Page 112 of Iron Willed Warrior

So far, the FBI had acknowledged that Garon Westwick disappeared from the Arizona resort where he’d been giving a seminar. But rumors had swirled about Westwick being involved in shady criminal dealings. That he’d invested in a solar plant that was really a cover for an organized crime operation, and that he’d fled the country after a gun battle with a rival organization.

But the FBI had insisted it was all an ongoing investigation, and they couldn’t comment further.

Stanford had been true to his word about his strike force cleaning up the mess Cole and I had left behind. They had made sure that the scene at the solar plant looked like a battle between mafia outfits. Some competing bad guy who’d been angry at Stillwater’s move to corner the dark-web black market.

The FBI had also recovered Lance, the hotel clerk who’d helped Rykker kidnap me and Cole. Lance had barely lived through his ordeal in the desert, and he had wisely chosen to claim no memory of how he had wound up there with a gunshot in his leg. With all the chaos that the fire alarm andsprinklers had caused at the resort, half the guests had left anyway. So there had been few questions about what had happened to Brianna Waverley and Cameron Clay.

But there was one guest I'd wanted to thank. Molly. Cole had explained how she'd confronted him. So I had sent her a gift with a note from Brianna, telling her I had decided to leave Cameron and quit social media. Of course, I'd made sure that no one could trace it back to me as Brynn Somerton. But I had wanted her to know that her small act of bravery mattered.

River’s virus had worked exactly as it was supposed to. The Protectors and FBI hadn’t just learned Stillwater’s secrets and identified its entire list of members. Westwick had also amassed blackmail material on his friends and enemies. But acting on all of that information took time. Breaking down Garon Westwick himself via interrogation had taken time as well.

Next week, given what Charlotte had just shared, the FBI would finally confirm Westwick’s ties to Stillwater. I could already imagine parts of the Bureau’s statement.The result of an extensive investigation based upon a trove of documentary evidence provided by anonymous sources.There would be a lot of questions. From the media, from Congress, from legal experts and defense lawyers as the charges against Stillwater’s leaders hit the justice system. I trusted Stanford to keep our cover stories solid. Nobody outside our small circle would ever know about the Protectors’ involvement.

Of course, notallof Stillwater’s secrets would result in public trials or media statements. Even more of the guilty parties would be dealt with through less official means. Like those missions Cole and I had been taking here and there. Each of the Protectors, including me, had friends we trusted from our military days, and we’d been outsourcing assignments.Our expanding network of allies was probably our greatest asset.

I was proud to be a part of it. My life looked nothing like it had six months ago, but I didn’t have a single regret.

Charlotte’s smile turned sly. “Apparently, Interpol is getting tips about sightings of Westwick all over Europe. Did you see the online movement to track him down and bring him to justice? There’s a devoted subreddit.”

“I’m sure the interest will only increase after the FBI confirms the rumors about him being a criminal kingpin.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes. “If it takes attention away from where Westwickreallyis, I’m all for it. The good part is that victims are speaking out. There’s going to be a joint fund to provide restitution to those Stillwater and its members have hurt. The logistics will be tough, but I plan to make sure the money gets to the people who deserve it.”

I was glad for that. It paid to have some friends in high places.

“I’m sure I’ll be inundated with calls for comment because Stillwater targeted me last year, and I already spoke out about them,” Charlotte said. “I’m planning another interview with Genevieve. Sadly, I don’t think an article in the Hartley Gazette will satisfy my media obligations.”

“Thank goodness I’m staying out of that part.” I grinned.

“Ha, true. But all of thisismaking a difference. Stillwater’s operations have ground to a halt. Their members are being arrested or discreetly disappearing, never to be heard from again. And everyone has you and Cole to thank for it, even if most don’t know it.”

“River deserves the credit. I’m sure you already show your appreciation to him.”

She smirked. “Any chance I get. But you’re wrong. You and Cole put yourselves on the line to make this a reality. I’m grateful. You don’t know how much.” We hugged again, bothgetting choked up. “Okay, no more on that subject. Let’s talk about happier things.”

“Like the wedding we’re here to celebrate?” I asked.

“Or maybe the fact that you and Cole are going strong. I never would’ve expected you to fall for your undercover partner. It’s those fake relationship situations. They’ll get you every time.”

We both laughed.

“Cole and I are…good.”

“That’s all you’re giving me? Really?”

“It’s only been three months. I don’t know yet where it’s going.” We hadn’t exchanged I-love-yous yet, which actually reassured me. It would’ve killed me if he said it and then took it back.

But at the same time, I felt how much he cared for me. It was in the sweetness of his kisses and the way he always had his eyes on me, no matter what else was going on.

“But you seem really happy,” Charlotte said. “Enough to make me realize you might not have been so happy before.”

I nodded. “I never told you this, but I was engaged once. Before I met you. It ended badly, and I thought I could never trust a man like that again.”

“Oh, B. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I never thought I’d say this. But I think maybe it was all worth it, just so I’d recognize how perfect Cole is for me.”

Charlotte squeezed my arm. “Sounds like youdoknow where this is going between you and Cole. Your heart knows. Even if your brain hasn’t caught up yet.”

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