Abandoning the Rules (9 page)

CHAPTER fifteen

SHE released the locks. He opened the door and slid into the car. Inhaling his spicy scent, her body instantly remembered their lovemaking and her cheeks warmed. Probably not what she should be focusing on in her current predicament.

“What are you doing here?” she asked stupidly.

“Thought you might need some help,” he answered with a wink.

She grinned and some of the tension in her shoulders loosened.

“As it turns out, I managed to get out on my own.”

“I noticed. You’re amazing, Bree. I heard it all.”

“Heard what all?”

“You called me. When I heard Steven’s voice instead of yours, I assumed you were calling so I could get help. That’s why I’m here with the police. I couldn’t get here fast enough.”

“I didn’t call you.”

“What do you mean, you didn’t call me?”

“I mean, I didn’t call you. I might have pocket dialed your number, but I didn’t intentionally call you. This was something I wanted to do on my own. Although I am grateful you showed up when you did.”

“I know, and you did.”

“Will it be enough though? He has most of the evidence I found.”

“That doesn’t matter right now. He attacked you.
I heard the whole thing. At the very least, he will be arrested for spousal abuse.”

She looked at him, the doubt obvious in her eyes.

“That’s not all. Tony is on his way with a search warrant. He found new evidence tying Steven to Ben’s disappearance so whatever you found will only add to the case.”

“Unless he manages to get rid of the evidence.”

“Shh, you know that’s not going to happen with the cops already here,” Adam soothed, pulling her into his arms.

Bree internally acknowledged he was right but didn’t voice it in case there was some bad mojo associated with celebrating too
early, choosing instead to bask in the warmth of Adam’s arms.

They watched in silence as the police officer escorted Steven back to the house, the shovel no longer in sight
.

CHAPTER Sixt
een

BREE huddled in Adam’s arms while the detectives led a very pissed off and handcuffed Steven out of the house and into a squad car.

It was over.

She couldn’t believe that after all the years of living by Steven’s rules, she was now free to live by her own. Free to raise her children how she saw fit, free to dress how she wanted, free to love again. Free to love Adam.

Her breath caught and held. It was a dream she had never allowed to take flight. Something that happened to other people, people she saw on
Lifetime
movies. Certainly not her. Never her.

Now? Well, now a tiny glimmer o
f hope flared to life inside her.

Tony hadn’t revealed to her or Adam what he had found on hi
s own but based on the officer's jubiliant attitude, it was enough to send Steven to jail for a very long time. The evidence from the safe had been a bonus and exactly what the police needed to confirm Steven was responsible for Ben’s disappearance.

Or more accurately, Ben’s murder
. Tony had confirmed that much. Ben was gone for good. Her heart ached for the loss of her dear friend and lover.

Tony had been kind enough to fill them in on the rest
of the charges her husband faced. Steven was also a thief, a highly skilled one, who had been committing bank fraud for the duration of their marriage. The bank bonds had been the missing link the police had needed to close the case against him in a long standing fraud investigation.

She was still having trouble coming to terms with the fact
that she’d been married to a cold blooded murderer. While she’d always known he’d had a dark side, murder had never occurred to her.

She shivered in the cool night air thinking about the danger she and her kids might have been in. It wasn’t over by a long shot, she would have to give her statement to the police and deal with a thousand and one legal details before she could move on, but the hopeful beginnings of a new future bloomed brightly in front of her.

There was something else she’d have to deal with soon. Beth and Josh. Explaining what had happened to their father wasn’t going to be easy. She’d have to ensure they had the best counselors to help deal with their grief and shock. She’d surround them with all her love and support and hope and pray for the best.

Adam pulled away and looked down into her eyes as the car containing Steven pulled away.

“Are you okay?”

She wasn’t and didn’t know if she ever would
be again. But she would try her hardest to get there.

She nodded.

“I think you need to read this.”

Adam dug in his coat pocket and produced the letter she had stuffed in her purse.

Curious, she took it from him. She hadn’t even glanced at it earlier, too panicked to even consider opening it or reading it.

She u
nfolded the envelope and gasped.

Ben’s distinctive scrawl across the star
k white paper brought back memories of his smile and his warm hugs and tears gathered in her eyes.

She glanced at Adam hesitantly.

“Open it, Bree.” He encouraged.

She nodded. This was something she had to do. For Ben and for herself.

She broke the seal and pulled out a sheet of faded copy paper
.

Bree,

I’ve been sitting here for hours trying to figure out how to tell you this but I’m no closer to an answer now than I was when I started.

Our lives are in jeopardy, Bree. Steven is behind it. He’s involved in some pretty heavy criminal activity. Don’t ask me how I know, I can’t tell you. Just please trust me. You are in grave danger as long as we continue to see each other. I couldn’t bear for anything to happen to you. You deserve to live and love and laugh.

I don’t know when I will see you again or when I will be able to give you this letter. I have tried several times to tell you, but I fai
led. I can only hope thisgets to you in tim
e
.

Bree closed her eyes and let the tears flow. Ben hadn’t left her voluntarily.

After a few minutes, she plucked up enough courage to finish reading
.

I love you so much. You mean everything to me and if I had my way, we would be together. I know that’s impossible now.

Please take care of yourself, Bree. I will always love you. You are the woman my heart will never forge
t
.

Love Always,

Ben

Her fingers traced the last words Ben had written to her, memorizing their shape and feel. Her heart rejoiced but it was bittersweet. She ached for all the what-ifs even while exploding with joy. Ben had loved her as fiercely as she had loved him.

Adam cupped
her chin and gently lifted until she met his gaze.

His eyes glowed in the waning light, but they had the same effect they always had on her. Instant warmth. He was
so very kind. And she loved him.

“He loved you, Bree. You weren’t wron
g to trust him. Just like you aren’t wrong to trust me.”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

With a glance at the house teeming with police officers, Adam whispered into her ear, “I’ve got this nice little secluded cabin I’d like to show you some time if you’re interested, Bob.”

She smiled. “I’d love to see your cabin.
”

Ab
OUT THE AUTHOR

Erotic author Jp Grace started her career writing short stories for Literotica under a nom de plume to protect her secret identity of wife to her husband of seventeen years and mother of two beautiful, talented, and intelligent daughters.

Seeking to strike out and broaden her horizons, Jp Grace was born. But she hasn’t forgotten the steamy romance closest to her heart. Because passion and love always go together.