Page 72 of Devil You Know

Epilogue

Reid

“Thanks director, we appreciate everything, but I think we’ll stay out here and enjoy our R&R a little while longer.” I wrapped my arm around her exposed waist and pulled her to me on the covered lounge that overlooked the ocean. Her laughter echoed around us, and I soaked it in.

I hit end on my virtual meeting with the Bureau and shut down my satellite laptop, pushing it to the side. I ran my hand over the curve of her hip, brushing my fingers over the red tie of her bikini bottoms.

“I love you so fucking much, Holly Chapman.” My words were rough with emotion as my eyes caught hers from across the lounge.

I’m still recovering.

Recovering from the unknown, from the moment I thought I lost it all.

It seemed like a lifetime before we got a frantic call from Alex that he had Holly and needed us to pick them up. They were further into the woods surrounding the property than we expected. Alex lost service at some point before he was finally able to re-establish the connection and contact us.

Ryan Walsh had a private jet waiting for us that we boarded as soon as we set the helicopter down on the tarmac.

Walsh and his wife, along with their long-time employee Eliza, were keeping the Straton children temporarily while we sorted through the disaster this case had become. It wasn’t safe for them yet. We couldn’t return until we were cleared of all charges and all of our major players were apprehended.

We had to leave the country until we got clearance from the Bureau to return.

According to Emily, their raid was unsanctioned. They weren’t given a choice, they had to make some tough decisions and move quickly.

The red tape was taking too long, and Alex had picked up some insider knowledge that the shipment was moving in earlier than we initially anticipated.

Given the evidence we were able to compile in such a short period of time, our team got Wilks in his home and arrested him. The shipment never made it to Anderson House, it was intercepted in transit by our guys.

Emily located Victor Adkins at the harbor, where she shot him once in each leg, disabling him, before calling him into our guys and leaving a sweet little note for them pinned to his chest. Something about not being able to run away in prison with two bum legs. Who knows really when it comes to Emily.

The helicopter was already waiting for her at the harbor. She got to Anderson house in record time, carefully placing the explosives in the tunnels while Alex and I took on Missile and Kris upstairs.

According to the reports that Alex was able to pull down from the federal case file, they never made it out of the house. Neither did Bennett, his body was recovered in the remnants of the rubble, cause of death was ruled a blast injury.

Alex watched the bullet as it entered his brain, but bullet – blast, it’s basically the same thing.

My father will spend the rest of his life in a white-collar prison cell. He got off lucky compared to Wilks and Adkins for the part he played in this case. For my mother’s sake, I hope that she’s finally able to live her life out from under the repression of his shadow.

“Say my name one more time while you hold another woman.” Holly’s plump lips curved up into a seductive smile as she lowered herself onto the lounge in nothing but a black string bikini bottom next to Emily, who was running her hand over the light dusting of hair on my bare chest.

“Or what?” I teased her as Alex walked up carrying a drink, wearing a black pair of board shorts. His shoulder is still bandaged from the bullet he sustained when Bennett was shooting at them as they ran from the house.

“Or she will pull a pin on a damn grenade and nearly blow your ass to pieces. I still don’t know what the fuck you were thinking, woman. You almost killed us both! Then I had to carry you for three miles with a bullet lodged in my shoulder after you blacked out.” Alex sat down on the end of the lounge and ran his had up Emily’s leg to the juncture of her thighs with his uninjured arm.

Reaching over Emily’s body, I pulled Holly down beside me and buried my face in her neck, breathing in her sweet scent. “I love you so fucking much, Holly Chapman.” I repeated my words, and this time I whispered them directly into her ear. “Better?” I smiled into her neck as Emily groaned behind me under Alex’s touch.

“So much better. I love you so fucking much, Reid Chapman. My soul is yours for eternity. Don’t ever make me think you’re dead again, and I promise not to throw grenades, mostly. I don’t know, it was kind of fun…” The white of her smile contrasted her tan skin, glowing from the last week we’ve spent on the beach on an island at our safe location.

“Speaking of fun…we have to go back to the real world soon.” Holly brushed her lips over mine as she climbed onto my lap, running her hand over Emily’s exposed breasts as Alex elicited soft moans from her next to me.

“Am I seriously still the only one considering retirement?” Alex pulled the strings holding Emily’s bikini bottom on as he licked his lips, hovering over her now naked body.

“Retire now? And let all the young kids have all the fun? What else would we do?” Holly squealed as I pulled her down on top of me and kissed her until her laughter turned into whimpers. She ground down over my hard length and Alex’s hand skimmed over the thin fabric of her bathing suit bottom.

???

Holly

I guess I did get to keep those shoes after all.

Lies, deceit, the blood of a mafia dynasty runs through my veins.

But, the one thing I’ve learned for certain?

Evil is everywhere. It’s all around us. Despite that, there are still men and women out there fighting for the light.

Those are the few men and women that are willing to sacrifice it all for the many.

When the lines become blurred and you can no longer see which way to turn, that’s when it’s better to trust the devil you know.