling that would happen every time his beautiful mouth curved at her.

“I thought you would never ask.”

He kissed her, and she whimpered when he ended it.

“I want to do this right.”

He dropped to a knee, and her heart stopped all together.

“I know it’s too soon, and we can wait as long as you want, but I love you, Presley Parrish. You would make me the happiest man on the planet if you would do me the honor of being my wife.”

Her jaw dropped when he opened a black velvet box. “Dominic . . .”

“It was my mother’s ring. Don’t worry, I never offered it to Lainey.”

His ex-wife hadn’t crossed her mind. It was the size of the diamond. It had to be worth a fortune.

Tears filled her eyes. “Yes.”

Dominic exhaled in a rush and slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. That had to be significant, didn’t it?

Then he was kissing her again.

“Uh-hum.”

Presley smiled at Kayne’s interruption and Dominic’s response to it. He acted as if he didn’t hear; he kept gliding his lips over hers.

“Look, that can’t be good for a person who recently suffered a pneumothorax. Air is important.”

Dominic chuckled and pulled back. His thumb rubbed over her lips.

“I assume you’re feeling better, Presley,” Kayne drawled. “Judging by that satisfied—what the hell is that on your finger? The iceberg that crashed the Titanic?”

She wiggled it as much as possible with needles in her arm.

“I’m just a lowly Cajun boy. What does that mean? Are you moving to Minnesota?”

“Actually, Gia and I are going to visit Indiana to see if it’s a fit.”

“Oh, it will be. I do not doubt that. Congratulations, both of you! Laissez les bons temps rouler .”

Let the good times roll, indeed.

# # #