His dying words clung to Riley. Killing a man in cold blood still got to him. But, this one replayed itself in his mind.
Standing back, with his arm in a sling, he watched Timmy rush to greet his mother and father. Echo scooped him up and cradled him close. Murphy, leaning on crutches, hugged his son, dropping a kiss on the top of his head.
“Something good came of this,” Storm said. “Echo remembers him.”
Gran came bustling out and headed toward him. “My, what a sight for sore eyes.”
He gathered her close.
“Don’t you go scaring me like that again.” She squeezed him once more before she let him go. Sniffing, she wiped her eyes. “My, when you called me, I about fainted away.” Looking up at him, she asked, “He’s really dead? Your daddy’s killer?”
All he could do was nod. He had explained briefly the day before. The less she knew, the better she’d sleep at night. Gran didn’t need to know her grandson was a murderer. Several times over.
“Thank you. Now I can rest in peace.”
Her words stayed with Riley as he stood over his father’s grave. “It’s done, Dad. Over. The boys are gonna be locked up for a long time. Or die in prison once word gets out.”
He cleared his throat. “You did it. All your hard work meant something. They busted the ring up. The journal. You mapped it all out. The safety deposit box held all the tapes. The hidden recordings.”
God, he was so proud of his father.
He’d taken down a bigass drug cartel. Jackson Riley Sr. was a hero.
Riley always knew that about his dad. Now everyone else would, too.
There was still half the gold out there, hidden away in the Colorado mountains. Murphy had sworn him to secrecy, revealing the location. Drug money. There was still a rogue agent out there. It was bait.
Come out, come out wherever you are.
It was only a matter of time.
The sound of a vehicle approaching didn’t surprise him. The brakes squealed. The engine stopped. The door creaked open and slammed shut.
“Riley?”
Her voice, dark and smoky, rushed over him. He shivered. He didn’t turn toward her.
Boots hit the ground. She went around, stopped, and then faced him. He gazed at her.
Those blue eyes. Liquid blue melted him.
“You want something, Storm?” he asked softly.
“You.”
“That’s it, huh?”
“Yep.” She folded her arms across her chest.
“Isn’t there something else?”
Confusion chased across her features. “Yes, you once said, after falling into bed with me and not leaving for days, you’d walk away on one condition. What was the condition?” Her voice caught.
She remembered. “That you could look me in the eye and swear on your sister and your nephew’s lives that what we have means nothing to you. Absolutely nothing. And you don’t need or want any part of me.”
“I…can’t do that.”
“Nothing short of a ring.” He dug in his position.
“Marriage?” She dropped her arms and straightened her spine. Her wide eyes and slack jaw made him chuckle.
“That’s my final offer. Take it or leave it.” There, he’d laid down the challenge.
“I’m not leaving.”
“You sure? That’s been your MO. With me.”
“Not anymore.”
“Prove it.” He held her beautiful blue-eyed stare. “Trust me, Storm. Trust us.”
“I’ve never let down my guard before. Not completely.”
“Actions speak louder than words.”
She gulped hard. “Okay,” she whispered.
“Ask me. Nicely.”
Sucking in a breath, she said in a rush, “Jackson Riley, will you marry me? Will you be the daddy to my babies?”
I hoped you enjoyed Storm and Riley’s story! For more about me and my books just turn the page…