Chapter 24
Elena stepped onto the porch, coffee mug warming her hands while the morning sun painted golden streaks across the main house.
She walked to the rail and leaned against it, looking out over the property.
Four weeks had passed since the nightmare at the compound, and the peaceful quiet still felt surreal.
All sounds of reconstruction were long gone.
In its place they now had new roofing, repaired siding, upgraded security systems, and more.
She and Sully had talked almost every day, but it had been weeks since she’d seen him in person.
He would be here soon and her heart was ready to explode with anticipation.
His footsteps sounded on the steps before she saw him.
When she looked up, the worry lines in his face made her want to smooth them away.
Or kiss them. Kissing would be good. As though he read her mind, he planted a sweet one on her lips before he pulled her with him to sit in the porch swing and drew her close beside him.
“It’s so good to see you. I can’t believe I’m actually here. ”
“I know.” She snuggled closer. “Tell me everything.”
“I talked to Piper last night. She’s doing okay.
Hannah and she are in counseling together.
They’re getting there.” He rubbed his jaw, the gesture automatic when something bothered him.
“The hardest part is the betrayal by someone we should have trusted. Someone who should have had our backs, someone . . .” He shook his head.
“Sorry, we seem to have this conversation a lot.”
“It’s okay. It’s hard. I understand.”
He gripped her hand in a gentle hold. “I know you do. Maybe that’s why I feel like I can freely express that to you.”
Elena studied his profile. “Winters betrayed a lot of people. You’re definitely not alone.”
“Piper will recover from a lot, but his betrayal cut deeper than I realized. She’s so angry I’m not sure there’s enough counseling in the universe to help her get past that.”
“All we can do is pray that God will give her some divine and supernatural peace when it comes to that.”
“Yes, I’ve been praying for her, but he not only sold out everything we believed in for money, he put her daughter in danger. Damaged her mentally and emotionally. She’s a wreck.”
“What about her job?”
“Surprisingly, she’s not been fired. She did submit her resignation, although I wish she hadn’t.
She really did try to do the right thing.
I mean, that kind of situation is something I pray I never find myself in.
I can’t say I wouldn’t have done exactly what she did.
She trusted her superior and did what he told her to do.
She’ll be transferred to another office where she can get a fresh start.
If she wants it. I don’t think she does.
I think she’s going to walk away, but she’s on leave and will make a decision soon. ”
“She’ll come out on the other side and be stronger for it. I know that some people don’t believe that, but Piper and Hannah are believers. I have full faith in them and the Lord.”
He squeezed her closer and planted a kiss on her head. Then sighed. “It’s a train wreck. I’m sure you’ve seen how the media is crucifying the Bureau.”
“I’ve seen it and can only pray that everyone will come to understand that one person doesn’t define the whole organization. And one person doesn’t, Sully. You know that too.”
He turned to face her, those dark eyes intense. “I do, of course. It’s just going to take time to get past.”
Elena set her mug on the side table and reached for his hand.
“Look at the prepper community. Iris and LaVoy corrupted it. Used fear and greed to turn something that could have been good into something twisted. But people like Lindy Grace were still there, and she wasn’t like them.
Even my father realized that what he believed wasn’t what the community believed and freed my mother when she got caught sneaking in to see Iris. ”
He grunted. “Your father helped them kidnap you.”
“Ah, Sully, we’ve been over this. He was tricked. She manipulated him the same way Winters manipulated Piper.” Elena squeezed Sully’s fingers. “Sometimes good people make terrible choices because they’re trapped.”
Sully nodded slowly. “Doesn’t make the betrayal hurt less.”
“No, it doesn’t. But it means you can still trust the badge. Trust your training. And still trust those you’ve trusted for years. Winters is an outlier. He’s not the organization.” She paused. “And trust yourself.”
“I know I’ve said this before, but I keep going over and over it in my head. I’m thinking I should have seen it coming. Should have known something was wrong with Winters years ago, but I didn’t.”
“You’re not responsible for other people’s choices, Collin Sullivan. Only your own.”
The sound of his full name seemed to settle something in him. His shoulders relaxed and he leaned back against the swing.
“Speaking of choices,” he said, his voice shifting to something softer. “I need to tell you something.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m in love with you.”
The words hung between them like morning mist, delicate and beautiful. Elena tried to breathe with suddenly constricted lungs. “Sully—”
“I know it’s complicated. I know we haven’t known each other long.
