Chapter 28
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
LOGAN
Penny’s office at the arena is all function and focus, the kind of space where problems come to get handled.
Her desk is covered in manila folders, legal documents, and at least three laptops, all of them open.
The walls are lined with framed photos of the team, championship memorabilia, and her various PR awards.
The coffee station in the corner seems to get more use than any other piece of equipment in the building.
She gestures for us to sit in the chairs across from her desk, and Tessa’s hand immediately finds mine, her grip tight. I can feel the tension radiating off her in waves.
“Thanks for coming in,” Penny says, settling into her chair and pulling one of the folders in front of her. “I know this isn’t easy, but I wanted to give you both an update in person rather than over the phone.”
“Okay,” Tessa says, her voice small. I squeeze her hand.
Penny opens the folder, scans the top page briefly, then looks up at us. “So first things first—Preston’s father posted bail. He’s out.”
Tessa’s breath catches, and I feel my jaw clench. “Figures.”
“Yeah, it’s no surprise,” Penny says. “There’s more important information to discuss, however.
” She flips to another page. “The district attorney’s office has reviewed the evidence—Cole’s testimony, the police report, the photographs of your injuries, witness statements from the coffee shop—and they’re moving forward with charges.
Assault and battery, plus violation of a restraining order, and all of this is in addition to the previous assault and battery charges. ”
“Will he go to jail?” I ask.
“Most likely, yes,” Penny says. “The assault charge alone carries a potential sentence of up to two years, and the restraining order violation adds another year. However, given that he’s a first-time offender with no prior criminal record and his family’s resources…
” She chooses her words carefully. “Realistically, we’re probably looking at six to twelve months, with the possibility of early release for good behavior. ”
Tessa’s shoulders sag. “That’s it? After everything—”
“I know it doesn’t feel like enough,” Penny says gently. “But the good news is, he will serve time for what he did to you. But there’s more.”
She pulls out another folder, this one significantly thicker. “While working with the legal team on your case, I did some digging into Preston and his family. And I found something interesting.”
I lean forward. “What?”
“Preston Vale has been running an illegal gambling operation out of New York City for the past three years,” Penny says, her expression turning satisfied.
“High-stakes poker games, sports betting, you name it. His clientele included celebrities, professional athletes, hedge fund managers, billionaire businessmen—people with money to burn and a desire for discretion.”
“Jesus,” I mutter.
“The problem,” Penny continues, “is that Preston wasn’t just facilitating the games.
He was acting as the house. Taking bets, setting odds, and collecting profits—all illegal under New York State law, which prohibits advancing gambling activity.
He was keeping the profits for himself rather than operating through a licensed entity.
In addition, he was involved in a massive money laundering scheme. ”
Tessa’s eyes widen. “Really?”
“Yeah.” Penny glances at her notes. “Conservative estimates of the data collected so far put it at somewhere north of ten million dollars over the past several years. However, they’re still investigating, so more will come out.
All those business trips he took when you were together weren’t to help his father. He was involved in some shady stuff.”
“There’s no surprise there,” I say.
“Indeed.” Penny leans back in her chair. “Now, while this investigation was already underway…here’s where it gets interesting. Newly uncovered information was anonymously leaked to the New York Attorney General’s office last week, giving them enough to finally press charges.”
“Anonymously?” I raise an eyebrow, looking at Penny.
She gives me an innocent smile. “Completely anonymous. I have no idea who might have sent them a very detailed dossier containing financial records, witness statements, and surveillance photos. But I will say that the Crane organization has many friends in high places with great information.”
Despite everything, I feel a smile tugging at my lips. “I bet they do.”
“The New York AG’s office has already filed charges,” Penny continues. “Multiple counts of promoting gambling in the first degree, money laundering in the second degree, and conspiracy to commit fraud. Preston is being extradited to New York to stand trial.”
“When?” Tessa asks.
“I’m not sure, but it’s happening fast. His attorneys are trying to fight the extradition, but they won’t win.
The evidence is too substantial.” Penny closes the folder and looks directly at Tessa.
“Based on the charges and the evidence, the prosecutors are estimating a sentence of anywhere from three to seven years in a federal facility. And unlike the assault charges, there’s no wiggle room here.
His father’s money won’t make this go away. ”
Tessa is quiet for a long moment as she processes. “So he’s going to prison. Actually going to prison.”
“Yes,” Penny says. “For a significant amount of time.”
I feel some of the tension leave my body, but not all of it. “What about when he gets out? What’s to stop him from coming after her then?”
“That’s the other thing I wanted to tell you,” Penny says. She pulls out one more document and slides it across the desk. “This is a letter from Preston’s father, Randolph Vale, to our legal team. It was delivered yesterday.”
