Page 81 of Forbidden Desires

“Hmm,” I grumble at her for getting me all excited then turn my attention back to Em. “Who do you think it is?” I ask. The suspense is killing me.

“That’s just it. I can’t work it out. My first thought was one of the Prescotts. There are three of them; Hamilton you met, but he has a younger brother and sister as well. I was thinking maybe they’re covering their tracks by using the pen name. But my gut tells me it’s not.”

I glance down the long table, seeing a sea of familiar faces. Could it be one of the people sitting at this table with us right now? I know Emerson’s thinking the same thing. It has to be someone that knows us all well enough to know our juicy secrets. Either that or Prescott Media has an informant of sorts who’s feeding them information.

Detective McAllister approaches the table, his face serious, but that’s nothing new. Every time I have met with him in the last week, that was his same expression. He’s so different from his brothers who always seem to be happy. “Can I talk to you both for a second?” he asks Brody and me.

I glance at Brody, unease settling in my stomach, wondering what this could be about. We walk around the corner of a building away from the crowd.

“What’s going on, Kane? They making you work through Thanksgiving?”

“Crime doesn’t take a day off,” he grumbles, unimpressed.

Brody raises a brow like he doesn’t believe him.

“Well, it’s pretty uneventful around here normally, but this case has had us all working overtime,” he admits. “Mason got desperate and contacted Jake. We traced him to a small farmhouse about an hour away. We picked him up this morning.”

As soon as the words leave his mouth, relief washes over me, and the sick feeling I have been stuck with for a week washesaway. “Thank you.” I hug Detective McAllister, so grateful for his help. He promised me he wouldn’t stop until he found him, and he stayed true to his word.

“He won’t be getting released on bail. He’s listed as too dangerous. What we found on his property was quite disturbing.”

“Should we ask?” Brody says, his hand gripping mine for comfort.

He shakes his head. “Couldn’t tell you if you did. But let’s just say I’m glad we caught him and he was locked up before he could do any more damage.” He looks at me when he says the words, and I already know whatever they found has something to do with me. The thought is incredibly disturbing.

“So, I’m safe? He can’t come for me again?” I ask, needing to hear him say it.

“You’re safe.” He offers me a genuine smile. “Go enjoy your Thanksgiving. And maybe name your firstborn after me.” He winks, trying to break the intense tension hanging in the air.

I can’t help but smile back at him. There is a little of Elliot’s charm in there after all. He wanders off to find his brother, leaving us alone to celebrate the good news.

Brody takes my face in his hands, and I stare up at him, feeling so grateful and lucky to have found such an amazing man. My life has changed so much this year, and I can truly say I’ve found myself. I know what I want from my life now. He kisses me. “You’re safe,” he whispers like he’s still trying to convince himself.

“I’m safe.” I wrap an arm around his waist and snuggle into him as we wander back to the rest of them. We huddle at the back, sipping our drinks, while keeping an eye on our friends. I feel so lucky to have them all in my life now. Cassie looks like she’s joined in with Paisley, Emerson, and Mae’s conversation. I knew she would get along with these girls. She smirks at me likeshe knows something, and I wonder what gossip they’re telling her.

Brody’s arm snakes around my waist, and he pulls me into him, kissing my cheek. “You and Cassie are so close. Are you sure you want to stay here?” he asks, looking in her direction.

“I have a job here I enjoy, friends I have so much fun with, and you. I might have grown up in New York, and that might be where my blood relatives are, but my family is here. I love this group of people. And when I want to see Cassie, I can have a trip away.” I smile back at him.

“Even after what happened?” he asks more seriously. I can see it’s all still playing on his mind. It’s on mine too. I’m sure it will be until well after Mason and Lana’s trials. The thought that I could have pegged him so wrong really gets to me. I know Paisley feels guilty she ever tried to set us up, and Jake came and apologized to us personally last week. He was mortified that his best friend had it in him to kidnap and threaten lives. He had no idea how much of a psycho he was. He's really shaken up about it.

“What happened last week could have happened anywhere. If anything, more likely in New York. I’m not running away anymore; this is where I want to stay.” I kiss his lips, showing him just how much. I couldn’t even consider leaving now. Not now that I have found him.

He laces his hand with mine. “I wouldn’t have let you go anyway.”

“So controlling.” I laugh lightheartedly.

“I’m serious, Gigi, you’re my girl, and before much longer, you’re going to be my wife living with me at the ranch.”

I freeze and look up at him in disbelief. Did he just say what I think he did? He wants to marry me? “Hold your horses. When did all this get decided?”

“Hold your horses?” He chuckles. “You have officially become one of us.”

“Probably.” I smirk, liking the idea. “But seriously, what are you talking about?”

With so much love in his eyes, he gently brushes my hair away from my face, and it fills me with warmth. No one has ever adored me like he does, and it feels so nice to know I’m so special to him. “I want forever with you, Gisele. I’m totally in love with you. I want marriage, babies, it all. If that’s what you want as well?”

“You have no idea how much.” I kiss him. “I love you too, Brody Alexander.” I really am the lucky one.

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