Well, we have for a while, but not like this.
Like the whole dating thing. But almost losing you made me realize I can’t wait for the perfect moment to say it.
” His thumb traced circles on her palm. “I love your strength. Your compassion. The way you see past people’s mistakes to their hearts.
The way you make me want to be better than I am. ”
Elena fought the tears that threatened to fall.
“You don’t need to be better. You risked everything to save me.
” She cupped his face with her free hand.
“I fell in love with you the moment you followed me into the mountains, determined to keep me safe. Even when I didn’t know I needed you to have my back. ”
Sully leaned forward, capturing her lips with his. The kiss was gentle at first, then deeper as weeks of tension and worry melted away. When they broke apart, Elena rested her forehead against his. “What happens now?” she whispered.
“Now we figure out what normal looks like.” Sully’s hand wrapped the back of her neck. “I’ll probably get a new partner. New cases. But I want to come home to you. Wherever that winds up being. But for now, here is good. How does that sound?”
She kissed him again, a lingering, sweet, full-of-love kiss with a hint of restrained passion. “Does that answer your question?”
He swallowed and nodded. Cleared his throat. “Good. Because I have plans.”
“What kind of plans?”
“Old-fashioned plans, like the kind that involve asking your father’s permission first. Think he’d be up to that?”
Elena laughed, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep. “I think he can handle that.”
“He’s still doing all right?”
Elena let the laughter fade. “He is. Maya’s been amazing.
I could have helped him alone, but she really went above and beyond to get him into an incredible therapy program.
Not only that, I don’t think I told you that he saw the dentist a few days ago.
He said he’s finally out of pain. He had a tooth that’s bothered him for years.
Didn’t say a word for a while about it. I think he was afraid he would be perceived as causing trouble.
I noticed he wasn’t chewing on that side and asked him.
He grudgingly admitted it hurt.” Tears clogged her throat at the thought.
“He’s not the same man I remember, Sully. He’s afraid of everything.”
He held her tighter. “He’ll come around. He needs to heal.”
“I know.” She swiped a stray tear. “He keeps marveling that he’s living with me, but I think he’s come to accept that I’m not going to throw him out if he leaves a dish in the sink.” She smiled. “I love that he’s learning how to live in the world again, and I get to help him do that.”
“And Iris?”
Ouch. “Twenty-five to life. The federal charges alone will keep her locked up for decades.” The thought saddened her. “Dad and I will visit when we can. She’s still my sister and his daughter, even after everything.”
“That’s very generous of you.”
“She was broken long before she broke other people. Doesn’t excuse what she did, but . . .” Elena shrugged. “Everyone deserves a chance at redemption.”
“Even ASAC Winters?”
“Even him. If he’s genuinely repentant. I pray he is.”
“I do too. Even though I’m still furious with him.”
“I don’t blame you.” She pulled him down for another of those sweet kisses she’d never get tired of.
The screen door banged, and Ollie bounded onto the porch with enough energy to power the sun.
“Gross! Are you two kissing again?” She threw herself into the empty chair across from them and shot them a grin full of life and mischief. “Maya owes me twenty bucks.”
“You bet on us?” Elena asked.
“I bet you’d be kissing on the porch before breakfast. Maya said you’d wait until after.” Ollie’s eyes sparkled. “Easy money.”
Sully chuckled. “Glad we could contribute to your college fund.”
“Speaking of college—which is in the future,” Ollie said, bouncing in her seat, “guess what?”
“What?” Elena and Sully said in unison.
“It’s official! The state approved my placement here permanently. Maya and Gideon are my legal guardians now!” She jumped up and threw her arms around both of them in an awkward three-way hug. “I get to stay. Forever!”
More tears pricked Elena’s eyes. “That’s wonderful, kiddo.”
“And Felicity’s letting me help train Copper—that’s my medical alert dog. He’s a German shepherd mix and he’s super smart and he can already detect when my cortisol levels drop and—”
“Breathe, Ollie,” Sully said, laughing.
“Sorry. I’m just so happy I could burst.” Ollie stepped back, wiping her own eyes. “I never thought I’d have a real family. And now I have like, ten families all on the same ranch.”
“You deserve every bit of happiness,” Elena said.
“So do you guys. Which is why I’m going to leave you alone to be gross and mushy.
