Page 107 of Taking Care of the Target

“Yeah, but I got the girl, my brother cleaned up his act”—he shot a grin at Bobby and he returned it—“and I get to start over in a new place like I always wanted.”

They climbed into the back of a black car with heavily tinted windows, and Cassie tucked up her knee as she turned to face him. “Okay, but let’s start anewlucky streak, where everything goes well and no one attempts to kill us.”

Vince wrapped his hand around her thigh, glad she’d worn a skirt today, and rubbed his thumb across her soft skin. “Oh, come on. We’ve still got to have a little excitement now and then.”

Cassie leaned in and brushed her lips across his before kissing him square on the mouth. “Well, that’s what I’m keeping you around for.”

Epilogue

Cassie stared out the window and watched the ocean waves in the distance. The lack of a true autumn in Oceanside, California made her wonder about settling there at first, but then she fell in love with the ocean. Calm or crashing waves. Early morning or when the sun set and melted into the water.

She’d also fallen in love with the small restaurant she, Vince, and Bobby were renovating. The guys were handy when it came to knocking down and building things, wiring, and general repair, and she was good at saying “there”, “not there”, and picking out appliances and paint colors.

At first she worried that since she hadn’t gone through culinary school yet, she’d be lost trying to work the kitchen of a restaurant. But they’d hired another chef, and she was going to learn from her and take classes on the side. Right now the focus was building a new home base.

The U.S. Marshals recommended cutting ties with every acquaintance; they told them the people who did things their way had a one-hundred percent chance of not being found. But about a week after buying the restaurant and renting a cute little house, Cassie told Vince she wanted to make a quick trip to Tulsa.

He didn’t bat an eye or tell her it was a bad idea, just went right to making the arrangements.

Last Sunday night, as they’d pulled up next to the familiar barrage of vehicles parked in front of the Hurst’s house, excitement had tingled through every inch of her body. Cassie rang the doorbell while Vince and Bobby stood behind her, no idea what they were in for, regardless of her attempts to prepare them.

Maude screamed right in Cassie’s face and then nearly knocked her over with a hug, telling her she hadn’t stopped worrying since she left. Then she’d turned on Vince and yelled at him, and Cassie had to quickly clear up the assumption about his being married and having kids.

Maude took them inside, and Cassie did another round of hugs and introductions. She told them what she could, skimping on the exact details.

Vince thanked them for taking care of her when he couldn’t, and Maude insisted they stay for dinner. When Vince mentioned that Cassie put on quite a show while she cooked, everyone ended up crowded into the kitchen as she and Maude moved around the counter and stove, and Maude even got in on the juggling act. One can had ended up dented beyond the can opener’s abilities, but Cassie laughed so hard she got a stitch in her side.

Deanne and Bobby had flirted the whole time, Cassie and Owen had a nice chat that Vince tried to remain neutral about—he’d even growled that he “trusted her judgment” before giving them ten whole feet of space. The entire night would go down as one of the best nights of her life.

Of course it made Cassie want to break the rules and say, “Hey, y’all stop by our new place if you’re ever in California.” But in the end, she didn’t want to risk the lives of people she cared about. Despite how crazy hard it’d been to say goodbye all over again, the closure was good for her.

The door to the restaurant banged open, and Bobby came in, phone to his ear. “Okay, I’ll get her and be there in about ten.” He hung up and looked at her. “I’ve been instructed to take you home.”

Cassie lowered her eyebrows. “You boys have been acting weird all day. What’s going on?”

“I just follow the orders, ma’am,” Bobby said, saluting her, and she laughed. They climbed into Bobby’s truck, and a short drive later, he pulled up to the three-bedroom rancher that was now home. She expected him to turn off the truck and come in, but he kept the engine running. “I’ve got a meeting to get to,” he explained.

“Later, then.” Cassie walked up the sidewalk, no idea what to expect. Just before she stepped inside, she took a deep breath of the ocean breeze. Yeah. This place was perfect.

The door swung open, and Vince leaned against the doorframe.Speaking of perfect…

“I’ve got a surprise,” he said. “Close your eyes.”

She did as instructed and then he guided her into the house, cupping his hands over her glasses and walking her in the direction of the living room. “Hmm. I expected the bedroom,” she said.

His warm breath hit her neck, sending a pleasant chill down her spine. “I’ll give you something else in there later, I promise.” He pulled her to a stop. “Ready?”

“I think so?”

He dropped his hands, and there, a few feet in front of her, was her hot pink couch with her mom’s quilt draped across one corner. She blinked, thinking it had to be a mirage. Tears sprang to her eyes, and warmth radiated through her chest. She walked over and ran her hand across the familiar cushions, then picked up the quilt and hugged it to her.

She spun to Vince. “How?”

“Agent McVee. Guess there are some good pigs out there,” he said with a smile. “With Carlo’s other men officially going away for ten to twenty, I caught him just before his retirement party. He put everything under a fake name, and then I had to drive to LA to get it. Just to be safe.”

Vince came over and rubbed his hand up and down her back. “I want to start over with you, but I also wanted you to have the stuff you cared about from your past.”

She set down the quilt, wrapped her arms around Vince, and kissed him, throwing everything she had into it. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

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