Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Keira
Mom was on the porch, already crying as she saw us drive up. Which made Stephie start crying again too.
The moment I stopped the truck, my sister was out and running. She and our mom embraced.
I’d already texted to let Mom know Stephie was safe. Our mother had woken in the night and realized Stephie was gone, as if she could feel it in her bones that something was wrong with her baby girl.
I wasn’t sure how many times Stephie had sneaked out before tonight, but she had a lot of explaining to do. Our mom was definitely furious. But right now, we were all just relieved. And upset and overwhelmed, and every other emotion.
I switched off the truck’s rumbling engine and got out, joining them by the front door. I caught the tail end of what our mom was saying.
“—in the world were you thinking? When I woke up and figured out you were gone, I was two seconds from calling the police. If I hadn’t seen Keira’s messages…”
“I’m sorry, Momma. I’m so sorry.”
I put my hand on Stephie’s shoulder. “Let’s go inside. Come on.”
Mom looked up. “Where’s Dean? And where is that boy?” Those last two words were fierce with protective momma energy. Good thing we hadn’t brought Colby here, even though he hadn’t wanted to leave Stephie’s side.
“Inside,” I said again. “I’ll tell you all about it.”
I knew Stephie was worried about how Mom would react to the truth. The fact that she’d sneaked out with her boyfriend was one thing. But hearing that we’d actually been in real life-or-death danger?
It wasn’t going to go over well. But that was for me to worry about.
Our first priority was getting Stephie settled. She’d been awake almost all night and in fear for most of that. She was worn ragged and needed rest.
Stephie went into the bathroom for a quick shower, while Mom and I waited right outside. “Keira, what happened to my little girl?” Mom whispered.
“She had a bad scare. It could’ve been far worse. Someone was trying to use her to get to me.”
“What?”
“I’ll tell you all about it, but not until she’s resting, okay? It’s going to be a long story.”
After her shower, Stephie agreed to a warm cup of tea and getting bundled up in our mom’s bed. “Don’t leave yet, please,” she said from under the pile of blankets. “Either of you.”
Mom was sitting next to her and stroking the top of her head. “Don’t you worry. We’re right here.”
While Mom whispered reassuring words, I sat in a chair nearby, keeping an eye on my texts.
I had far more experience dealing with these kinds of situations than my mom and sister did, but I was far from calm. Adrenaline still roared through my veins, and I probably wouldn’t come down until Dean was back with me again.
I had wanted to get Stephie home as quickly as possible. Dean had stayed behind to make sure Medina’s men arrived, and also to clear away whatever evidence he could of our presence there. Just in case the police eventually showed up.
We had no idea who that cabin really belonged to. Colby was going to be Dean’s ride back here when everything was finished.
After Stephie was sound asleep, Mom and I crept out to the living room, leaving the bedroom door open.
“Oh, my Keira,” Mom sobbed quietly, pulling me into a hug. “This is awful. Please just tell me.”
Keeping my arm around her, I led Mom to the sofa. “Do you want some tea first?”
She scowled. “Do not baby me. I’m your mother. I want to know where the hell my daughters really were tonight, what kind of danger they were in, and who was responsible.”
I managed a weak smile. “Okay. I’ll try my best to explain.”
Mom wiped her eyes. “How about you try the truth?”
I didn’t always tell our mother everything. Far from it. Like the more gruesome aspects of my job. But this time, there were things she needed to know.
And we all needed to have our stories straight.
“Dean and I have been investigating my shooting for the last few months. Unofficially. In the last few days, we discovered who was really behind it. And why.”
I told Mom as much as I could. How Ryan Garrett had wanted revenge against me for helping his sister years ago. And how, after the death of his accomplice Nox Woodson, Garrett decided to use Stephie to lure me into the open tonight.
“But in your message, you said your baby sister snuck out to be with some boy. Was he in on it too?”
“No. Not at all. The boy’s name is Colby, he’s twenty-one, and he works as a ranch hand. Seems he and Stephie have been getting pretty serious.”
“Twenty-one? Does he know your sister is eighteen?”
“Mom, he tried to protect Stephie tonight, and if he’d had his way, Colby would be here right now. Getting an earful from you, no doubt. I think he’s a good one. Just made some mistakes, as did Stephie, and she’s technically an adult.”
