Felch is being led out of the police station in handcuffs, surrounded by officers and photographers. He’s red-faced, shouting, and straining against the men leading him down to a cruiser. I turn the volume up in time to hear him roar, “It’s all lies! Bullshit! Political assassination attempt!”
“Holy shit,” I mutter.
Jason chuckles. “Felch has been suspended pending an investigation.”
Briar comes up beside me, her jaw nearly touching the floor as she watches the scene. I pull her in close and kiss her.
“Look at that,” I tell her, pointing. “Bastard got what was coming to him. All thanks to your recording.”
“Tell that girl of yours we appreciate it,” Jason says. “I’ll probably get a commendation for this.”
“Will do,” I chuckle as I hang up. “Jason says thank you. And so do I.”
I look down at Briar. Her face is unreadable. She’s not smiling, not crying. She’s just watching with her eyes locked on the screen as Felch is forced into the car. She’s quiet for a long time, then finally says, “I hope they put him in a cell that doesn’t open. He can just sit there and think.”
Christ, that’s my girl.
She looks up at me, and we stand side by side like partners. Briar is safe now. Felch will get what’s coming to him, and I’ll be there for her every step of the way.
Mine. Always MINE.
EPILOGUE
GARETH
Five years later…
I never thought a happily ever after was possible for me. Then I met her.
Now I’m parked outside the care facility where my wife works, catching glimpses of her through the windows every now and then. I know I’m torturing myself. Teasing myself with tiny tastes when I’m starving for a full meal, but I can’t keep myself away.
We don’t always get chances like this now that we have our daughter, Amy. But tonight, Sarah is watching her. Amy takes after both of us. She’s detail-oriented like me but has a sense of humor she gets from her mom. I love her with all my heart, but I sometimes laugh when I picture her dating as a teenager. It’s going to take a strong man to handle her.
Briar is an RN now, after finishing her nursing degree with flying colors, and I’m back to being a detective. Most cops never see their wives. I see mine at least three times a day. I make goddamn sure of it.
Whether it’s me swinging by in the cruiser for a quickie in the back seat or sneaking into a storage closet at her job, we never go a full day without getting our hands on each other.
I was reinstated less than a week after the charges against Felch came down, all thanks to Briar’s recording. Then it was like the flood gates were opened.
Countless others poured in, accusing Felch of misconduct, blackmail, bribes, and all kinds of conduct unbecoming of a captain. He was sentenced that year to twenty-five years in prison. And the ironic thing? I didn’t even want his job.
Being captain is a lot of politics and bureaucracy. I like being out on the street. Investigating, gathering clues, interacting with people I know I can help.
Briar’s mom finally got the help she needed. She’s clean and sober now going on three years and is dating a guy named Ron, who I actually kind of like. We have them over from time to time and are making more of an effort to include them in our daily life.
It’s not perfect, but we’re working on it.
My wife’s hair flashes in the light as she makes her way up the hallway. I watch through the windows as she stops and slowly turns. Her eyes meet mine and sparkle.
There she is. My love. My one and only.
Even now, after half a decade, my body still responds the same way when I see her. My heartrate increases, blood floods to my center, and my hands flex as I picture running them over every inch of her body.
I beckon to her with my hand, desperate to have her. We had a moment in my car at lunch, but it was brief, and I’m hungry for more. She smiles and nods, then disappears for a moment. I know she’s grabbing her things from the staff office and start to stiffen with expectation.
Then the door opens.
Watching her walk toward me through the parking lot is like watching a model stride down the runway. Even in her nursing scrubs, I feel like the luckiest man on earth getting a glimpse of her beauty.
