Page 68 of A Little Bit Whiskey
“I want them off my property,” Carter said.
“It will be my pleasure.” Eddy cuffed the chief of police. The man who took her in.
Her father.
Jesus, what a shitshow.
“Come on.” Noir wrapped his arm around her waist. “We better get that X-rayed.”
“I guess I should say thank you.” She rested her head on his strong shoulder. “I honestly thought he was going to kill me.”
He kissed her temple. “Unfortunately, we all thought that. But it’s over. He and Anna are going to go away for a long time.”
“Hey, Tamsyn.” Carter stepped in their path. “I’m so sorry, about everything. I should have—”
“You couldn’t have known.” She eased from Noir’s warm embrace and hugged Carter. “I lived with him for years and had no idea. I never even suspected, so how could you have? I appreciate everything you’ve done for me—and my mother—over the years. You’ve been more like a father to me than anyone.”
“I’ll settle for being a father-in-law someday.” He squeezed her shoulders.
“That’s putting the cart before the horse.” She felt the heat rush to her cheeks.
“Not according to my—”
“That’s enough, Dad. I need to get Tamsyn to urgent care. Then I’m sure she’ll be needed at the station for a statement.”
“You all will be,” Eddy said as he dragged Fred down the path, still kicking and screaming.
“We’re going to need a new chief. That’s going to suck,” she mumbled.
“I know who I want to back,” Carter said. “She’s perfect for the job.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Eddy smiled.
Tamsyn couldn’t believe her ears. It wasn’t something she ever thought about. Not seriously anyway. Fred had mentioned it a time or two, but it wasn’t something she thought about. Finding her mother’s killer was more important than advancing her career.
However, now that Fred had disappointed her on so many levels, the idea eased into her brain like a bright light. Not because Fred had thought she was capable, but because Fred had used it to control her in many ways, like he’d done her entire life. He dangled it over her head like a carrot. So many things made sense now.
But what mattered most was she had answers. They weren’t the ones she wanted. However, the secrets of her life had been unraveled. It was time to stop living in the past and look to the future.
“Noir,” she whispered.
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
“I know,” he said. “I love you back.”
“What your dad said, about being a father-in-law. I wouldn’t mind that.”
Noir stopped in the middle of the path.
His dad chuckled. His brothers laughed, slapping Noir on the back as they passed.
“Are you proposing to me, Tamsyn Tuttle?”
“Absolutely not.” She smiled. “But I’m giving you permission to do it right.”
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