She swallowed a sigh of frustration. Couldn’t they just have five minutes alone? But then Dom nodded and stepped back. “Of course.”
Ignoring Raine’s arched brow, Kendra led the way back to the hangar. Dom’s home office was in the corner of the building. She headed that way, belatedly realizing this was the direction Levy had come from when she’d fired at him.
A rather skimpy Christmas tree stood in the far corner of the room, but what caught her attention was a perfectly square hole in the drywall at about the level of her face. “Is that where the coins were? I’m surprised the metal detector picked them up.”
“Why wouldn’t it? There are at least a hundred coins, maybe more,” Justin said with a shrug. “They were tucked behind a painting of Dom’s father’s plane. Not exactly an original hiding spot.”
“So obvious I missed it,” Dom muttered. “Although that picture is what made me head out here in the first place. I finally realized that if my father had hidden something, it might be behind the plane picture he loved.”
“Don’t beat yourself up for not realizing that sooner.” Kendra took his hand in hers.
“He should have left me a clue.” Dom gestured to the painting. “The picture was important to my father, so I left it undisturbed.”
“Maybe your father assumed you’d look behind it. Or take it down,” Justin said. “Although it’s probably better you didn’t, or you’d have ended up dead in a car crash like Helen Gingrass.”
“It all worked out the way it was supposed to, I guess.” Dom tugged her close. “Thanks to you, Kendra. And Smoky. If you hadn’t jumped into the SUV at the last minute . . .”
“I’m glad I did.” She sighed at Justin’s glare. “And I’m glad you and Raine followed us.”
“We need to take your statements.” A Billings police officer gestured for her and Dominic to follow him outside. “And this is a crime scene. You can’t stay here.”
“That’s okay, Dom will be staying with us at the Sullivan K9 Search and Rescue Ranch.” She glanced over at him. “Right?”
He nodded slowly. “If your family agrees. If not, I’ll find somewhere else . . .”
“You’re staying.” Kendra wasn’t going to let Dom stay by himself. Not when Bartoli was still out there somewhere. “We’ll be safe at the ranch until this is over.”
“Hold on, Kendra,” Justin protested. “Let’s not forget about our pregnant sisters and the kids, Eli and Ben.”
He was right. She had momentarily forgotten. “Okay, we’ll find a place to stay. Maybe Griff can arrange another safe house. One that will actually keep us safe.”
The next hour dragged by slowly. Kendra and Dom were separated and asked to provide their version of events independently of the other. When that was finished, she joined Dom, Raine, and Justin. The two dogs, Smoky and Stone, had played in the snow, wearing themselves out to the point they were both stretched out in the back crate areas of both SUVs sound asleep.
“I think we should stay in Billings,” Kendra said to Dom as he handed Justin’s key fob back. In return, Raine gave Kendra hers. “There are more hotels there than in all of Cody and Greybull combined.”
“No need, you’re coming to the ranch. I’ve cleared it with Chase.” Justin grinned. “Although he wants to have a talk with Dominic once we get there.”
“I understand. He has every right to be angry. It’s my fault Kendra was in danger, and that you were hurt,” Dom said.
“We’ll talk to him together.” Kendra gripped Dom’s hand. “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.”
“Meet you there.” Raine and Justin climbed into their SUV and drove off.
Kendra stepped closer to Dom. “Are you sure about this?”
“I’m sure I love you.” He cupped her cheek with his hand and gave her a quick kiss. “Let’s not keep your brother waiting, though. I’m already starting off on the wrong foot with your family. I’d hate to make it worse than it already is.”
“They’ll love you because I love you.” She kissed him, then pressed the key fob into his hand. “Trust me.”
“I do.” Dom held her gaze for a long moment, then slid in behind the wheel. Kendra glanced up as large flakes of snow began to fall. One good thing about living in Wyoming, they always had a white Christmas.
She couldn’t wait to spend the holiday with Dom and her family. Even with their uncertain future, her heart filled with hope as they made the trip back home.
Epilogue
Christmas Eve
Dom stood off to the side of the large gathering space in the main lodge of the ranch. Not to be antisocial, he just wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to being a part of the huge Sullivan family. There were so many of them! Not just Kendra’s eight older siblings and their spouses, but also Doug’s sister, Emily, and her husband, Owen. There was even another guy named Miles, who was Bailey’s brother who had been invited to the holiday gathering. Dom had all their names memorized now, but a simple family meal was still total chaos.
