Confer, Lorelei - Deadly Deception (Siren Publishing Classic) (27 page)

Spike was being held without bail on charges of first-degree homicide, and Dave thought he would be put away for a long time. Kid and Max, two of Spike’s gangsters, were young men who had made a couple of wrong choices along the way, which would land them short jail terms and long probations.

Amanda had been granted immunity for providing state’s evidence. She was back in
Colorado
but remained on probation.

Joe Sneed was being held without bail on first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, kidnapping and aggravated assault and faced the death penalty.

There had been a huge turnout for the memorial service for Wayne Richards, the police officer shot in the park and one of Dave and Wyatt’s fallen comrades. Wyatt’s company had made a sizeable contribution to college funds for his children.

Isabella apologized for not attending the funeral.

Sam was on the mend and back on the job sitting at a desk with his arm in a sling. He wanted some down time and needed to wear the uniform again and get back with his family anyway. It was time.

They had also found and rescued Megan as well. She had been on a boat waiting to be shipped to Columbia. They had gotten to her just in time, thanks to Sam’s undercover work and Wyatt’s quick actions.

She asked Dave if he had heard from Wyatt and he told her he hadn’t. He knew Wyatt had turned in his badge and weapon and resigned from the force. He said Wyatt just wanted to concentrate on his company. Dave hadn’t heard from him for a couple weeks.

They ended their conversation with good wishes and pleasantries.

Chapter 49

Isabella hadn’t been able to get Wyatt out of her mind. She had hoped that once she returned to
Cameron
Lakes
, back with her mother and familiar surroundings, her life would be back to normal. But she didn’t know normal anymore. She hadn’t been able to get a good night’s sleep since she came back. Every time she closed her eyes, she would see Wyatt’s face, his beautiful blue eyes. In her dreams, she could smell his cedar, woodsy scent and could feel his warm lips on hers. She shook her head to end her daydream. She had to get on with her life.

* * * *

Isabella went back to packing her final few small boxes and suitcases with her clothes and personal belongings she would need while at her mother’s. She had fortunately been able to sublet her apartment for the remainder of her lease to a nice, young woman. She had finished in the bathroom and was walking into the kitchen when she heard a knock at the door.

* * * *

Wyatt couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. Everywhere he looked, everything he touched reminded him of Isabella, his beautiful and passionate Isabella. The kitchen chair she had sat in, the cup she had drunk from, the bed she had slept in, where they had made love the first time.

He had been coming in the door and remembered vividly the look on Isabella’s face when she had heard of his deceit, that he was still a cop, although now a detective which was significantly different. He had been working on the task force with Dave since Rachael’s death. Hell, he’d worked himself to the bone to forgive himself for something that couldn’t possibly be his fault. She made the wrong choices. Sure, he felt he owed it to her, but none of it would change anything.

But now, after seeing his betrayal on Isabella’s face, he couldn’t live with himself. And considering how he had lost control, almost killing Spike. He couldn’t justify his killer unprofessional behavior or actions in anyway except that he loved her, that he would die for her. He wanted her even now after weeks had passed. After, he had hoped he would be able to forget, but he hadn’t. He had gone to his retreat, his refuge, but only found more memories, deluged with more emotions. He had to see her. He had to have her in his life.
She isn’t making this easy for me
, he thought.

* * * *

Michael, then Joe, instantly came to mind before she remembered Michael was dead and Joe was in jail, both permanently out of her life.

She crept cautiously to the door and peered out the peephole. Isabella’s heart jumped into her throat. She immediately started sweating and wringing her hands. She turned away and ran her fingers through her hair and down the front of her linen shorts, trying to brush away some of the wrinkles. She turned again and opened the door.

Surprised to see him, yet she couldn’t find any words to say. She studied his handsome face and noted the dark circles under his eyes. She wanted to throw herself into his arms, smell his masculine scent, feel his heart beating in his chest, and taste his lips. But, he had betrayed her, he had deceived her, he had lied to her about so many things. How could she ever trust him or believe in him again? She finally found her tongue.

“Hello, Wyatt.”

“Isabella. You look wonderful. Can I come in?”

“Of, of course, come in,” she said. “I’m surprised to see you.”

He walked in, noticing the almost vacant apartment, heard her close the door behind him.

“Where are you going?”

“Well, for the summer anyway, I’m moving back in with my mother, a little security for both of us. What about you? What brings you to
Denver
? Another abduction or missing person?”

“No, I’ve resigned from the force. I wanted to tell you in person.” He turned to look at her, and when she turned from him, he continued. “I know you probably don’t believe me, and you have every right. I should have told you the whole truth, but I wasn’t sure how you would react. I know it was a shock to learn I was a detective, but you never asked, and I thought, at the time, it would be better for you not to know. I’ve made some enemies along the way.”

She thought a moment, turned and put some books into a small box on the counter, and said, “I guess it doesn’t really matter what I believe or don’t believe or what you should or shouldn’t have told me. That was in
Virginia
, and a long time ago. Now I’m back in
Colorado
trying to fit into my old life.”

“Is that what you want, your old life?” Wyatt asked her.

“It’s what I have now and I’ll have to make the best of it.” She went on with her packing, her back to him.

He walked the few steps to her, took the books out of her hands, and placed them on the counter. He turned her around to face him, put her face in his hands, looked into her eyes, and said quietly, “I don’t want my old life back. I don’t want to go back to being alone and working day and night. I want a new life, with you, for both of us. I want you in my life. I love you, Isabella.”

Once again she could form no words in her mouth, could not utter a sound.
What is wrong with me?
He had said the three little words she had been hearing in her dreams night after night, day after day for weeks. Her heart began beating rapidly, and she could barely breathe. She searched his eyes for any hint of deceit but found none.

“Are you sure, Wyatt?”

“Yes, I’m sure! I love you. I think I fell in love with you when you woke me up and ran into my house. I want you there to wake me up every day and every night. I want to keep you and take care of you forever.”

He had been caressing her arms up and down when she suddenly launched herself into his arms and hugged his neck.

“I love you, Wyatt.” She smothered his face and neck with kisses, tasting him, smelling him, savoring him. She spoke softly. “I don’t want a life without you either.”

He moved his hands to both sides of her face and tipped her head back with his fingers. He looked into her eyes and then kissed her lips. She ran her fingers through his hair and around his neck.

And there was nowhere to hide…her heart!

One year later

Isabella kept running and running, trying to find somewhere to hide. She looked around surreptitiously, but she could not find somewhere she would be safe.

She felt someone softly kissing her lips, then her neck. She slowly opened her eyes and looked into the face of her husband.

“You were dreaming again, sweetheart.”

“Yes, but this time—”

A baby crying interrupted.

“I’ll get her and bring her to you. Brianna’s probably hungry and needs her mama anyway.” He leaned down to kiss her lips once again and she pulled him close.

“Wyatt, this time I stopped running because there’s nowhere to hide. You have captured my heart, my soul, all of me.”

“I sure did, beautiful, and I’m not going to let you go.”

THE END

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