Epilogue
DANIEL
In the wake of delivering Willa and Sawyer back to Sutter House, Gabi looked about ready to drop. I wanted to take her straight home, but I should’ve known my girl would insist on checking back in at the community center. Patients had thinned out, but there were still some lingering. She left me at the door to go touch base with the EMTs and nursing staff still running things.
I stepped away from the bustle, finding a quiet corner near the supply closets to make a call. The smell of antiseptic and bleach hung in the air as I dialed Hayes.
“What’s the update, LaRue?”
I filled him in on Mickey Doyle’s interrogation. “He folded pretty quick once we had him cornered. Gave up some names, mostly street-level dealers we already knew about. Middle management of the organization seems to be using code names, so he had nothing but those to report. But reading between the lines, I think there’s more happening here than he knows about.”
Hayes grunted in agreement on the other end of the line.
“My recommendation would be to embed some operatives in Sutter’s Ferry. Get eyes on the ground, build relationships, gather intelligence.” I sucked in a breath and took the shot. “Full disclosure, sir—the woman I’m involved with is here. I’m going to be here during my personal time anyway, so I volunteer to be one of those embedded operatives. I’ll understand if you feel it’s a conflict of interest.”
There was a pause, then Hayes chuckled. “You work fast.”
“It was a pre-existing relationship, sir. I’m just here to fix it.”
“Well, seems like killing two birds with one stone to me, LaRue. So long as you don’t let it interfere with the job.”
“Absolutely not, sir. I can maintain professionalism.”
“Good. Any thoughts on who else would suit for this op?”
The question caught me off guard. “You’re asking me, sir?”
“You’ve shown good instincts. Done good work.”
The unexpected praise had my chest warming with pride. “Well, with Doyle implicating the fishing industry, we want somebody in that sector. If I remember from the personnel files, O’Connell is from Hatterwick. His family runs a small fishing fleet. That might give us an in.”
“I’ll speak to him and keep you informed.”
We hammered out a few more logistics before ending the call. I took a moment to send up a prayer of thanks that my gambit worked and that my work, for once, was bringing me here instead of taking me away. Then I went in search of Gabi.
“Okay, now I can leave.”
“Where to?”
“The clinic. That’s where my car is, and by now they’ll have the debris cleared enough that I can get out.”
Despite the fact that I’d been up and moving almost all day, it felt good to move with unhurried purpose. The walk back to the clinic gave me time to gather my thoughts. Her car still sat beside the back door. It had a few more dings than before, but all things considered, it had survived quite well. The clinic itself was still boarded up. With all the staff at the community center today, no one had been around to deal with it. Tomorrow, probably. It would be one more step back to normal. I had a feeling that both she and the rest of this island were going to need it in the weeks to come.
Once inside, I helped Gabi check that everything was secure after the storm. As we wrestled mattresses back to their proper locations in patient rooms, it occurred to me that with all the rush to get to Willa, I hadn’t given her what update I could about the break-in.
“About Mickey.” I settled the last mattress back in place. “You should know, he was working alone. The break-in wasn’t part of any larger operation targeting the clinic. He got in trouble with some dealers, owed them money, and thought stealing prescription meds would solve his problems.”
Relief washed over her face. “So the clinic isn’t in danger?”
“No. But that leads me to something else I need to tell you.” I rocked back on my heels, nervously shoving my hands into my back pockets as I met her eyes. “I’m being assigned here to Hatterwick. Part of an ongoing task force operation.”
“I see.”
Did she?
She crossed her arms. “For how long?”
“Few months, at least. Depends on what intel gets uncovered while I’m here.” I stepped closer, close enough to catch the faint scent of her shampoo. “Look, I won’t pretend the job isn’t what made this possible. But Gabi, you’re why I wanted it. I know I messed up before. Taking that Seattle position without even talking to you first? That was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”
Her expression softened slightly, but she didn’t uncross her arms.
“Despite what happened last night, I’m not asking to pick up where we left off. I haven’t earned that. But I’d like a chance to show you I’ve changed. That I understand now what I threw away. That I’ll do the work to find the balance between personal and professional.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Maybe we could start with coffee sometime? When things settle down?”
I held my breath, waiting for her answer.
The silence went on so long my heart started hammering against my ribs. Gabi’s dark eyes searched my face, and I forced myself to stay still under her scrutiny. To let her take whatever time she needed.
Finally, she uncrossed her arms. “You juggled me today. In the middle of all the post-hurricane chaos and your investigation and securing the scene, you still made time for me. You took me to help my friend. That means a lot to me.” A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “So I think we can do better than coffee.”
My breath caught. I took a half step forward, drawn by that hint of a smile, by the warmth in her voice. Hope bloomed in my chest, but I tamped it down. I needed to be sure I understood exactly what she was saying.
“Better than coffee?” Despite the mule kick of my heart, I kept my voice carefully neutral, not wanting to assume.
Her slow smile pulled me in like gravity. “Much better than coffee,” she murmured, closing the last distance between us.
She flowed into my arms like she belonged there, like the past months of separation had never happened. My hands curved around her waist as her fingers curled into my shirt. Then her lips met mine, soft and warm and perfect.
She melted against me, and I sank into the taste of her. Into the flavor of forgiveness and promise and everything I’d been missing since I’d walked away. I pulled her closer, savoring the feel of her pressed against me, the way her hands slid up my chest to link behind my neck.
When we finally came up for air, I rested my forehead against hers, breathing in the moment. The weight that had been crushing my chest since Seattle lifted. My shoulders relaxed for what felt like the first time in months.
“I missed you,” I whispered against her hair. “Every single day.”
She hummed contentedly, fingers playing with the hair at the nape of my neck. “I missed you too. Even when I was mad at you.”
“I deserved your mad.”
“You did.” She pulled back enough to meet my eyes. “But you also earned this second chance. Just don’t mess it up.”
“Not a chance.” I traced my thumb along her jaw. “I learned my lesson the hard way. No more making life-changing decisions without talking to you first.”
“Speaking of...” She raised an eyebrow. “Where are you staying?”
“The firehouse, for now. But I’ll need to find something more permanent.” I gave her a hopeful look. “You wouldn’t happen to know of any apartments for rent?”
I hope you enjoyed your trip to Hatterwick Island! If this was your first visit, you should know that the series begins with a prequel novel, Smoke on the Water , that tells Caroline and Hoyt’s story. If you’re more interested in Willa and Sawyer and the events alluded to at the end here, check out their book Won’t Back Down .