Chapter 22
Tabitha enjoyed having her parents around, so she was a little sad they left after Gregor and Zane had gone to dispatch the helicopter pilot, but they had to get home to Andy.
Zane left, taking Audric in the company jet to Everett in Atlanta, leaving Tabitha and Major alone with their three guests.
Seeing Daniel and Iggy reunited was a thing of beauty.
Daniel had lost so much, but having his son back, even if he was an adult, would go a long way in helping the man to heal.
They spent hours in front of the fire catching up.
Daniel was hesitant to tell Iggy about Carmen, but his son listened intently, then hugged his dad, saying how sorry he was for his loss.
The brothers insisted Iggy use their current names and not the ones they’d been given at birth.
As Craig stated, that’s who they were now and had been for the last twenty-one years.
When Iggy asked Daniel if he could call him “Dad,” the man nodded while breaking down sobbing.
Craig sat with them, listening, rarely joining in the conversation.
He had spoken to Olivia who was headed back home.
When asked about going to Stone Mountain since the film was back on, Craig said he was looking forward to it, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Craig softened toward his brother. Not only because he realized why Daniel hadn’t cared about life, thus staying drunk and doing drugs, he had bribed Craven to redo the script so that Craig got to play the hero.
When Craig asked why Daniel would do that, he said he wanted his brother to be happy.
They remained at the safehouse while everything with Cabretti got sorted.
Mason called early Monday morning to tell them Craig was safe.
“With all the evidence the Trio found as well as Brad’s statement, Cabretti has been arrested for conspiracy to commit murder.
Until he goes to trial, Brad is being held at the Pen. ”
Tabitha and Major were outside on the patio where they could speak to their boss freely. “Is Brad’s family safe? Cabretti did threaten them all.”
“They are. With him being in Miami when he was arrested, Nikita called one of her and Major’s cousins who happened to be there for a bike show.
Jericho has a lot of friends on the force, and him visiting at just the right time to voice Cabretti wasn’t out of the ordinary.
Once the trial is over, Brad will most likely get off with probation considering the circumstances. ”
“That’s great news. We’ll let Craig know.”
“There’s something else. I called Olivia to let her know it was safe to return home, but she had a different plan in mind.
” Mason explained what Craig’s wife proposed, and they agreed to make it happen.
Tabitha disconnected, and she went inside to start breakfast while Major grabbed the keys to the SUV and headed out.
She’d put two pounds of bacon in the oven and was mixing biscuit dough when Craig came in looking for coffee. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” Craig surprised her by asking if he could help.
“I’ve got it, but thank you for offering. Mason called, and Cabretti has been arrested. You can go back to your life now.”
“Oh. That’s good.” Craig didn’t sound as excited as Tabitha expected.
“How are you doing?”
Craig waited until he’d taken a sip of coffee before answering. “Not well. My father is blowing up my phone. No, I haven’t answered, but he won’t stop calling until I speak to him.”
Tabitha plopped the dough onto the floured surface. “Have you decided how you’re going to handle him?”
“I’m going to do as you suggested and threaten to expose the truth once your computer specialists have given Iggy his new identity.
Since he’s an adult, I don’t see Buchard pushing back too hard.
He’ll threaten to take back Iggy’s inheritance, but I’ve already spoken to my financial advisor about putting money aside for both of them. ”
“About that.” Tabitha smoothed the dough, then cut out the biscuits and placed them on the baking pan. “The Trio has already moved Iggy’s money to a different account, but they made it look as though he blew through it traveling. Even if Buchard has his own hackers, they won’t be able to trace it.”
“You have that much faith in your family?”
“They’re the best at what they do.” Tabitha washed her hands and put the tray into the preheated oven. “Have you thought about telling Olivia the truth about who you really are?”
“Yes. It’s a conversation long overdue, but it’s one I will have when we’re face-to-face.
I’m hopeful that once she hears why Daniel acted the way he did, she’ll understand him better.
I know I do. For so long I hated my brother, but I never took the time to think about how he felt.
Yes, my father shipped me off because I kept Daniel’s secret, but I hadn’t lost the love of my life and unborn child.
I was so young and focused on what I’d lost before being thrust into a new country with no friends.
