Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
T he special prosecutor had gone to law school with one of the assistant district attorneys and swore they could be trusted. Bex put her faith in him and he’d made the call with Olivia representing Bex and Wilder. Wheels were in motion to drop the warrant for her arrest and for Wilder’s.
The SUV stopped a couple of blocks away from the fundraiser at a small diner. Seated inside were Chief Wise, Detective Max Caldwell, and Lieutenant Ana Perez. Max had just wrapped up a major undercover operation and was being read in by Granger and Peter. Ana hugged Bex while Max apologized for not being there when she needed him most. Sean had sat quietly through this all, until he addressed the table. “Ana, I’m putting you up for captain. I’ve already requested a transfer.”
“I’ll make it happen, Sean,” Wise told him.
“But what will you do, Bex?” Max asked. “If I read the situation right, Wilder and you are . . .”
“Together,” Bex confirmed. “We have a lot to think about.”
The table started talking about the case and about arresting Seabrook when Bex’s phone vibrated with an incoming text message. It was from the unknown number she knew had to be Kale. I believe I heard a rumor you were thinking about becoming an FBI agent and possibly relocating to Charleston. As you think about your next steps and what you want in life, I thought I’d let you know the FBI Academy is waiting for you, should you choose them. Don’t worry about being assigned anywhere else. You also have a spot at the Charleston office upon successful completion of the Academy, of which I have no doubt you’ll be top of your class.
Bex re-read the message. How did you know I was thinking about that and how could you guarantee this and why would you do this?
Three bubbles appeared and then Kale’s final message. Your phone’s search history and I have friends in very high places. It’s a done deal if that is what you want for yourself and for Wilder. As for why? Just call me Cupid.
“Bex?” Chief Wise shouted loudly meaning he’d said her name a time or two already and she hadn’t heard him. “Are you ready to go? You’ll have the honor of slapping the cuffs on Seabrook as Peter reads him his rights.”
Bex turned to Olivia. “While you were texting,” Olivia told her, “news came through that the warrants to arrest you and Wilder have been dismissed.”
“Then let’s finish this.” Bex stood up from the table and took a deep breath. The nightmare was over. It was a strange feeling because this nightmare led her to the love of her life. It was hard to hate what happened to her since she came out of it with Wilder. However, she sure as hell could hate Seabrook.
“Here you go, Bex,” Ana called out as she tossed Bex a bulletproof vest. “Seabrook has security and I’m not going to underestimate the probability of him ordering us to be shot.”
“I’ll contact the mayor to give her a heads-up,” Wise told them as they loaded up in the police SUVs. “Luckily, this falls under the FBI jurisdiction so she can’t fight it too much.”
Max took Granger with him in his car. Sean joined Ana and Bex while Wise took Peter. By the time they pulled up to the hotel, everything was in place. The mayor was briefed and didn’t offer any pushback. In fact, she was going to issue a press release as soon as Wise texted her to let her know it was done, announcing an internal audit of the DA’s office would take place with help from the state police and the assistance of the FBI. Further, she was pulling in a DA from a different borough to take over until the upcoming elections.
FBI agents from the New York office were waiting for them on the sidewalk. Peter briefed them, and while they grumbled about not having their picture taken arresting Seabrook, they agreed that Peter and Bex would be the main arresting officers with Max, Ana, and Glen providing a police presence to demonstrate the joint effort between the local and federal agents.
They entered the upscale hotel’s lobby and people instantly stopped to stare as twenty law enforcement officers in bulletproof vests strode across the marble flooring toward the ballroom. Bex heard Seabrook giving a speech as soon as they approached the entrance.
Two agents opened the double doors and the group strode into the packed ballroom where everyone was sitting around tables with a thousand dollars or more per plate dinners in front of them.
Seabrook was giving a speech and stopped as soon as he saw them enter. He stuttered a couple of times and then his eyes caught hers. Bex saw the gleam of victory in them. “Officers, that’s Bexley Moretti. She has a warrant out for her arrest. Arrest her immediately.”
Officers around the stage began to move toward her but Peter stopped them as his voice rang throughout the ballroom. “FBI Agent in Charge, Peter Castle. The warrant for Detective Moretti has been dismissed. In fact, we’re here to serve a federal warrant with the assistance of the NYPD Criminal Enterprise division. I believe you know Chief Wise, Captain Kilpatrick, and Detectives Moretti, Perez, and Caldwell.” With a nod of his head, Bex pulled out her handcuffs and pushed through the confused officers with Peter right behind her. “Guy Seabrook, you’re under arrest.”
The crowd gasped as Guy sputtered and turned red. “Turn around and place your hands behind your back,” Bex ordered as Peter read off the charges and began the Miranda Rights.
“Fuck you! Do you know who I am? I will destroy you!” Seabrook raged, yanking his arm from where she was trying to place cuffs on him.
“You tried to destroy me, and you failed,” Bex whispered. “Now I’m going to put you in jail and let everyone know how you screwed over the local mafia families by conspiring with the Kellys.”
Guy’s eyes went big and that one moment of shock let Bex get a cuff on one wrist before he reacted. He reacted by taking a swing at her with his free hand before she’d been able to wrench his cuffed hand behind his back. Bex saw the punch coming. She saw Peter moving forward. She saw it all. Instead of ducking, she turned her head just enough for the punch to land as a glancing blow instead of a knockout. The second she felt the pain of his knuckles sliding across her skin, Bex yanked his cuffed hand toward her, lowered her shoulder, and charged forward.
Bex’s shoulder hit Guy right in the gut as she used his momentum to throw him over her shoulder. He landed with a loud thud flat on his back on the stage. The crowd went silent as the sound echoed in the ballroom. Bex spun around, flipped him onto his stomach and dropped a knee onto the middle of Guy’s back before yanking his arms behind him and slapping on her cuffs.