Ryan Garrett and his friends must’ve been watching my sister and Colby for days or even longer. Stephie had known about the protection detail I’d placed on her and Mom, so she’d figured out how to turn off the security system and sneak away from the house with nobody the wiser.
Unfortunately, Ryan Garrett had figured all that out too.
Last night, Colby had picked her up as usual, and they’d headed toward their favorite parking spot to look at the stars. But Ryan Garrett and his buddies had been waiting. Garrett had ambushed them, shoved them both under the cover of Colby’s truck bed, and driven them out to that isolated cabin.
God, Stephie and Colby must’ve been near hysterical, not knowing what was happening or why.
After they’d arrived at the cabin, the men tied up Colby and dumped him in the bedroom, leaving Stephie at the mercy of Ryan Garrett.
The bastard had ordered her to call me on the phone, instructing Stephie on what to say.
She’d been too scared to defy him, even though she’d wanted to warn me. Thank goodness she’d done what he said.
Bravery wasn’t always about defiance. It was also about being smart, and considering the situation, my sister had done the best thing possible by getting me and Dean there.
Now, Ryan Garrett was never going to hurt us again.
“You know Dean used to be in the military, right?” I asked. “He had some high-level skills. He did a lot to save us tonight. Colby helped too, creating a distraction so I could neutralize one of the armed men guarding us.”
“Neutralize? Just say it, Keira. You killed one of the men trying to hurt you and your sister?”
I swallowed. “Yes, Mom. I killed one of them. Dean killed a bunch more.”
She nodded, jaw clenched. “And this Ryan Garrett? What about him? Is that abomination dead too, or will I have to do that myself?”
Sometimes, I wondered where my courage to become a cop came from. Well, clearly it came from this woman right here. Mom worried herself too much about us, and I tried to protect her from that, but in the most crucial moments her spine was made of steel.
“Garrett won’t last much longer.”
Her eyes widened. “Is that where Dean is?”
“Um…not exactly. Dean’s taking care of some things.
He’s making sure Colby’s all right, and then he’s going to join us here soon.
” I considered how much to say about this next part.
“Turns out, Garrett made another powerful enemy. Someone who’ll make sure he never walks free.
As for what that man does with Garrett? I’m choosing not to know the details.
I’ve dealt with enough violence for one night.
It’s enough for me to know that Garrett will never bother us again. ”
Mom gripped my hands. “Then that’s enough for me too.”
I explained the official story I’d sketched out with Dean: Stephie had sneaked out tonight with Colby, his truck had broken down, and Stephie had called me for help. Dean and I had gone out to meet them.
Officially, we’d never been at that cabin tonight. Never seen Ryan Garrett or his friends. Dean was going to make sure Medina’s men torched the cabin, including any remaining trace evidence inside, after they’d taken Garrett and disposed of the bodies.
I did have that phone call to Medina in my call log. I’d also met with Medina, very publicly, at Last Refuge just a couple of days ago. But if anyone asked about my connection to him, I could come up with an explanation later on. I wasn’t too worried about that part.
Harris Medina seemed like a dangerous man, someone with far more questionable morals than I was comfortable with. But this time, cooperating with him had benefited us both.
In the future, I planned to steer clear of Medina and Crosshairs.
“If anyone asks me about what happened last night,” Mom said, “I’ll just say what I witnessed firsthand.
My daughter was gone because she sneaked out to be with some boy.
You brought her back. And she’s going to be grounded for a month.
But I’m just so grateful you were there, Keira.
I know I haven’t always been comfortable with your being in harm’s way as a deputy.
But you’re a force to be reckoned with, and I’m proud of you.
And so happy you have a man like Dean standing next to you. ”
“I’m happy about that too,” I said softly.
Then Mom grabbed my hand, studying the bracelet on my wrist. “This is new. It’s lovely.”
“A gift from Dean.”
She sighed, but it was a contented sound. “You two are so in love. It’s beautiful to see. Even more beautiful to know he’s the kind of man who’s worthy of you.”
“I love him very much. Having him love me back is the best feeling.”
“I know it.” She patted my cheek, tearing up again. “I’ll always miss your dad and wish we had more time, but I cherish what we did have. You hold on to that love. Every second you and Dean have. Never take it for granted.”
“I won’t.” Dean and I were together, we were in love, and that wasn’t a lie anymore. This was one truth I couldn’t wait to share with the world.