“And Matt,” Her watery eyes go to his bloody body. “He was going to let her.”
“They can’t touch you, Blake. Never again.” I reassure her when I see something out of the corner of my eye. Taking a quick look, I expect it to be LeAnne but it’s Ty joining us.
“I promise,” she begins to cry. “I promise to protect them …” Dropping the knife at our feet, her arms cover her stomach.
My heart breaks for her. How unsure she must feel right now. All the lies she’s been told throughout her life. Hell, even I didn’t expect LeAnne to be alive. That for sure threw a curve ball. “I know.” I decide to say. Knowing that anything else won’t get through to her right now. “You did good, Blake.” I say running my hand over her long dark hair. “You’re my good girl.”
Her bloody hands grip my shirt, and she buries her face into it. Wrapping my arms around her shaking body, I hold her to me. I look over at Tyson who stands next to Matt, and I nod to him.
Tonight, did not go how I had planned, but at this point I just want it to end. I want to take my pregnant wife home, give her a bath, and move on with our life together.
Ty picks up a rope from the table and walks behind Matt. He wraps it around his neck multiple times and then throws it up to hang over the rafters. Pulling a knife out of his pocket, he leans down and cuts both that are wrapped around his ankles. Then Ty yanks on the new rope around his neck, pulling his bare feet up off the floor.
I slide an arm behind Blake’s knees and the other around her back, picking her up and start carrying her down the stairs while I listen to Matt struggle before silence falls over the cathedral.
EPILOGUE
RYAT
TEN WEEKS LATER
I ENTER THE cabin. “Blake?” I call out but am met with silence. “Blake?” I say a little louder but again get nothing in response. When I rush into our bedroom, the door hits the interior wall from my force. “Blakely?” I snap her full name.
Still nothing.
Entering the bathroom, I let out a sigh when I see steam coming from the shower. I start kicking my shoes off and undo my jeans, followed by my T-shirt. Opening the glass door, I find her standing with her back to me and her head under the water.
Reaching out, I wrap my arm around her and pull her off her feet, making her squeal. “Ryat!”
I spin her around and pin her back to the wall, cupping her face, and she laughs.
“You scared me.”
“Sorry.” I smile, and she gives me a face that says she knows I’m not the least bit sorry. “How much do you love me?” My hands drop to her growing belly. We just found out last week that we’re having twin boys. I couldn’t be more ecstatic, but a part of me feels sorry for my wife. The fact that she’s going to live in a house with me and two boys just like me. Good thing she’s stubborn and hardheaded.
Her face falls, and she stiffens against me. “What did you do?”
“I lied,” I admit.
“About?” she growls.
I had told her that I had an early meeting at the house of Lords, but that’s not where I’ve been for the past two hours. “I had a meeting, but it wasn’t with the Lords.”
She frowns. “Why would you lie about that? Haven’t I proven myself, Ryat? That I can handle this.”
“Of course, you have.” I didn’t want to get her hopes up just in case it didn’t work out, but it did. And now I’m dying to tell her. “I had a meeting with Gregory Mallory.”
Her frown deepens, tilting her head to the side. “I … wait, isn’t he the judge that you went to jail for?”
I nod. “He owed me a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” she asks skeptically.
“Remember how you said if you had the choice, you’d choose to stay living here in the cabin, in Pennsylvania?”
“Yeah,” She answers slowly.
“Well, I just cashed in my favor.”
“I don’t understand.” She licks her wet lips.
“He’s going to be retiring and when that happens, I’m going to take over his position.” Being a Lord is a fast-track to your career. But it’ll still be about ten years out before I’m a judge. In the meantime, I’ll be a high-priced attorney to get the courtroom time needed. If I start right out of the gate, it’ll raise too many questions.
She gasps, her hands going to her mouth. “Are you serious?”
I nod. “Yep.”
“We’re staying here?” Her hands hit my chest excitedly. “We don’t have to go to New York?”