I've been dreading having this conversation all day, but after what Liam just revealed to me about going to see his father, there doesn't seem any point in keeping it from him.
Not when we've been waiting for this news for a long time.
“I was going to tell everyone at breakfast tomorrow…”
His body tenses under mine. He's anticipating the blow because that's what it seems like has been happening over the last several months since the attack on McBride Mountain.
The Lorells set a series of crazy legal maneuvers in motion, trying to twist what happened in any way that would give them the upper hand in their battle against the people trying to bring them down.
They tried to argue it was some giant conspiracy to frame one of the youngest members of their family and cover up a murder committed by the McBrides. All orchestrated by me—the mastermind bank robber.
It was ludicrous.
And of course, Agent Michaelson didn’t buy any of it, nor did the U.S. Attorney’s office.
But we’ve still had to jump through hoop after hoop, give statements, attend interview after interview and retell the same story dozens of times.
Yet it has felt like everything has been stagnant.
There was no moving forward until today.
I smile at him. "It's good news."
A little of the tension in him releases. "What did he say?"
Settling back onto his chest, I rest my head on his good shoulder. "He said that their legal tactic has changed."
"How so?"
"They weren't going to get anywhere, trying to prosecute a RICO case using the robbery with almost all of the crew dead. Finding out who the other few were would have been nearly impossible, let alone tying them to the larger criminal enterprise. So, they came to an agreement with Brent's uncle."
He raises the glass and takes a long pull from it, like he needs the alcohol to settle his nerves. "What kind of an agreement?"
"One I think we can all live with.”
At least, I hope we can.
I still don't fully trust it. I don't think I can ever fully trust anything having to do with that man or his family after what he did to me, what he did to us. But he's long dead now and buried. And this is the fallout we have to deal with.
It’s going to be messy, no matter what.
There are no tightly wrapped, pretty bows around boxes that contain it.
I snag the glass from Liam and take a sip of the bourbon, staring up at the stars. "He said that the Lorells are agreeing to stop pursuing any legal action against any of us for Brent's death, if the government agrees to stop any potential prosecution of anyone in their organization."
"What?" Liam's entire body stiffens again, and he tugs my face up to look at me, searching my eyes. "But they tried to kill you. They almost killed me."
I bite my bottom lip. "I know, but they don't want the government breathing down their necks. They don't want to be constantly fighting this battle. So, if I disappear quietly, if this story remains under wraps…”
Which it mostly has, thanks to the people of McBride Mountain understanding how essential it was, and to Raven being able to keep her mouth shut for once.
“It'll all just go away, Liam.” I shrug. “They told Agent Michaelson that if Brent was involved in the robbery, he acted alone and outside their structure. I don't know if that's true. It's hard for me to believe he would do that, but there's no way to prove otherwise. If the FBI leaves it alone, leaves them alone, then they’ll leave us alone."
It seems like such a simple concept.
Almost too simple.
Which is why it’s impossible to really trust it, but I don’t know how else this ends.
