Page 55 of Outlaw Ridge: Jesse
Isabel didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. The smug curve of her lips said it all.
But Lauren knew one thing for certain—Isabel wasn’t in control anymore.
The cruiser rolled to a stop in front of the Outlaw Ridge Police Station, and Lauren spotted Hallie. The sheriff was already outside, waiting near the entrance, her stance solid, arms crossed over her chest, her expression all cop. As Griff killed the engine, Hallie stepped forward, her sharp gaze flicking between Lauren, Jesse, and Isabel, who sat cuffed between them, smugness etched into every line of her face.
Jesse opened the door and pulled Isabel out with no gentleness, gripping her arm tightly as if letting go would give Isabel even the smallest victory. Lauren slid out right after him, her feet feeling heavier than they should, like the weight of everything they’d been through had settled deep in her bones.
“I’ll handle the arrest,” Hallie offered, glancing at Lauren and Jesse again. “You two look as if you could use some downtime.”
Lauren hesitated, the words caught in her throat. But then she spoke, her voice low but firm. “No. I want to do it.”
Hallie studied her for a beat, then gave a small nod, stepping back to give her space.
Lauren stepped closer to Isabel, her heart pounding—not with fear, but with something else. Finality. This was it. The moment that would mark the end of the nightmare that had haunted her for sixteen years.
She met Isabel’s eyes, those cold, defiant eyes that had once been filled with secrets Lauren never saw coming.
“You’re under arrest,” Lauren said, her voice strong, the words cutting through the night air like a blade. “For kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder, and the deaths of Abilene Joyce and Nicky Holden.”
Lauren took hold of Isabel’s arm and got the woman moving. Inside, where she’d be locked away in a cell.
The nightmare wasn’t gone. But it was over.
It was finally over.
Chapter Twenty-One
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Jesse drove down the familiar stretch of road toward Lauren’s house, the setting sun casting a warm orange glow across the horizon. The town of Outlaw Ridge was quieter now, the chaos of the investigation finally settling like dust after a long, brutal storm.
It had been a week since Isabel’s arrest—a week of interviews, reports, and endless paperwork. Isabel had been transferred to a maximum-security prison to await trial, her confession confirmed by every piece of evidence the CSIs had uncovered, including the fact that Isabel not only owned many guns but had had enough training to make her a decent marksman. The evidence had also cleared Dr. Graves and Reardon of any wrongdoing.
But none of that mattered right now.
Tonight was different.
Jesse adjusted his grip on the steering wheel of his brand-new truck, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He was on his way to pick up Lauren for an actual date. No crime scenes. No suspect interrogations. Just the two of them, finally able to breathe without the shadow of the past looming over them.
The last seven days had been a blur, filled with debriefings, statements, and tying up loose ends. They’d been around each other constantly, but never reallytogether. Not like he wanted. Not like they both needed.
His heart kicked up slightly as he turned onto her street, the familiar tension of anticipation replacing the edge he usually carried on duty. This wasn’t just a date. It felt like the start of something more—something real. The nightmare was over, but what came next was theirs to build.
Jesse drove down the road to Lauren’s house, his fingers drumming lightly against the steering wheel. The week had been hell, but somehow, standing on the other side of it with Lauren made it all feel worth it.
Here’s to tonight,he thought, stepping out of the truck with a grin.And hopefully, a lot more nights like this to come.
He pulled into Lauren’s driveway, cutting the engine with a quiet sigh of anticipation. The house was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, the warm colors reflecting off the windows. It felt like the calm after the storm, the beginning of something normal. Something they both desperately needed.
But just as he was about to step out of the truck, headlights flared in his rearview mirror, followed by the low rumble of an approaching engine. Jesse groaned under his breath as Reardon’s truck pulled in behind him.
Jesse’s jaw clenched and he had to fight the urge to tell Reardon to stay put in his truck and to come back another time. But the older man was already stepping out, his expression unreadable, his movements slower than usual, like the weight of everything had finally caught up to him.
“I won’t keep you,” Reardon called out, holding up a hand as if to ward off Jesse’s frustration. “I just have something to say to Lauren.”
Perfect.Jesse rubbed the back of his neck, his irritation simmering. This was supposed to betheirnight. No reminders of the past, no ghosts trailing them. But before he could respond, the front door opened, and Lauren stepped out.
Jesse saw the mix of emotions on her face. The warm look she gave him before her eyes narrowed and she shifted her attention to Reardon. Clearly, she didn’t want any ghosts interrupting them tonight either.
