“We’re fine. The van’s seen better days.” I search the area and spot Bella’s bakery van. The windshield is splintered and falling away from the front of the car. “He shot at you?”
“He did.” Adding in a low growl, “That motherfucker.”
“Is that him?” I point to the scene in the middle of the road.
“That’s him. I was still able to get him with the van.”
“You hit him?”
“Had to. He was aiming for our parents.”
Our parents?
Does that mean my father’s friend is Sheila Truman?
It makes sense. Perfect sense, actually. And maybe that’s all they are… friends. “You said you had good news?”
“We do. The doctors are pretty confident that Mom’s issues are due to the wrong cocktail of meds that don’t get along, and a urinary tract infection that went undiagnosed. They switched up one of her prescriptions and she’s now on antibiotics. We’ll know in a few days if that’s all it was. Cross fingers.” We both do just that.
“And my dad and Mom?”
Bella shrugs. “They’ve been spending a lot of time together lately.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“If they make each other happy… keep each other company, then yes, I’m absolutely fine with it. They’re both lonely. Too bad because they both deserve happiness.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
At that moment, we see movement. They’re lifting Bill onto a gurney. Another guy in an FBI jacket is standing next to Finn while a sheriff’s deputy cuffs Bill to the edge of the bed, and I smile, knowing he won’t be able to get out of that so easily.
“Lou Lou.” Bella throws her arm over my shoulder. “You’re going to need to explain all of this to me.”
I pull her into a hug. “I will.”
When I feel big arms come around me, I know it’s Chase.
“What the fuck is he doing here?”
“I called him after day drinking.”
“When you were wasted?”
“Yep.”
“How’d you get his number?”
“Long story. I’ll tell you after this mess is over.”
We stay just as we are, wrapped up together, watching as they roll Bill away and place him in the ambulance. “Oh, by the way, I found a treasure.”
“Oh. Well.” She hesitates, looking at me like I may be screwing with her. “Good.” Bella sounds so casual it makes me laugh. Hard.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
CHASE
They’ve hadus in a small room at one of the FBI’s satellite offices in Excelsior for hours, asking questions from both local law enforcement and the feds. Even I had to face questions since I was at the house when we discovered the coins and jewels. Thankfully, I insisted we remain together for this because I was a bit surprised to discover the Feds wanted her to turn over the coins to them.
