Chapter Twenty-Four
By one-thirty in the morning, the suspects had been taken into custody—three to booking and one to the emergency room.
The medical examiner had removed Dennis Kellerman’s body, and the detectives had finished their initial interviews.
Everyone had been told to report to the station later to give formal statements.
Dan had bounced back quickly and refused a trip to the hospital, now sitting in the recliner at the beach house with an ice pack pressed to his bruised temple.
Off to the side, Sean spoke quietly on the phone with Agent Samson while everyone else gathered in the living room, eating the sandwiches they’d managed to throw together.
The adrenaline had worn off enough to leave everyone hungry and wide awake.
Everyone except Jinx, who lay sprawled in front of the fireplace, snoring loud enough to rattle the quiet room.
KC stared fondly at the big black dog, a grin tugging at his mouth. “I’ll never again call him a worthless mutt. He proved me wrong tonight, and the first chance I get, I’m heading to the butcher for the biggest bone they’ve got.”
A ripple of laughter moved through the room, easing some of the lingering tension.
His attention shifted to Moriah, curled up on his lap at the end of the couch, wrapped in one of his aunt’s old quilts.
She’d finally stopped shivering, her body relaxed against his, but he could still sense the lingering anxiety from everything she’d been through.
He brushed his hand lightly along her side, careful, steady.
Pride swelled in his chest at what she’d done, at the strength she’d shown when it mattered most. At the same time, he knew the night wasn’t over for her—not really.
What happened would follow her into her sleep, into the quiet moments when there was nothing to distract her.
That was fine.
He’d be there to help her through it.
Sean ended his call and dropped onto the loveseat beside Trouble. “Well, I’ve got great news. The drug bust went down without a hitch. They caught Hernandez and thirteen others, six of them high up in the organization, along with a tractor-trailer full of drugs. Street value’s around ten million.”
Low whistles circled the room. KC let out a breath, some of the tension from the night finally letting up.
“They also picked up two CPD patrol officers and Detective Frank Parisi tied to it,” Sean went on.
“DEA thinks there are more connections inside the department, and Internal Affairs is working it with them. They grabbed Hernandez’s bookkeeper at his house and seized a lot of evidence.
Samson said he’s already asking for a deal.
Another guy is talking too—says the gun in Moriah’s duffel bag is tied to two other drug-related murders in Chicago.
That’s why Leo and his crew were so set on getting it back, along with the money.
DEA will send someone down to collect both from you, Brian.
And the Explorer’s owner got back from vacation this afternoon and reported it stolen, so that’s another loose end handled. ”
KC glanced down at Moriah on his lap as she absorbed it all, her body still tucked close against his.
“So… it’s over?” she asked Sean. “Really over?”
Sean smiled and nodded. “Looks that way. Samson also said your family’s homicides will be added to the list of charges at the indictment.”
Her eyes filled, but she held the tears in this time. “Can you thank him for me, please?”
“No problem—I already did.”
She pushed up from KC’s lap and looked around the room, meeting each man’s gaze.
“And thank you… all of you. For some reason, you took a chance believing in me and risked your lives for me. In the end, you’ve given me my life back.
And because of you, my family can rest in peace.
I’ll always be grateful to every one of you. ”
The men shifted under her words, a few glancing away while others cleared their throats or murmured, “You’re welcome.” Gratitude like that wasn’t something they received often, and no one seemed to know what to say when it was directed at them.
Moriah yawned and turned back to KC. “I think I should go to bed. Otherwise, I’ll fall asleep on your lap.”
He rose with her and rested a hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’s the adrenaline wearing off. Go on—I’ll be there in a minute.”
Moriah said goodnight to the group and headed down the hallway. KC watched until she slipped into the bedroom and eased the door closed before turning back to his family and teammates.
“Thanks from me too.”
They nodded but didn’t give any verbal responses, and he didn’t expect any. He knew they always had his six, just like he had theirs.
He headed for the hallway but slowed when Peanut spoke up. “You’re a lucky man, KC. Don’t forget to invite us to the wedding.”
He glanced back over his shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. “As soon as she says yes.”
Moriah came out of the bathroom as he entered the bedroom, closing the door quietly behind him. The soft lamp light caught the oversized T-shirt she’d pulled on—his T-shirt—and something in him shifted at the sight of her in it. She was safe. Here. With him.
For a moment, he stared at her, letting it sink in. After everything that had happened, after how close he’d come to losing her, she was standing right in front of him.
He didn’t trust himself to speak.
Crossing the room, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her—hard, needing to feel her, to make sure she was real.
She responded instantly, her hands fisting in his shirt as she leaned into him.
The kiss deepened, turned urgent, until breathing became an afterthought and the rest of the world fell away.
When he finally pulled back, his pulse still raced, but the edge that had driven him all day had transformed into something steadier.
He took her hand and guided her to the bed, motioning for her to sit. She did, watching him with wide, searching eyes as he dropped to one knee in front of her.
The words were already there, pushing forward before he could second-guess them.
“Marry me?”
Her breath caught, her expression going completely still, like she hadn’t quite processed what he’d said.
He tightened his hold on her hands, not giving himself time to overthink it.
“I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you.
I don’t want a life without you in it. I want to wake up with you every morning and fall asleep with you every night.
I want a house full of kids, chaos, all of it—with you.
I want everything with you.” His voice dropped, rough with emotion. “Please say yes.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. Not once.
Then she launched herself at him.
They went down in a tangle of limbs, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck as laughter broke through her tears.
“Yes,” she managed between shaky breaths. “Yes.”