Page 49 of Marked

Jill was another story all together. Something inside her broke when Dave was put into handcuffs. She went from inconsolable to despondent when the police cruiser pulled away. Amazingly, it was Iris who stepped up to the plate. She arranged for Jill to be accepted into a facility in Arizona, which specialized in grief counseling after the loss of a child. From what Iris explained, the place was similar to Juniper Springs––minus the pot. It shouldn’t have taken another tragedy before Jill got the help she needed, but what was done was done.

That all happened two days ago and since the dust had finally settled somewhat, we were on our way home. With the Bratva threat still out there, Duncan offered to drive the SUV so Lanie and I could fly back with Waverly and Koen. “Safety in numbers,” he said.

I smiled, thinking about how this little community not only rallied around Lanie, they turned out in a big way to see us off. Even the little old lady, who’d threatened me with shoveling pig shit our first night here, pulled me in for a hug. It was a bittersweet ending, but it wasn’t goodbye.We’d return in a few months for Lee and Amy’s wedding, plus Lanie’s parents were already planning a trip to Huntington.

“How many text messages did you have from the girls?” I asked about halfway through our four-hour flight.

“Sixty-seven, if you only count the ones from the past week.”

“They missed you.”

“You have no idea how much I missed them.”

She went back to scrolling through her phone as mine vibrated in my back pocket. The past two and a half weeks of being cut off from our friends was an experience I didn’t want to replicate any time soon. They were as essential to us as breathing.

Pulling out my cell, I tapped on the screen to open the message from Keaton.

Keaton: It’s done. You owe me.

Me: Thank you and don’t worry, I’ll handle any fallout.

Keaton: You’re damn right you will. No way am I taking the blame.

Keaton: Oh, and be prepared. Henley and Jade have a welcome home dinner planned.

Me: I figured they’d do something.

Keaton: I’ll see you in a few hours.

Me: You picking us up from the airport?

Keaton: Nope. I value my life too much. Good luck, lol.

Me: Asshole.

“Was that Keaton?” Lanie settled back against the sofa, a perk of flying in a private jet. It seemed I owed my partner more than one favor.

“Yup. How’s your side?”

“It feels fine. Like nothing ever happened.”

Her stitches came out this morning, right before we boarded the plane. Scarring would be minimal, especially if she massaged a little vitamin E oil into it every day. I’d already volunteered for the task.

When she closed her eyes and yawned, I drew her close, rubbing circles up and down her back. We both slept like shit last night, even after a vigorous round of lovemaking. Hopefully once we were back into the swing of things, our minds would settle down. Everything else would fall into place from there.

“Love you, Lanie.”

“Love you too, Cowboy.”

I really hoped she still felt the same in a few hours.

“I never said yes, Noah Michael Anderson!”

Yup, she full named me. I’d stepped in a huge pile of shit. So why the hell couldn’t I stop smiling?

“You never said no either, Alaina Lyn Biggs.”

Poking the bear wasn’t smart, especially when said bear was a five-foot-five special agent known for her quicktemper and nasty right hook. Yet, there I was, poking away. Someone really should’ve stopped me.

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