“As I was saying,” Peter said casually. “We’ll be adding assaulting an officer to your crimes and you still have the right to remain silent.”
The shocked crowd started to clap as Bex and Peter hauled Guy up to his feet. Suddenly a slice of rather rare beef sailed through the air and smacked Guy right in the head as the cheers for Bex turned to boos for Guy while Bex and Peter, bookended by the FBI and the NYPD, perp-walked Guy Seabrook out the door. By the time they left the ballroom, the media was waiting outside and Guy, covered in mashed potatoes with some asparagus and beef slices hanging on, was put in the back of the FBI SUV.
The door closed on him, and even with the media screaming at her for a comment, Bex finally felt free.
Max, there to wrap the case up, excused himself immediately after they put Guy in the SUV. Ana hugged her, and Wise shook her hand. “The FBI requested us to sit in on the interrogation,” Wise told her.
“You two do it. I’m too involved.”
“We’ll update you,” Ana told her as Wise called a patrolman over.
“Drive Detective Moretti anywhere she needs to go.” Wise turned to her and smiled. “I understand if you need some time to consider your options. I saw how well you and Peter Castle worked together. I won’t pretend you wouldn’t be missed here, but I’ll understand if you need a fresh start.”
Did everyone know Bex had been considering a move to the FBI? She needed to talk to Wilder first. While she knew he’d support her in anything she chose, she’d still like to see what he thought since the FBI meant twenty weeks at the FBI Academy.
“Thank you all for believing me.”
Twenty minutes later, Bex was riding up the elevator to the penthouse of a luxury condominium building. It was moments like this that the differences in their lives hit her. However, when the doors opened and Wilder stood there in jeans and a black sweater looking completely himself, she knew the differences didn’t matter.
“I saw the news and you’ve gone viral. My family has been sending me links nonstop of you flipping Seabrook over your shoulder and cuffing him. I’ve also been added to your family text group. Some of your cousins have a real talent for creating memes. I mean, it’s impressive. Guy Seabrook is well on his way to the notoriety he wanted, only as the most hated man in New York. Hell, it’ll be global before you know it. How’s the face?”
Wilder brushed her hair back to look at the red and swollen spot she’d taken the punch. “Not too bad.”
“Because you deliberately took the punch but moved just enough for it to be a glancing blow?”
Bex chuckled at that. “How could you tell?”
Wilder placed a kiss on her lips as he led her into his living room with a hundred-eighty-degree view that overlooked the city skyline. The East River and the Brooklyn Bridge lit up in the distance. “Because I know your moves, sweetheart.”
“How about a move that would take me away from you for twenty weeks?” Bex bit her lip and held her breath as she waited for Wilder’s answer.
Instead of a frown, he smiled as he turned to her. “You’re considering the FBI? That’s amazing, sweetheart!” Wilder scooped her up and spun her around. “I’m so proud of you for going after your dreams. What can I do to help?”
“Really? You won’t be disappointed? It’s five months.”
“Which is exactly the right amount of time for us to plan a wedding and for me to set up WET D.C. Plus, you get weekends off so it’s not like we won’t see each other.”
There were too many things in that sentence Bex wanted to ask Wilder about. “Did you say wedding?” Wilder took her hand and led her toward the balcony where a fire pit was lit. He wrapped the softest blanket she’d ever felt around her shoulders and opened the door as snowflakes began to fall. “This is a stunning view.”
“Yes, it is.”
Bex turned to roll her eyes at Wilder, knowing he was talking about her, only he wasn’t standing there. He was kneeling before her with a ring between his fingers. A ring that was stunning yet not ostentatious. The square diamond in the center was set in a wide rose gold band with smaller diamonds filling the spaces between. While it was a beautiful ring, it wouldn’t make her feel uncomfortable to wear it while on the job.
“You blew into my life when I least expected it and in the most unexpected way. Honestly though, I think it had to happen like this. I had to see that my life could be full even if I didn’t have my clubs. When facing the idea of losing everything, I knew that wasn’t true because I had you, and you are more important than any business. I’ve been consumed with proving myself since I was a teenager, but you changed all that when you loved me for me. I only hope to show you every day how much I love you for you. The strong, sweet, funny way you aren’t afraid to shower me with love and with eye rolls always keeps me enthralled with what you’ll say or do next. Because whatever it is, I want to be a part of it. Bex, will you do me the greatest honor in allowing me to become your husband?”
Bex had stopped breathing the second she saw Wilder on his knee, but now tears were running down her cheeks at the same time she was smiling. “Yes! Even if you’re not a good Italian boy like my mother wanted,” she teased.
Wilder slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her almost frantically before pulling back and looking down at her. “Don’t worry, they liked me enough to give me their blessing to marry you. I think since your mom stayed in Shadows Landing to set up our engagement party for tomorrow, she’ll overlook the Italian thing.”
Bex inhaled sharply in surprise. “You asked my dad for permission to marry me? How did you know that was important to him?”
Wilder’s lips tilted up. “I didn’t ask your dad. I asked your entire family. Your dad, mom, uncles, aunts, brothers, and cousins. They all gave their blessing. Although, I’m afraid we may need to rein in Aunt Gia. She’s already planning a bachelorette party that’s making me very nervous.”
Bex tossed her head back and laughed right as fireworks filled the sky. “You didn’t?”
“I did. Now, kiss your fiancé under the glow of fireworks and then help me pick a condo to buy in D.C. for us.”
Bex did a whole lot more than just kiss her fiancé. The man who had changed her whole world. Who had protected her when she needed it most, who had lifted her up and supported her when she needed to stand on her own. The man who loved her and who had quickly become her lover and her best friend.