Page 98 of Wildflower and Whiskey
She pinned me with a look. “You really think this is forever?”
“I don’t think,” I said. “I know.”
We kissed again, slow and sure, until the sound of Braden’s babble filled the space between us. For the first time since she’d come back to Val-Du-Lys, there was no running left to do.
CHAPTER 41
Phoenix
The morning after the arrests, the orchard was quiet in a way I hadn’t heard in months. The frost glittered clean across the rows, and for once, silence didn’t feel like a warning. Dad called just after sunrise. “It’s done,” he said simply. “Riley’s in federal custody. The Montreal men too. Becket will explain.”
I stayed on the porch long after the call ended, watching Elyna through the kitchen window as she fed Braden. He was waving his spoon like a tiny scepter, cereal dotting the tray. I was cherishing every moment in a way I hadn’t before. The simple things that defined our life. When I went inside, Elyna’s gaze landed on me right away like she was reading me. “They caught them?” she said. I nodded and walked straight for her, wrapping her in a hug. This woman got me. We were at a point where she could read my thoughts, and that said a lot because I had spent well over a decade keeping people at a distance.
“Yeah.” I held on to her a moment longer and breathed in the floral scent of her hair. “Becket and the Quebec task force ran simultaneous raids in Montreal at dawn. Riley gave them everything they needed. The Marchand crew, with two loansharks and one enforcer are all in custody, and so is Marcel Bellerose and part of his crew.”
Her brows drew together. “Loan sharks?”
“Yeah.” I took a slow breath. “Riley borrowed a lot of money over the last year, trying to ‘invest’ in Bellerose’s trucking front. When he couldn’t pay it back, they started squeezing him. He offered intel instead. Patrol schedules, transport routes, even Harmony’s address.”
Elyna’s face went pale. “He gave them her address?”
“He did. But she’s safe now. They all are. The task force found burner phones, fake IDs, and about a hundred grand in cash. Becket says it’ll all go federal since it’s organized crime, extortion, child endangerment, the works.”
I released her from my hug, and she sank into the kitchen chair, pressing a hand to her chest. “He sold information to protect himself.”
“Yes,” I said quietly. “Until the walls closed in and he realized he couldn’t protect anyone anymore.”
Her voice softened. “Is he… going to prison?”
“He snitched, Elyna, they’ll probably cut him a deal,” I said. “They’re transferring him to Montreal Correctional this week.”
Elyna stared out the window for a long time. Braden babbled from his highchair, smacking his palm against the tray, oblivious to the weight in the room.
“He’s still Braden’s father,” she said finally, voice breaking a little. “As awful as he was, he’s still that. They’ll kill him for snitching.”
“We don’t know that for sure.” I stepped closer, resting my hand on her shoulder. “You can grieve, Elyna. You can hate what he did and still wish he’d been someone different. It doesn’t make you weak.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I just wish he’d tried to be a dad. Braden would’ve loved him if he’d given him half a chance.”
“I know.” I reached down and brushed a Cheerio crumb from her wrist. “But you gave him the world instead.”
“I’m just sad for Braden. Having a felon for a father.” She blew out a breath.
“That isn’t on you,” I tried to reassure her, but I knew she was still blaming herself for decisions that were out of her control. “You’re an amazing mom, Braden is lucky to have you.”
“He’s lucky to have you too.” She gave my hand a squeeze.
“Harmony helped in getting Marcel arrested,” I said.
Her blue eyes widened. “Does he know that?”
“Probably, he reached out to her and gave up his location. I’m sure some of his men knew where he was hiding out but he probably has eyes everywhere. Someone could easily tell him that Harmony was working with the police.”
“What is this going to mean for Harmony?” she asked, looking worried for her friend.
“I don’t know, but she isn’t alone. My dad is watching out for her,” I said but that didn’t seem to erase Elyna’s worry, and I understood why. Marcel Bellerose was a cruel man and those who crossed him paid a high price. Even if he went to prison, his reach was far enough that his thugs would carry out his orders. But that was a problem for another day.
By midmorning, Becket pulled into the driveway. He looked worn but lighter somehow, like a man who’d finally laid down a burden. He filled us in at the table. “Riley confessed everything. We’ve got recordings, bank transfers, we have enough on the Marchand crew to put them away for good: fraud, kidnapping, conspiracy, extortion, aiding organized crime. They’ll all serve time.”
