Lily laughed.Joy just surged inside of her, and light laughter rang out.Warm.Free.Happy.
Benedict Swain was gone.She and Atlas were safe.He loved her.He understood her.He accepted her.
“That’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard,” Atlas whispered.
No, it wasn’t.But she’d just heard some beautiful words from him…
I love her, dumbass.
“Take me home.”She needed to get away with him.But, the truth was, even as they left the station, even as they entered the dark SUV that was waiting—with Atlas’s guards on the side, with Desmond watching protectively—she knew that Atlas was her home.
With him, she’d finally found a place to belong.She’d found a protector.A safe haven.
A partner who would treasure her.Accept her.
Love her.
A lover who would kill for her and show no hesitation.
That was fair because she would certainly do the same for him.Protect him.Fight for him.Kill for him.
With no hesitation.
Epilogue 1
Julia Tutwiler PrisonFor Women
Wetumpka, Alabama
Three weeks later…
“I hearthat you might have murdered another man, Mother.”Lily sat at the little table in the visiting room with Magnolia, aware of the guard’s eyes on them.His eyes.His ears.His whole focus.
Magnolia cast a teasing grin toward the guard.“Oh, Jesse, can you imagine?Little old me…killing someone…while I’m locked away in here?”
Jesse shook his blond head.“I just can’t imagine that,” he rumbled as he pushed back his slightly rounded shoulders.
She winked at Jesse, then looked back at Lily.“Who have I killed?And who told you such a terrible story?”
“FBI Special Agent Gage Emerick told me the story.”
“Well, we’ve both agreed before that the man is a fool.Just who is it that he believes I’ve killed now?”
“Dr.Francis Locke.”
Magnolia cut her gaze toward the guard once more.Lily realized that her mother looked far too pleased.The guard looked smug, too.
Oh, no.“Mother, what have you done?”
Magnolia blinked, all innocence.“A mother always looks after the child she loves.Protecting is a mother’s job.”
“I wasn’t in any danger from Dr.Locke.I didn’t even know the man.I didn’t need protecting from him.”
Magnolia widened her eyes.“Yet I’m believed to have killed him?While locked up in here?What a silly story.Isn’t that silly, Jesse?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed.His arms remained crossed over his chest.
There seemed to be silent communication going on between Magnolia and the guard.Anotherfriendto her mother?
