Epilogue - One
Not many mourners showed up at the funeral service. Not that Preston had expected a crowd. Truth be told, he was surprised more than two people were there.
He’d planned to attend the burial. He had to attend. After all, it was his brother being put to rest.
Adam.
Sloane was at Preston’s side because, of course, she was. She was his partner. Whatever darkness he faced, Sloane was there to meet it. Unflinchingly.
Lily and her Atlas were also in attendance. Something that did surprise him. He hadn’t exactly expected them to linger in town, but they had. The twins were doing well, or so Sloane had assured him. Two strong heartbeats.
Debra waited nearby. Eyes dry. The star on her uniform gleamed.
Frankie had gotten out of the hospital, too. The FBI agents believed that Eugene had been the one to attack Frankie. The working theory was that the deputy had attacked Frankie with a taser from behind, when Frankie had tried to stop Adam from taking Sloane in the hospital parking lot.
Frankie wasn’t at the cemetery. He was enjoying a few days of well-deserved vacation and recovery time with his sister. Preston had gotten them a two-week stay at a luxury beach resort.
He’d tried to send Debra away for some relaxation time, too. She’d refused. She was already back at the sheriff’s station.
Noble stood a few feet away. Jaw tight. Body tense.
One spray of flowers rested on top of the coffin. Just one. The flowers were a mix of lilies and carnations. Sloane had picked out the flowers. Lilies—for peace and restored innocence.
Adam’s innocence had been stolen from him long ago.
The carnations? Sloane had told him those were for remembrance.
Not like he’d be forgetting his brother anytime soon.
The service was brief. Soon, the prayers were over. The officiant quickly departed and didn’t look back.
Lily came toward him, with Atlas right at her side. She looked over at the coffin as it waited to be lowered into ground. Her hand rose, and she gave Preston’s arm a pat. “He’s not you,” she noted simply. “You’re not him.” She nodded and dropped her hand.
Atlas inclined his head toward Preston. “Glad you’re not the one going in the ground.”
Okay, Atlas could still be a jerk, but, Preston might be warming to the man. “Me, too.”
Atlas and Lily walked away.
Debra shuffled closer. She blinked a few times, and he realized that her eyes weren’t quite so dry. She stopped in front of him and Sloane. Looked down. “I…”
He reached out and hugged her. “You scared me in that sheriff’s station.” A gruff admission. In the station. In the ambulance. At the hospital.
She tensed against him, then her arms rose, and she hugged him back. Fiercely.
She felt smaller. More delicate. When he’d been a kid, Debra had always seemed larger than life. Watching out for him, protecting him…
Because she’d been paid to do it?
Nah. More than that. I can see it now. You didn’t get paid to deliver chocolate chip cookies every Christmas.
“You don’t get scared,” Debra mumbled back.
“I do when people I love are in trouble.”
She hugged him harder. When she let him go a few minutes later, a tear had slid down her cheek. With a quick hand, she swiped it away. Briskly, Debra nodded to Sloane. “I’ll see you both at the house later.” She pointed at Sloane. “Don’t let him stay here too long.”
Then she was gone.
Noble cast a long look at the coffin. Then he, too, ambled toward Preston. Noble’s hands were shoved deep into the pockets of his black dress pants. “I’m more of a brother to you than that bastard ever was.” He stood before Preston, as if waiting for a denial.
“You’re my best friend, asshole,” Preston fired back. “And, yeah, you are family to me.”
Noble’s smile came slowly. “I knew you cared.” Noble’s chin notched up. “I’m gonna be the best man?” His gaze darted between Sloane and Preston. “We’re all clear on that? Everyone understands? That upstart prick Atlas will not steal my spot?”
“We’re clear,” Preston agreed.
“Damn straight.” Noble walked away. Slow steps.
Then it was just Preston. Sloane. No, not just them. The team who would lower the heavy coffin into the ground waited nearby.
Sloane reached for Preston’s hand. “We can leave now. You don’t have to watch the next part. Families don’t usually stay for this…” Her words trailed away.
“I’m staying.”
She nodded. “Then so am I.”
She was by his side, her hand in his—the hand with no broken fingers—when the coffin was lowered into the ground. When the dirt began to cover Adam.
When the past was finally buried.