I went from having cooks and housekeepers to having to fend for myself.
I didn’t have what you have. And no, I still don’t believe Gregor and Tessa are your parents even though you and Tessa could pass for twins.
And what was with Gregor going without a shirt in the snow? ”
“Is that bacon I smell?” Iggy asked, dancing into the kitchen. Tabitha was thankful for the interruption, as she didn’t want to come up with a plausible excuse for her dad being shirtless in thirty-degree weather.
“It is. How do you like your eggs?”
“In my belly.” Iggy got closer, but he stopped and looked around. “Where’s Major?”
“He had to run an errand. Why?”
“I don’t want to get my arse kicked for flirting with his woman.
” Iggy wiggled his eyebrows, and Tabitha laughed at the goofball.
For someone who’d been raised in a strict environment, he hadn’t let it dim his light.
“Then again, Dad says you’re a badass who doesn’t need a man fighting her battles. ”
Craig raised his coffee mug her direction. “That she is. I had the bruises to prove it.”
“What are we talking about?” Daniel asked, entering the room.
“Tabitha kicking Uncle Craig’s arse.”
Tabitha’s phone pinged. It was Major letting her know he was pulling in at the gate. Tabitha prayed the surprise didn’t blow up in their faces. She topped off everyone’s coffee before starting a fresh pot. Then she pulled the bacon out of the oven when the timer went off.
Iggy bounced around the island, getting closer. “Are you feeding an army? I mean, I can eat most of that by myself, but that’s a lot of bacon.”
“Craig, Major’s back. Why don’t you go help him?”
“Help him with what?”
“You’ll see.”
Craig rolled his eyes but did as she asked. Once he was out of the room, Tabitha told Daniel, “Olivia is here. She wanted to surprise Craig.”
Daniel groaned. “She hates my guts.”
“Yes, but you have Iggy as a buffer, and maybe once Craig tells her the truth, she’ll show you a little grace.” Iggy already knew how Daniel behaved when they first arrived in the States. He hadn’t held anything back during their heart-to-hearts.
“Do you think he’ll tell her?” Daniel asked, shuffling from foot to foot, looking toward the front of the house.
“Yes. He said he wanted to do it in person, and I believe now is the time.”
The front door opened, and Craig shouted, “Livie?” His feet pounded as he rushed to get to his wife.
A few seconds later, the door closed, and a few more after that, Major appeared.
“Something smells good.” He strode directly to Tabitha and wrapped an arm around her waist, bent her backwards, and kissed her.
When he pulled her upright, he whispered, “I missed you.”
Tabitha wiped at Major’s bottom lip. She didn’t give him shit that it had only been an hour since he’d last seen her. She got it. They were newly mated, and the bond was strong.
Iggy sighed dramatically. When Major turned and looked at the young man, Iggy raised his hands and backed away.
“You’re a lucky man is all. I mean, look at all the bacon, and it’s perfectly crisp.
Not like the soggy stuff our cook fixes.
” Iggy made a face, sticking out his tongue, and everyone laughed.
Yes, he was a bit immature, but he was funny.
“Uh, where…” Daniel looked past them again.
“Craig said to eat without them. There was something he needed to talk to Olivia about.”
Tabitha scrambled a dozen eggs while Major set the table.
She was going against the norm and putting everything on the table instead of eating off the stove.
Iggy offered to help with the butter and jellies, and Daniel walked to the back window and stared out.
Tabitha couldn’t imagine what he had been through, nor could she imagine what it was like for someone to dislike her so much it rattled her.
She prayed that Olivia was a good person, and once she knew the whole story would treat Daniel with kindness and not disdain.
Iggy hadn’t been kidding about his love for bacon.
He filled his plate full along with a small spoonful of eggs and two biscuits, which he called scones.
He and Daniel talked about all the different names for things here in the States, and Iggy was excited to see where his dad had lived for the last two decades.
They had decided to travel a bit once the Trio had Iggy’s new identity.
They weren’t taking a chance on Buchard not trying to track the younger man down.
Daniel had money saved from what Craig had paid him for acting as his agent, and Iggy had the first part of his inheritance safely tucked away.