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“Maybe just this once.”
Cash rolled over and stared into Nick’s smiling eyes. “I’ll play. What day is it?”
“Justice day.”
The air caught in Cash’s lungs. Was he dreaming? “Did they arrest Mick and Quinton already?” Cash looked at the clock and saw it was barely seven. He’d only been asleep for four hours. He’d hoped for a swift ending, but he didn’t dream it would happen that quick.
Nick’s mouth curved into a wry smile. “Yes, they were captured, but not because of any action we took. Our guys were still combing through the weeds and putting together a strategy when an eighty-year-old couple with a double-barrel shotgun and .357 Magnum made a citizen’s arrest around the time you figured out a possible location. The Carsons broke into their bait and carryout store in Twin Lakes, not knowing the rear of the building was their residence. Beavis and Butthead were so busy stuffing food into their bags they didn’t know they’d tripped a silent alarm until they heard the unmistakable sound of Ernest pumping his shot gun. The alarm also rang to the sheriff’s department, who arrived minutes later to apprehend Mick and Quinton without resistance. Rumors are swirling that Emma fired off a warning shot that landed inches from Mick’s feet after he took a step toward the door. If that’s true, he probably really pissed his pants too.”
“Sounds like something a coward like him would do.” Cash threw his arms around Nick and rolled him onto his back. “Is it really over?”
“Well, there’s jurisdictional fighting over who gets to charge the asshats first, so Burke hasn’t had the honor of transporting them back here. With the case Burke built against them, those assholes aren’t going anywhere for a very long time.”
“I’m so grateful.”
Tears of relief welled behind Cash’s closed eyelids. The extra security could leave, and the crew could get back to normal activities. Rueben could go on his date with Burke, and Keegan could heal.
“How grateful?” Nick asked.
Cash kissed him briefly and was going back for more when someone banged on the door.
“Cash! Nicky!” Rory yelled. “Wake up!”
Nick groaned. “Cockblocking brothers,” he whispered to Cash.
“I heard that,” Rory replied. “The Carsons got arrested in Lake County overnight. It’s all over the news.”
“We know,” Nicky called out.
“Get up. It’s time to celebrate.”
Nick slid his thigh between Cash’s legs. “I plan to do my celebrating right here. Scram!” Rory’s laughter echoed down the hallway as he retreated. Nick shook his head and smiled at Cash. “Where were we?”
“A show of gratitude.”
Then he took his time proving it with his hands, mouth, and dick.
The celebrations on the ranch continued for weeks. Nick wasn’t sure if it was because the group was a joyful bunch or if they just looked for any excuse to barbecue. The first party happened after Burke officially charged Mick and Quinton with a multitude of offenses and brought them back to Last Chance Creek. The Carsons clung to their innocence, but Nick figured they’d change their tune when their attorneys saw the evidence against them. Since they weren’t talking, Cash didn’t get the closure he deserved, so Nick kept digging.
Mick’s financial records revealed he’d blown through Mike’s wrongful-death settlement money about a year before he’d shown up in Last Chance Creek. That was also the same time Cash’s name started popping up in Mick’s internet browser history. The FBI shared the results with him, and Nick had noticed most of the articles Carson read were by the same reporter. A quick phone conversation with her revealed she had contacted Mick for his reaction to recent articles published about Cash. She’d taken a defensive tone until Nick assured her she’d done nothing wrong. Good journalists sought multiple angles to paint a complete story. She had no way of knowing her phone call would trigger a diabolical revenge plot.
Cash was a linear thinker, and he struggled to connect the dots logically. To him, Mick didn’t financially gain from Cash’s demise. He didn’t understand why Mick would involve innocent people in his schemes. Why form a church? Had that just been a cover? Had it been a power trip for Mick? Was it a way to get others to fund his miserable existence? Cash had questions Nick couldn’t answer. He wasn’t certain even Mick could answer them.
One night, they gathered in the library to relax after dinner, and Nick could practically smell the gears smoking in Cash’s brain. He lowered the book on tantric sex he’d bought from Hope’s shop. He’d only reached item number two of twenty on how to deepen orgasms when Cash’s thinking interrupted him. “You’re trying to rationalize an irrational mind.”
Cash narrowed his eyes. “Stop doing that.”
“No, you stop. Are you going to let that man live rent free in your head?”
“No.”
“Good.” Nick read items three and four out loud before they retired early to their bedroom to test them out.
The next celebration came when Rueben finally got his date with Burke. The little minx left with the sexy sheriff on Friday night and didn’t return until Monday morning. They all took one look at his moonstruck face at the breakfast table and whipped out their money. Kieran, who’d placed the winning bet, wore a smug smile as he fanned himself with his earnings.
The next milestone they honored was when Keegan managed a week of sleep without nightmares. Cash had found a wonderful therapist for him, and the young man was putting in the work. His wounds were just too deep to heal as easily as his bruises had. He still withdrew to his room at times or limited his interactions to Cash, Rueben, or Owen. The latter took everyone by surprise, especially Tyler, whenever Owen shared huge chunks of time with Keegan. Nick could tell it bothered Ty, but he wasn’t the kind of person to make a fuss. Rueben and Rory stepped up to keep Ty company, but he seemed like a ghost of himself unless Owen was around.
The ranch threw Nick a party when he officially resigned from the Bureau and joined the police academy. As sweet as he found the sentiment, Nick was just happy to see Cash relax.
