Zeke and I have had more than enough of both in the past few months to last a lifetime. I want my brother back. I want my family to be whole.
A few seconds into our hug, Zeke’s warm body presses against my back, sandwiching me between him and Luke, his arms around us both.
Our group hug is interrupted by my phone ringing in my pocket. Breaking away, I take it out to see Ricochet’s area code and a number I don’t recognize flash on the screen.
“Hello?”
“Talon, Officer Michaels.”
What now?
“Hello, Officer. What can I do for you?” I ask, bracing for the next hit of bad news.
“Is Mr. Hastings with you by any chance? I couldn’t reach him.”
“Yeah, he’s here.” I place the call on speakerphone. “Say hi to Officer Michaels, baby.”
“Um, hello?” Zeke says over the line as Luke looks on, just as confused as the rest of us.
“I’m calling to let you know that after your story went public, the Ricochet County prosecutor felt it necessary to proceed with charging Derek Palmer.” I grab Zeke’s hand. “Mr. Hastings, you willnotbe required to testify. They assured me they will be seeking witness testimony and will be using the media coverage you’ve already provided. It seems your nightmare is truly over. I wish you all the best.”
Zeke and I stand in silence, absorbing what the fuck just happened, when my front door opens again, and Eloise walks in.I really need to revoke their codes.
“Zeke? Tal—oh, shit.What did I just walk in on?” she asks, taking in our expressions and the fact that Luke is with us as well.
I fill her in, and she immediately goes into celebration mode, making a mad dash for my bar.
Luke follows her out of the room, giving Zeke and me a moment of privacy.
“It’s over, baby. Really over. How does it feel?” I ask.
“Like I’m standing on top of the world.”
Epilogue
Zeke
I’ve been in New York full time for seven months. I began taking acting classes and waiting tables in the restaurant on the bottom floor of our high-rise. Not working was never an option for me, and just because my boyfriend is worth billions doesn’t mean I won’t contribute.
Derek was found guilty and sentenced to four years in prison.
When I was told, I felt nothing at all. My therapist assured me that my response was okay. She said it just meant that I’d closed that chapter before the judicial system had, and whatever happened to Derek was no longer relevant to me.
I liked that outlook.
Currently, I’m in a dressing room backstage, sweating my nerves out through my eyeballs. Tonight is my Broadway debut. The director I met several months ago has been incredible to work with, and although I’m nervous as hell, this is what I’ve always wanted.
Knuckles rap on the doorframe behind me, and I turn to see Talon.
He’s holding an iced coffee in his hand.
“I thought about having someone deliver this for me, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tell you good luck in person.”
“Mama mia!Who isthistall, iced white mocha?” Kevandre says behind me. He and I share a dressing room. We also play opposite each other in this production. He’s been another amazing mentor.
“Key, this is my boyfriend, Talon.”
The men shake hands, and Kevandre looks back at me.
