Page 102 of Bad Situation

Jen lifts a shocked eyebrow and tips her head. “A chunk?”

I shake my head but I’m quickly learning it doesn’t matter how old they are, Texas women will do and say whatever the hell they please, because I don’t get a word in. “Yep. And he needs to take the pain meds or at least double up on ibuprofen.” She smiles, pleased with herself and then looks to me. “By the looks of you, I’m sure you’ll be back to wreaking havoc in no time. Good luck, cowboy.”

I narrow my eyes. “I’m not a cowboy.”

“Well, you sure took a bullet like one.”

With that, the nurse heads out of the room, leaving me with Jen, and damn if I can’t get a read on the woman I love.

I give her another squeeze. “Sit down.”

She parks it on the edge of the bed, our hips touching. When I grab her hand, she wraps both of hers around mine.

“You heard what happened?”

She exhales and slumps into her own skin. “Sort of. Andrew found out what he could and told me on the way over here. Bree lost it.”

I nod. “She did. But there’s more.”

Her fingers tense. “What?”

Lowering my voice, I hate having to tell her even though it’s a load off. “They’ll have to analyze the ballistics to be sure, but there’s reason to believe Bree is responsible for the shootings. The PI was investigating her for planting the evidence since Patrick knew she tampered with it. If the bullets match, then it’s done. She’ll be charged with murder. She practically confessed to it today.”

And there it goes—her armor, melting away by the second. Her eyes well and she rolls her lips in. I give her hand a yank and she falls into my bare chest where I wrap her up.

“Why would she do that?” she mumbles into my neck.

I dip my hand into her heavy hair and put my lips to her head. “Desperation? Out of her mind? I have no clue. If it all leads back to her, it’s done. I don’t know how she got the files onto your network or opened shell corps in your name, but it’s being looked into now. What I do know is, you’ll get your dismissal and this’ll be over.”

She lets out a quiet sob and nods.

“Come on. Let me take you home. You need to call your lawyer and bring your dad up to speed.”

She sits up and swipes the tears from her face. “You should rest. I’ll make a phone call and have your prescriptions delivered.”

I shake my head and sigh. “Of course, you will.”

*****

Jen

“Because of new evidence and other factors that have come to light earlier in the week,” the judge clears his throat as he scribbles something on a piece of paper, “Jensen Omera Montgomery is hereby cleared of all charges. The case is dismissed.”

I exhale and look over at Trig who’s standing beside me. He gives me nothing more than a lift of his chin. Even though his job got a whole lot easier on Wednesday when Bree Newman had her meltdown and basically admitted to double homicide, he was on top of everything. If the press and Eli weren’t watching, I’d kiss him on the cheek.

Instead, I turn to grab my things and see Eli standing in the aisle waiting on me. Unlike last time I stood here when he was my secret and I was his, today he holds his hand out and I go straight to him. I don’t care who’ll be reporting this in the Dallas Morning News or the Business Journal or Fortune Magazine. We’ve claimed each other and we’re not hiding it any longer.

He doesn’t make me work for it. He leans down to place a chaste kiss on my lips before I move to my parents. Ellie had an appointment with her general contractor for her new warehouse and, since it was a slam dunk, told me she’d be here in spirit and we’d celebrate my not sporting an orange jumpsuit this weekend.

The FBI put a rush on the ballistics report and Bree was telling the truth in her unbridled state—her personal weapon matched that of the bullets that killed both Patrick and the PI. She’s been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, but her attorney is requesting medical evaluations to test her mental state.

Eli told me his supervisor is also on unpaid leave until the FBI conducts further investigation into his conduct. He told me this with a smile spread across his rugged face so I took it to mean he’s not too upset by it. His OPR interview is next week and he’s not worried. Though, really, not much seems to rattle Elijah Pettit.

My dad kisses my cheek and I’m pulled into a hug by my mom. When I turn, Dad is shaking Eli’s hand. “Appreciate all you’ve done.”

Eli’s eyes slice to mine. “I’d do it all over again.”

That makes me want to declare all kinds of dirty promises to him for later.

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