Chapter 12
Everly paced on the screened porch, the nighttime chorus of crickets and spring peeper frogs a welcome distraction from the conversation that continued inside.
She’d tried to follow Grant and Evan’s phone call, but eventually she’d thrown on a sweatshirt and leggings and come out here, desperate for a break from the overwhelming amount of information coming at her.
The evidence had been laid bare before her eyes, and yet some part of her balked at the idea that her own husband had been involved in treason while she remained blissfully unaware. Had she ever really known Jeremy at all?
Maybe not. But there had been a time, years ago, when he’d swept her off her feet and promised her a dream. Now she knew that it had all been an illusion, and he’d really plunged her into a waking nightmare.
Grant stepped out onto the porch, the light from inside illuminating the deep furrows between his brows.
He pocketed his phone and flopped down onto the porch swing, the chains rattling with the movement, then wordlessly reached for her.
Everly went without hesitation, curling into his side as his arms wrapped around her like a shield.
“So. Jeremy was a traitor, on top of his other redeeming qualities.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “What happens now?”
“The good news is, now we can use STAG resources to track down these bastards. Noah is briefing Lockhart as we speak. By tomorrow, we’ll know exactly how to bring them in and end this.”
“That is good news. So what’s the bad?”
He sighed. “It’s really bad.” His arms tightened around her a fraction, and Everly’s heart jumped into her throat.
“Tell me.”
“Jeremy used your information on the original loan application. The one that got him involved with DropKom too deeply to get out. Your full name, address, everything. He even sent them a copy of your license.” His voice turned flat, edged with disgust. “It’s no wonder they were able to track you to your house. ”
“That’s…not good, but not as bad as I was thinking,” she said into the darkness.
“There’s more.” He exhaled hard. “He signed your name on all his correspondence with them. All those files, all those payments. On paper, they all came from you. As far as DropKom is concerned, Jeremy Holland never existed.”
Grant’s words didn’t make sense at first, like her mind refused to acknowledge what she’d just heard.
Then realization slammed into her like a tidal wave, leaving her ice-cold and shaking.
“They think I did this. That’s why they’ve been harassing me since he died.
” She reared back to look at him. “But then that means…does the government also think I did this? Does STAG think I did this?” Her voice cracked, and she surged to her feet.
“Am I going to be charged? Go to prison?”
Grant was beside her before she even realized he’d moved. “I am not going to let that happen,” he said firmly. “None of us will. STAG already knows the truth. You didn’t do this, and we’re going to prove it.”
“But how?”
“Lawson’s going through the files now, picking apart the metadata and working that cyber-magic-bullshit he does so well. Guarantee you Jeremy made a mistake somewhere along the way.”
“I hope so.” She allowed him to guide her back down to the porch swing. “I really thought that finding whatever file DropKom wanted would make them go away. That I could move on with my life.”
“I know, babe.” Grant ran his fingers through her hair, then cleared his throat. “Evan found something else while he was digging, too. And I thought you should know…” he trailed off, like he wasn’t sure whether to continue.
“What is it?” Everly asked, but in her heart, she already knew what he’d say next.
“Jeremy was having an affair. Several, actually. Evan found the messages and pictures on his hard drive. A couple of local women. And a female soldier from another unit.”
Once, the news would have devastated her.
But now that she understood what a broken man her husband had been, all Everly could do was shake her head.
“Thank God I opted for an STD panel at my last checkup, even though it felt pointless at the time. I guess his lack of interest in me had a silver lining.”
“It was never about you,” he said, and she laid her head on his broad shoulder. “His actions, his lack of control, were his responsibility and his alone.”
One question still nagged at her. “So why did he engrave the file name inside his ring? Especially to then turn around and give the damn thing back to me.”
Grant shrugged. “Who can say for sure? My best guess, he didn’t want to forget it and put it somewhere he’d always have access to.
Maybe he recorded it somewhere else when he decided to mail the ring back to you.
Or,” he sighed, drawing her close again, “maybe he was going to send DropKom after the ring, and you, as retaliation for asking for divorce.”
