Page 68 of Protecting the Newborn

“The file is huge and filled with photos and details that would have apparently gotten Devin the death penalty,” Duncan explained. “Zimmer confirms that Devin was Green Eagle. And there are other names of people involved in the baby farm, people who probably thought they’d escaped justice.”

“Are Tony or Charla on the list?” Gracelyn asked.

“No,” Duncan was quick to say.

Gracelyn felt nothing but relief about that. Yes, she would apologize to Charla and Tony for believing they were guilty, and she was glad they hadn’t been dirty cops.

“Archie, Marty and Simon were on the list,” Duncan went on, “and that explains why Devin had them murdered. Devin was basically eliminating anyone who could link him to the baby farm.”

Yes, that made sense. It was the reason Devin wanted to eliminate Ruston and her, too. And Allie. But maybe he’d let her live, with the hopes that she would end up taking the blame for not only the attacks and murders but also for the baby farm itself. Gracelyn could see Devin trying to use Allie as the ultimate scapegoat.

“I’ll be tied up here a while longer, but I’m hoping to be home in about two hours,” Duncan added. “Is everything and everyone okay there?”

“Yes,” Ruston and Gracelyn muttered in unison, and for the first time in nearly a year, Gracelyn could say that was the truth.

She was okay.

The past would always be with her, but it wasn’t the past she was looking at now. She was looking at a future.

Gracelyn was looking at Ruston.

And he was looking at her.

He ended the call, slipped his phone into his pocket and immediately pulled her into his arms. He took her mouth in a deep kiss that notched up her “okay” to something much, much more.

But how much more?

What she said in the next few minutes could change everything, but Ruston might not be ready to hear it. Still, she needed to tell him what she’d been holding inside. And she would. As soon as he finished melting her with this kiss.

When he’d left her breathless and on cloud nine, he eased back from her and flashed that incredible smile again.

“I’m in love with you,” she said. Gracelyn braced herself for the shock. Maybe for him to back away and tell her that he needed more time.

That didn’t happen.

Ruston kissed her again, and this one was so hot that Gracelyn wasn’t sure how she managed to stay on her feet. The man had a way of firing up every inch of her.

“Good.” He muttered that single word while his mouth was still against hers.

But he added more words to it.

“Because you and I are of a like mind here,” he went on. “Because I’m in love with you, too.”

Now she didn’t stay on her feet. Or at least she wouldn’t have if Ruston hadn’t caught her. Her heart filled with so much emotion. Not the bad ones this time either. All the very best ones. Happiness. Need. And love. So much love.

But Ruston added to that, too.

“I say, since we both love Abigail, that we raise her together,” he threw out there. “What do you think about that?”

“I think it’s perfect,” she managed to say.

And it was just that. Perfect. Still, Ruston managed to add to that, too. Because he pulled her back to him for a long, slow kiss.