Epilogue
Steff breathed in the salty scented air and closed her eyes, squeezing Dalton’s hand. She’d asked to go to the beach for a picnic dinner. She was living in the moment after her freedom had almost been taken from her again.
She flicked her eyes open, squinting behind her sunglasses at the setting sun. Another day over, and one further away from her ordeal.
Her meeting with the FBI at Alliez’s office hadn’t been as bad as she thought it was going to be.
It could’ve been because of having Dalton at her side the whole time.
Or it could’ve been because the agent with Julian, Rowan Harper, had been super friendly and understanding.
Although she hadn’t looked happy to see Fox, and neither had he when he saw her.
The man was hurting because of what Cynthia had done, and he hated everything and everyone.
Well mostly everyone, he didn’t hate his teammates, but they were giving him a wide berth.
Dalton was worried about him, and was going to give him a couple more days before he went and saw him and really talked to him.
Everyone had been letting him process what had happened.
Looked like that was a bad thing though, as he was getting more and more closed off.
Rowan believed after what had gone down, and how they’d been able to round up a lot of Viktor’s soldiers, the Russian mobster was going to lie low for a bit, and keep himself and his business dealings solely in Russia.
Through their sources, they’d heard he’d denied any association with Cynthia, and what she claimed she did for him.
Everyone knew it was bullshit, but if he stayed away from the United States and didn’t take any unsuspecting women off the street, they’d take it.
She and Dalton had talked, and he believed, like she did, the mobster would resurface after enough time had passed. When he did, they would be ready for him.
“What are you thinking so hard about?” Dalton slung an arm around her and pulled her tight against him. She loved it when he did that.
She loved him, and both of them told each other numerous times during the day how they felt.
“Life. Love. The past. You.” Not surprisingly, she’d had a couple of bad nights, but Dalton had been there and had helped her through. For the time being, she was going to her therapist twice a week to work through Cynthia’s betrayal.
Dalton nodded. “I don’t care how many times you need to talk about it, I’ll listen. I’ll hold you. If you want to punch something, I’ll take you to the gym and you can take it out on a punching bag.”
She smiled. “I know you will, and I’m getting better. Talking with Donelle is helping a lot. Waking up with you every morning helps too. I love you, Dalton.”
“I love you, too. And waking up with you is the best part of my day.”
“The best, huh? What about the rest?” She plucked at the button of his shirt, a wave of desire crashing into her like the waves on the sand. Suddenly, she didn’t want to be at the beach. She wanted to be at his apartment. In his bed, with Dalton taking possession of her.
“Every part of my day is the best, because I have you.” His voice was husky, and she didn’t miss his hard length jutting against her side. “How about we take this picnic home?”
“I like that idea a lot.” She pressed her lips against his, and Dalton deepened the kiss.
When she’d summoned the strength to go to Teresa’s place for Angelica’s birthday, she’d had no idea it would lead to her finding the love of her life.
Fox drummed his fingers on the metal table as he waited for the gray door in front of him to open.
Anger simmered below the surface, a constant friend now.
No matter how much he wanted to let it out, to destroy everything around him, he kept it locked down.
He didn’t know how much longer he was going to be able to do it, but he’d find a way to not release it.
The door squeaked open, and he flattened his hands on the table as the guard guided Cynthia into the room.
He hadn’t seen her since the day everything he thought he knew about her was shattered. Ox hadn’t allowed him near her after he brought her out of the cabin. It had probably been a good thing, because he might have done something he swore he’d never do—hit a woman.
“Didn’t expect to see you,” Cynthia remarked, as she sat.
Fox nodded at the guard after he’d attached her handcuffs to the ring in the middle of the table, letting him know that he could leave. Cynthia wasn’t going anywhere.
She spared him a quick look of disgust as if she thought he was a bug she wanted to squash before turning her attention the corner of the room.
He wanted to shake her. This was the woman he thought he was going to spend the rest of his life with. He’d taken one look at her again, and had been smitten. He’d been played for a fool, and couldn’t believe he’d been taken in by her.
“I want some answers.”
“Why?”
As he drove to the county jail where she was being held, he’d wondered many times why he was doing it. What good would come of seeing her?
“Because it’s the least I deserve. I turn up to your place to find it empty. You’d spent the night with me. Told me you were falling for me, all the while you were planning to leave.”
Fuck, he sounded like a whiny teenager begging his first love to take him back.
“You were a means to an end. And so easy to manipulate. A few nice words, acting scared of my shadow, and you fell for it hook, line, and sinker. It’s pathetic how gullible you were.
And you’re supposed to be a big bad former Navy SEAL, but you didn’t even know you were being played.
” She leaned forward, nothing loving or gentle in her gaze, only contempt and hatred. “I detest you.”
Fox didn’t flinch at her words. Anything he ever felt for her, or thought he felt for her, died in that moment. He closed his heart down. “Not as much as I detest you.”
“You ruined everything I worked for. The life I was going to have.”
Fox shook his head, not believing what he was hearing. “I almost feel like you want to say that you would’ve gotten away with it, if it wasn’t for us meddling children!” He couldn’t believe he was saying that, but with the way she was acting, it fit.
“I would’ve. It had been all planned out—twice. And both times you ruined it.” She pouted, and Fox was beginning to wonder what he ever saw in her.
He was done with her.
The chair scraped across the concrete floor as he stood. “Enjoy rotting in hell, because that’s what you deserve.”
He knocked on the door, and as it opened, Cynthia spoke. He didn’t turn, just stood staring at the brick wall in front of him.
“Watch your back.”
Fox wasn’t going to rise to her bait. She didn’t deserve another second of his time.
Kayce “Deal” Simmonds tipped the bottle of beer and swallowed down the liquid.
Around him his friends laughed. They were all celebrating Steff’s birthday.
Yolanda had volunteered to babysit all the kids, allowing Growler, Ox, Angel, and their wives to enjoy the night out.
Deal didn’t envy Yolanda the job, considering she was looking after four kids under four, but if anyone could do it, it was their receptionist.
A woman with blonde hair rushed over to Astrid, and he sat up a bit straighter, even though Growler was standing right beside her and didn’t look worried.
Even the most harmless of persons could be dangerous, just look at Cynthia; no one would’ve guessed what she was capable of, least of all their team leader, Fox.
He was the only one missing from the event, no matter how many of them spoke to him, encouraging him to come, he’d refused. In the end, they let him do his thing. He was grieving what might’ve been. He would come around—at least Deal hoped he would.
Whoever the woman was, she was frantic as she spoke to Astrid, ringing her hands, and he could see the remnants of tear tracks down her cheeks. Astrid hugged her and, from where he stood, he could read Astrid’s lips as she said, please Callum.
What was going on?