Page 65 of Laura's Truth

“Not against. Never against, Laura.” His warm palms cruised up and down her arms, chasing away the chill of the conflict. “I’m with you or I’m nothing more than a ghost again.”

She didn’t want that. For either of them. She loved him too much and had understood too late how much she’d hurt if he had taken her advice and left her to clean up Hackett’s mess alone.

The precise way out, with Hackett griping at their feet, wasn’t exactly clear. A litany of formal reports, forms, and red tape between intelligence agencies would be the first of many hurdles. There were bound to be hearings, but she vowed to do everything in her power to see him swiftly through that process. He’d sacrificed too much already and she wouldn’t rest until Drew’s life was exactly the way he wanted it to be.

Epilogue

Three weeks later, Columbia, South Carolina

In the somber luxury of the attorney’s office, Ross signed his name on the highlighted line then pushed the paper across to Drew. With each rasping scrawl of pen against paper, Drew’s smile got wider.

“Looking a bit giddy there, Garner.”

Drew didn’t care. He couldn’t get the smile off his face as he looked to Ross. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve been me?”

Behind them, Eva tossed out a random number and Rick snorted.

“Give or take a few hours, she’s right,” Drew agreed as Ross sent another paper his way. “This is going to be incredible. Amazing,” he added, thinking of Laura.

In the weeks since Hackett had been in custody, everyone had been pulling overtime to get Drew’s life squared away. With Drew’s testimony supported by the compiled evidence and Eva’s research along with sworn statements by Ross and Laura, Drew was finally an honorable citizen once more.

“Running a Cypress Security office is going to be hard work.”

“Nah,” Drew corrected. “It’s going to be honest work.” He swiveled in the chair, reaching for Laura’s hand. “And my favorite person will be my partner.”

Ross met Laura’s gaze and knew he’d made the right call. Not just because Rick, Eva, and Allie were all on board, but he appreciated the extra affirmation that they were all on the same page moving forward.

Expanding his company, giving Drew and Laura a satellite office, increased the overall effectiveness of Cypress Security and offered all of them a chance for growth he hadn’t anticipated at this stage of their venture.

As the attorney explained the impact and importance of the next document in the stack, Ross felt a smile spread across his face. Life might not have gone as planned for anyone on his team, but they’d sure wound up exactly where they needed to be.

He’d never felt more confident, full of hope and promise for the future, than he did with every new day of his life in Haleswood.

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