Page 77 of Crossfire Creek Vengeance

“I want to talk to Roman and Noah before we go,” Jessa insisted.

“Yeah,” Deacon agreed. “Let’s do that.”

He walked with her across the cemetery. The responders were still moving in and out of the shadows, their voices low, their lights sweeping over churned earth and broken stone. Roman and Noah stood near a row of cedars, both of them looking as worn down as Deacon felt.

Noah stepped forward the moment they reached them. “You two all okay?”

Deacon answered at the same time Jessa did. “Yeah.”

Noah gave a relieved nod, then took Jessa’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. The simple gesture seemed to hit her harder than any words could have.

“Roman filled me in on what happened,” Noah explained. “I’m sorry. I’m so damn sorry Corbin murdered Lauren.”

Jessa’s breath left her in a slow, shaky exhale. Roman’s jaw tightened, grief carved into every line of his face. Deacon knew this had ripped everything open again, all the wounds that hadn’t even begun to scar. But he also knew this was the first moment any of them had been able to look the truth square in the eye.

He hoped this was where healing started.

Even if it was going to be a long road getting there.

“Thank you for the drone cover,” Jessa told him.

“Anytime,” Noah said.

Deacon watched him for a moment. Noah was usually the picture of control, smooth and steady, but right now he looked almost nervous. It wasn’t subtle, either. His gaze kept flicking to Jessa, then away again, as if he wasn’t sure how close he was allowed to stand.

Finally, Noah cleared his throat. “Jessa,” he said quietly, “would it be all right if I called you sometime? Maybe for coffee. Or dinner.”

Jessa didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I’d like that.”

Relief broke across Noah’s face, softening the lines that grief and shock had carved there tonight. Before he stepped away, Jessa wrapped her arms around him in a quick hug. Noah froze for a second, then hugged her back, holding on just long enough for Deacon to see the hope settling in the man’s eyes.

Yeah. Healing had begun.

When Noah stepped back and started toward his vehicle, Deacon slipped his arm around Jessa’s waist, drawing her in close. She leaned against him, her body fitting against his as if it had always belonged there.

Roman watched Noah walk off, then turned to Deacon. “Any chance Shade’s going to face charges for this mess?”

Deacon shook his head. “I don’t think he was working with Corbin. If he had been, Corbin would’ve thrown him under the bus the second he started dying.”

“Yeah. Corbin never missed a chance to take someone down with him,” Roman snarled.

“Shade might’ve broken a few laws though,” Deacon added. “I’m having my deputies dig a little. Just to be sure.”

“All’s well that ends well,” Roman muttered, but the sarcasm was thick as he looked around the wrecked cemetery. Torn-up earth. Police lights strobing over broken headstones. The residue of explosives still hanging faintly in the cold air.

Deacon didn’t blame him. Nothing about this felt like an ending.

Not yet.

Roman’s scowl shifted from the wrecked cemetery to Deacon’s arm around Jessa. The look on his face said it all. He wasn’t subtle, and he wasn’t trying to be.

Jessa noticed right away. “You need to get used to seeing this,” she told him, her tone light but firm.

Roman gave her a flat, unimpressed stare and let out a soft huff. “I don’t have to get used to anything,” he said. “I never forgot you’re in love with him.” His gaze cut to Deacon, sharp enough to slice. “But you better not even think about arresting me again.”

Then, Roman stepped in and hugged his sister, tight and protective. As he pulled back, he added, “I’ll see you both tomorrow. Try not to let anything explode until then.”

With that, he turned and strolled away, looking every bit like the badass that Deacon knew he was. A badass with an obvious soft spot for his sister. A reminder that made Deacon smile just a little.