“If we hadn’t gone out for brunch on Sunday, I would have been home when the intruder broke in.” She could have been raped. Murdered. She slid an arm across Grant’s middle and hugged him a little tighter. He’d kept her safe then. And he’d keep her safe now.
“I know,” he murmured. “I’m glad you ran out of coffee.”
They sat together in the darkness, absorbing the enormity of the situation, the porch swing creaking softly as the forest creatures continued the symphony around them. Everly could feel chaos encroaching at last on the peace she’d enjoyed here, and she hated it.
Grant’s phone buzzed once, and he glanced at the text before he pocketed it again. “Conference call with STAG tomorrow at 0900. Lockhart wants to talk to you.”
Everly shivered, whether from cold, nerves, or dread, she wasn’t sure. “I don’t think I’m going to get much sleep tonight.”
“You’ll have company.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Let’s go inside. We’ll get through the night together.”
◆◆◆
Grant handed Everly a glass of wine, then poured himself two fingers’ worth of bourbon.
He settled beside her on the couch, the fire crackling across from them, casting dancing shadows on the walls.
Neither the warmth of the flames nor his drink were enough to warm the chill that had settled around his heart.
STAG could handle this shit in their sleep. DropKom stealing classified intel and threatening innocent people? Just another day at the office. But one of his brothers-in-arms handing over that information, using it to endanger the woman Grant cared about?
That had him rattled.
He took a long, burning drink, and then leaned back to prop his feet on the coffee table, silently rehearsing what he’d say tomorrow in Everly’s defense.
He’d told her the truth—Lawson was going to comb through those files for as long as it took to prove her innocence.
But until then…it didn’t look good for her on paper.
At all. And how Lockhart would handle such damning evidence was anyone’s guess.
“Hey.” She nudged him gently with her elbow. “It’s too late at night for brooding.” Grant glanced over and found her studying him, her elbow propped against the couch and her head resting on her fist.
He tucked her heavy, silken hair behind her ear and ran his thumb along her jaw, the faint purple scar there a quiet reminder of everything she’d survived. “I just want to protect you,” he told her.
Everly turned her and pressed a kiss into his palm. “I’d say you’ve gone above and beyond for me the last few days. I’m always safe when you’re around.”
“I won’t always be around.” He lowered his hand.
Her smile faltered. “Then I’ll still be okay.”
“That’s what Melissa said, too.” The words tumbled out of him before he could check himself, exhaustion and worry and alcohol loosening his tongue.
“Your sister?” Everly’s brow furrowed, and Grant suddenly had the feeling he’d lost his footing, that he’d started down a path he wasn’t ready for. But there was no turning back now.
“She told me she wasn’t in danger, and I believed her.” He swallowed. “I should’ve protected her. But I didn’t.”
“Want to talk about it?” Everly left her glass on the end table, then leaned into his side. He wrapped an arm around her and stared into the fire as if he might find answers there, his sullen mood hanging over him like a dark cloud.
“I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “Just tell me about her. What was she like?”
Grant sighed. “Stubborn. Bossy. Two years older and always thought she knew better than me.” A faint smile tugged at his lips. “But she had my back. Even after I enlisted, she’d call every week, like clockwork.”
“What happened?” Everly’s voice was a hushed whisper.
“A man. She got involved with this guy…” He shook his head at the memory. “He was bad news from day one. No job, a rap sheet a mile long. Twice her age. But she was blind to all of it.”
“What on Earth could he possibly have had to offer her?” Everly scoffed.
“Your guess is as good as mine. And the more I tried to make her see reason, the harder she dug in her heels. My parents tried too. Same thing.”
Everly caressed his arm in slow, soothing strokes. “I can see where this is headed…”
“Yeah. She sent a text in the family chat one Monday morning, announcing she and the idiot had eloped over the weekend.” He glanced at the photo on the bookshelf, his heart twisting at the sight of his sister’s carefree smile, frozen in time. Before her life had gone off the rails.
Everly groaned. “Your parents must have been beside themselves.”
“They were. Especially because after their quickie wedding, he let the mask drop. Put her on a weekly allowance–”