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“Yes sir.” I point a finger at Cormac. “I want him to stop. It’s one thing to run for sheriff of Everette, it’s another thing to put one of it’s residents in danger, and that’s what his actions did. In exchange for not charging Cormac with his interference, I’d like his and your promise that he won’t be a problem anymore.”
The offer churns in my gut. But even I know the limits of the law. Slapping Cormac’s wrists for interfering with an investigation will go nowhere quick. Not with the influence his father has in this county. And it would just wave a red flag in front of Cormac’s face and potentially make things worse. As much as the offer sticks in my craw, this is the best I can do for hitting Cormac where it hurts.
Right in the purse strings that his daddy controls.
“Dad,” Cormac says, but Phillip stops him with a slash of his hand.
“Not a word. Go inside,” he orders, his tone glacial.
Philip’s jaw clenches and his eyes narrow. Once the door shuts behind Cormac, he says, “That won’t be a problem. I’ll have a word with my son, and I assure you he won’t be a problem any longer.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Just one question.”
“Yeah?”
“I can assume that his pulling out of the sheriff’s election was a result of… this?”
“You’d have to ask him or the mayor the particulars behind that.” I dodge the thorny topic before holding out my hand. “Thank you for your time. I hope we won’t have any cause to do this in the future?”
He shakes my hand. “We won’t.” He assures me.
I turn and walk down the porch steps before climbing back into my SUV.
My phone has multiple text messages. Seeing the group chat notifications, I toggle through the messages from my deputies keeping me updated on Sean’s booking process. He won’t be in Everette for long with how fast we’re pushing this through, and that’s the best I can hope for in this situation.
I glance at the messages from my brothers as I climb into my department SUV and make my way home.
The smell of meat sizzling on the grill wafts through the air as I climb the steps to my front door. Laughter sounds beyond the door, and I step inside, hanging my hat and utility belt on the peg by the door before unholstering my weapon and locking it in the lockbox on the table.
My brothers are crowded around the counter and table in my kitchen trying to sneak food off a platter that Maisie’s prepping. Dad’s standing at the grill on the back deck. Boone’s got Audra in his arms as Jem opens a bottle of wine.
Maisie laughs at something Boone says. Her head tips back, exposing the delicate line of her throat, and I want to taste her there. Taste the joy that she finds in every moment.
Her eyes meet mine, and the love shining through her gaze to me warms every part of my heart.
“Har.” Her voice rings through the room, a warm smile dancing on her lips. Her, here in my kitchen, surrounded by our family.
This is my forever.
Loading the last of the dishes into the dishwasher, I set it to start and turn. Maisie’s wiping down the counter when I tug her into my arms.
“Not too bad for our first family barbecue,” she says, her head tipping back to smile at me.
There was the obligatory discussion on what’s happening with Sean, when it came out that Sean was Maisie’s ex and he was abusive, my brothers looked ready to commit murder. I would have been right behind them if I didn’t trust the justice system to take care of the problem. The evidence that Maisie has and the warrant for his arrest are more than enough to kick him to the curb and keep him out of our life. After commandeering the leftovers, Dad and the rest of the gang took off. Jem and Boone loaded Audra up in their rig for a sleepover, and now I have Maisie all to myself for the night.
I shake my head. “Hate to break it to you Sunshine, but that was just the first in a long line of my brothers bugging us for dinner now that they know how well you cook.”
She giggles. The horror of the day nowhere to be found in her happiness. In the unguarded relief shining through her to be finally done with the nightmare of her past. “I like cooking, I especially like cooking for your family.”
“They’re yours too.”
She cocks her head to the side before a small smile curls her lips again. “Yeah, they kind of are, aren’t they?”
“Everything I have is yours. If that’s what you want.” I drop my mouth to hers in a kiss to curb the nerves that started plaguing me when I realized with Sean behind bars, she can leave and still be safe.
She doesn’t have to stay in Everette anymore. She doesn’t need me to keep her safe. Though I want her to.