Tessa picks it up to read, and I lean in to read over her shoulder.
The language is formal, written by an attorney, but the message is clear.
Randolph Vale is informing us that his son has been explicitly instructed to never contact, approach, or attempt to communicate with Tessa Marlowe in any capacity, now or in the future.
Any violation of this directive will result in the complete severance of financial support and familial ties, and Mr. Vale will personally ensure his son faces the maximum possible legal consequences.
“He’s cutting him off?” Tessa asks, her voice disbelieving.
“If he messes up again, essentially, yes,” Penny says.
“Turns out, after you filed the original assault charges in June, a few other women have come forward with charges against him, too. The Vale family is facing significant legal and financial scrutiny right now because of Preston’s activities.
The last thing they need is additional criminal charges for stalking or violating restraining orders.
Randolph Vale is protecting his business interests and his reputation—and that means keeping Preston as far away from you as possible. ”
“Wow,” Tessa says.
Penny continues. “Yeah, Preston has been made very aware that if he goes near Tessa or any of the other women again, his father will make sure he doesn’t get a dime of his family’s money and more prison time.
And given that Preston is already looking at seven years in federal custody, I don’t think he’s going to risk adding more time. ”
Tessa is quiet, staring at the letter in her hands. I can’t read her expression.
“Tessa?” I say softly. “You okay?”
She looks up at me, and her eyes are wet. “I just… I can’t believe it’s really over.”
“It’s really over,” Penny says firmly. “Preston Vale is going to prison. His father has promised to keep him away from you when he’s released. You’re safe, Tessa.”
A tear slips down Tessa’s cheek, and she quickly wipes it away. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Penny says, her voice gentle. “You survived. That’s enough.”
Tessa nods, more tears falling now, and I pull her into my arms. She buries her face in my chest, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs—sobs of relief, I think, more than sadness.
I look at Penny over Tessa’s head and mouth, “Thank you.”
She just nods, her expression soft.
After a few moments, Tessa pulls back, wiping her eyes. “Sorry,” she says, emotion lining a forced laugh. “I just… I didn’t think this day would ever come.”
“Don’t apologize,” Penny says. “You’re allowed to feel whatever you need to feel.”
Tessa takes a deep breath, visibly collecting herself. “So what happens now? Do I have to testify or anything?”
“For the New York case, no,” Penny states.
“You’re not involved in any of that. For the assault charges here, you may be called as a witness, but given the strength of the evidence, there’s a good chance Preston will take a plea deal to avoid trial.
If that happens, you won’t have to testify at all. ”
“And if he doesn’t take the deal?”
“Then we go to court, and you tell your story,” Penny says.
“You’ll have great lawyers, and Logan and I will be with you every step of the way.
You won’t be alone. But, honestly, I’m almost positive he’ll take the plea deal.
His father has made it very clear that he wants to put this mess behind the family as quickly and quietly as possible. ”
Tessa nods slowly. “Okay, good.”
Penny gathers the folders and stands, signaling the end of the meeting. “I’ll keep you updated on any developments. But for now, just… live your life. You’ve earned it.”
Tessa stands, and I follow. “Thank you, Penny. For everything. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”
“You don’t have to repay me.” Penny walks around the desk to pull Tessa into a hug. “Your happiness is payment enough.”
We leave Penny’s office and walk through the quiet arena hallways.
We exit the arena into the blazing afternoon sun. Neither of us speaks as we cross the parking lot to my SUV. I open the passenger door, and instead of climbing in, Tessa turns toward me and circles her arms around my neck.
I pull her close, and she melts against me, her face buried in my chest.
“I can’t believe it’s finally over,” she murmurs.
“I know.” I run my hand up and down her back. “It’s incredible news.”
She pulls back enough to look up at me, and there’s a playful spark in her eyes that I haven’t seen in weeks. “I guess you don’t have to hide me away in your condo anymore. I could get my own place.” She raises a brow, clearly testing me.
“Absolutely not.” I squeeze her sides, making her laugh. “I’d be lost without you there.”
“Good, because I’d be lost without you too.” She grins. “We’re pretty pathetic, aren’t we?”
I consider that. “Yeah, probably. But maybe that’s just what love looks like.”
“Well, I’m not complaining,” she says.
“Me neither.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You ready to go home?”
She nods, her smile softening. “Home. I like the sound of that.”
“Me too,” I say, kissing her forehead before helping her into the SUV.
As I walk around to the driver’s side, I catch myself grinning like an idiot. But I don’t care. Tessa is safe. Preston is going to prison. And we get to build whatever life we want together.
That’s worth grinning about.