” Ollie headed for the steps, then turned back.
“Oh, and Elena? Your dad wants to know if you’ll have lunch with him today.
He’s been practicing making grilled cheese on the stove.
I might have heard him mutter something about cooking over a campfire was way easier. ”
Tears threatened. After fourteen years apart, the simple act of sharing a meal still felt miraculous. “Tell him yes. And that I’ll bring the tomato soup.”
“Cool! Oh! And look . . .” Ollie dug into the pocket of her jeans. “He gave me this.”
Elena gasped and took the fragile wooden bird. “It’s a sparrow.”
“I know. And I love it. Okay, I’m gone now. Back to kissing.” She skipped down the steps, vibrating with energy.
Once she disappeared around the corner of the barn, Sully pulled Elena closer on the swing.
“She’s going to be okay,” he said.
“More than okay. She was amazing at the trial, wasn’t she?”
“Beyond amazing. Bellini will die in prison, along with all of his underlings. But Ollie? She’s going to thrive here. Like you did.”
Elena considered that. “I survived here. But I think I’m just starting to thrive.”
“Because?”
“Because for the first time in my life, I don’t feel like I’m running from something. I feel like I’m running toward something instead.”
Sully’s smile was soft. “What are you running toward?”
“You. This place. A family that chooses to love each other instead of being forced together by fear.” Elena leaned into his warmth. “A future where I get to help other people find their way home too.”
“Speaking of home,” Sully said, “I’ve been thinking.”
“Dangerous habit.”
“I want to build us a house. Here on the ranch. Something that’s ours from the ground up. We may not get to live here year-round depending on my job, but it’ll be our little sanctuary. Our retreat. What do you say?”
Elena’s heart skipped. “You want to build a house?”
“I want to build a life. The house is just where we’ll live it.” He twisted to face her fully. “I’ve already cleared it with Maya and Gideon. So, what do you say? Ready to put down some real roots?”
Elena looked out over the rolling hills, the rebuilt barn, the horses grazing peacefully in the pasture. This place had sheltered her when she was broken. Given her purpose when she felt lost. Brought her love when she least expected it. “I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather grow old with you.”
“Even when I leave my badge on the kitchen counter and track mud through the house?”
“Especially then.”
Sully cupped her face in his hands. “How did I get so lucky?”
“It’s not luck,” Elena said softly. “It’s grace. All of it. The way Ollie found safety here. The way my father found freedom. The way you and I found each other when we both needed healing the most.”
“You really believe that? That God orchestrated all this?”
“Don’t you?” Elena thought about the long road that had brought them together. The pain and loss and betrayal that had somehow led to this moment of perfect peace.
“Yeah. I do. Absolutely without any doubt.”
“It awes me. That God can take our worst moments and turn them into something beautiful. Look at us. Look at Ollie. Look at this place.” She gestured to the ranch around them. “We’re all broken people who found wholeness together. If that’s not grace, I don’t know what is.”
Sully was quiet for a long moment, his thumb tracing her cheekbone. “I love the way you see the world. I love the way you help me see it too.”
“I love you, Sully Sullivan. All of you. The good, the complicated, and the stubborn parts that make you who you are.”
“I think I’m going to take Ollie’s advice,” he said.
“What advice?”
“Get back to the kissing.”
“Oh, that advice. Good idea.”
He kissed her then, slow and sweet and full of promises. When they broke apart, the sun had climbed higher, painting everything in warm gold.
“Come on,” Elena said, standing and pulling him to his feet. “Let’s go settle Dad’s nerves about the grilled cheese, and make sure Ollie’s not driving Felicity crazy with questions about dog training.”
“In a minute,” Sully said, wrapping his arms around her waist. “I want to remember this moment. This feeling. So peaceful.”
Elena smiled, understanding completely. After so much running and hiding and fighting, peace was precious—and definitely worth savoring and cherishing.
“I love this,” he said.
“There’s been a lot of love this morning. What exactly are you referring to?”
“All of it.” He chuckled. “But just . . . home,” he said. “For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m home.”
Elena rose on her toes to kiss him one more time, tasting hope and love and the promise of a future neither of them had dared to dream.
“Welcome home, Agent Sullivan.” Hand in hand, they walked into the house where their family waited, their future spread out before them like the rolling hills of Broken Chains Ranch—full of possibility, healing, love, and grace.