Chapter Forty
Four days later
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H ard to believe it had all come down to this.
“Sweetheart, it’s time,” Tristan said quietly beside her.
Coming out of her thoughts, Cassie squeezed his hand in acknowledgment and started for the elevator bank across the lobby. They rode up to the top floor together in silence while she gathered her thoughts.
This was it. The final piece needed to get closure. And justice.
Stepping off the elevator, she paused to take in the view outside the high-rise window. Far below them, the Vegas strip spread out in all its extravagant, decadent glory, glittering in the desert sunshine. It was both beautiful and repulsive to her. So many memories, good and bad.
She was ready to put this chapter behind her for good.
She could feel Tristan’s gaze on her as he stood beside her, his arm still bound tightly to his chest. He’d been her rock since Ivy had given her the confirmation she’d dreaded, helping her plan everything and put all the necessary arrangements into place to make this happen.
“You ready?” he asked her quietly.
Was she ready to face the last of her demons? To confront this last ugly part so she could truly move on?
She took a deep breath. Nodded. I’m ready. “Yes.”
Pulling her hand free of his, she turned and strode down the hallway, heading for the closed double doors at the far end.
Four FBI agents in navy windbreakers were waiting next to it.
They nodded at her and in that moment, all the anxiety and dread she’d been feeling since the meeting with Ivy dropped away.
She was the one to open the door and march inside the office. The uniformed receptionist behind the desk to the left stood, blinking at her in surprise.
All activity inside the spacious office ceased immediately. Cassie saw more familiar faces scattered around. Ignored them all as she strode purposefully to the closed office door at the far side.
She stopped beside it, folded her arms, and watched as the Feds entered unannounced.
Commissioner Issacs shot to his feet behind his desk, frowning in confusion. “What’s this? What’s happening?”
“Gregory Isaacs, you are under arrest for being an accessory to the murder of Penny Janec, corruption, obstruction of justice, and the attempted murder of Cassie Edwards and Tristan Abrams.”
Isaacs’ face turned dark red, his jaw bulging. “What the hell are you talking about? You—”
“You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions.”
Cassie shifted to watch two agents move in to cuff him. His jaw was clenched so tight she swore he would crack a molar. She saw the exact moment Isaacs spotted her outside the doorway.
His gaze froze on her. Shock flickered across his face.
She didn’t say a word. Didn’t have to, letting her silence speak for her.
They knew what he’d done, and had the evidence to prove it.
In retaliation for her exposing the corruption within the department and cutting off the dirty cops’ illegal revenue stream, as commissioner, her former captain had used every tool at his disposal to track her for Rob and suppress Rob’s release.
She held his gaze as the Feds marched him forward, letting her loathing for him show on her face as he walked by.
“This is bullshit!” he shouted while everyone else in the office gawked in disbelief. “My lawyers are gonna have me out in an hour!”
“More like twenty-five years to life,” Cassie shot back, savage satisfaction coursing through her when he stopped suddenly, face paling and his jaw snapping shut.
This piece of shit had nearly cost her everything. She’d trusted him. Thought he’d had her back. Had defended him when others had questioned his involvement in the corruption.
Turned out he’d just been trying to cover up all the corruption he’d created, all the illegal money he’d made with drugs and sex throughout the city he had sworn to protect and serve.
He stared back at her with cold black eyes. “You have no idea what you’re doing.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing. Justice took a while catching up to you.
But you’re finally going to get what you deserve.
And you know what else? I want to be the first thing you think about every morning when you wake up and the last thing you think about before you fall asleep every night.
Because I’ll never think of you again.” She smiled, feeling the rush of power that prickled across her skin like sparks.
“Enjoy your life sentence, Commissioner. You’ve more than earned it. ”
She waited until he was well past her before turning around to look across the room. Got another hit of enjoyment at the way the entire office was still and silent, everyone staring as he was led out in cuffs.
When the door closed behind them, she exhaled deeply and let the lingering tension roll off her shoulders. Dane was standing next to Tristan by the reception desk, had watched Isaacs get marched out of the office.
He turned to her, a big smile breaking over his face. “That was more than worth the wait. Thanks for the invite, by the way.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have let you miss it.” She reached up for a hug, smiled against his shoulder as his long arms came around her. Dane was the real deal. Loyal and trustworthy and rare as a diamond.
“Well, now that he’s gone, what do you say we do a night on the town to celebrate? Starting with Sinatra’s, on me. I made reservations.”
Cassie raised her eyebrows at him. “Sinatra’s? How’d you get us a table there on such short notice?”
He shrugged, eyes dancing. “I know a guy.” Grinning, he slung an arm around her shoulders. Glanced at Tristan. “You don’t mind, do you?”
Tristan shot her a little smile. “No, not at all.”
Her heart swelled. Just when she thought she couldn’t ever love him more, he did something to prove her wrong. And this simple, wholesome moment demonstrated just how far she’d come in breaking free of her toxic past.
Rob would have said or done something assholish to Dane for being affectionate with her in public and triggering his insane jealousy, then punished her later for his insecurity with the cold shoulder or some other passive-aggressive behavior.
Tristan didn’t care that Dane had his arm around her. He wasn’t jealous of him, or any other man. Because he knew she loved him, and he trusted her. And so he knew damned well that no other man stood a single chance in hell with her. Not even one as wonderful as Dane.
She smiled, feeling light inside. Free. “One more night on the town in Sin City. Let’s go.”