“I tried to tell you then…”
She had the two crosses around her slender neck. A neck that still showed the wounds Greg had given to her.
“I tried to tell you yes.”
All of the breath left his lungs. He surged up. Wrapped his arms around her and held her carefully, so carefully.
Her hold on him was tight and hard—and so perfect.
“How is this going to work?” Lauren whispered. “With your job, how?”
He pulled away, just a few inches, so he could stare down at her. “I’m not a marshal anymore.”
“What?”
“I’m officially retired.” He gave her a smile. “I’m going to open a security business in town.” Giving up the job had been easy for him.
Wherever she was, that was where he needed to be.
“What happens now?” Lauren asked.
Her eyes were shining. Her lips waiting. Love…it was right there for him to see and touch and taste.
“Now we live.” He put his mouth to hers and knew their life together was truly beginning.
“It was a beautiful service.”
Lauren turned to see FBI Special Agent Cadence Hollow heading toward her. Kyle had flown back to Virginia, but Cadence had stayed a little longer.
Cadence had been checking in on Lauren, and helping Paul find the last of the victims.
When the police had searched Greg’s home, they’d discovered journals, diaries—dozens of them. All talking about his kills.
He’d planted a tree over each body. A special tree for his special girls. Love could be twisted for some.
Anthony’s hand brushed lightly over Lauren’s arm.
And love could be dark and dangerous and perfect for others.
“Your sister’s at peace now,” Cadence continued quietly. “You got justice for her.”
Lauren glanced at the flowers on the ground, the spot that would mark her sister’s resting place. A perfect spot right next to their parents. The service had been a long time coming, and now…I still miss her just as much.
“What happened to him?” Lauren asked the profiler. “What made Greg turn out…”
Like this?
“We talked to some of his old neighbors. As a kid, he was caught killing a lady’s cat. Skinning a dog.”
Lauren shuddered.
“The behavior stopped after his parents sent him to a group therapy home, so they thought everything was back to normal for him.”
Anthony wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close against him.
Cadence’s stare moved between them. “Sometimes, it’s hard to stay what turns one man into a killer but makes another the hero. The protector. Both have the same capacity within them for good and evil.”
Some were just evil, hiding behind good.
“From his journal entries, we learned that Greg and Jon actually met at the therapy group. Their parents were trying to get them help, but it just didn’t work.” The wind lifted her hair, and Cadence brushed it back. “He helped Jon get out of prison. A week before the escape, Greg was at Angola, supposedly for a consult. We think he found a way to talk with Jon then.”
“Do you believe some people are born evil?” Lauren asked.
“Yes.” Her voice was flat. “After all I’ve seen…” There were ghosts in Cadence’s eyes, shadows of terrible memories. “I do.” Cadence straightened her shoulders and offered Lauren her hand. “I’ll be leaving tonight. Got a call about another case.”
“There’s always another one,” Anthony murmured.
Always another monster waiting in the wings.
Cadence nodded. “But at least we took two down.” She shook Anthony’s hand. “Enjoy your happiness. Few people ever get to be truly happy.” Her eyes were sincere. “I envy you that happiness.”
She turned away and walked slowly from the cemetery.
Goose bumps rose on Lauren’s arms as she watched Cadence leave. The woman spent her days in the minds of killers—why?
I prosecute to give victims their justice. I do it because of Jenny.
What had made Cadence so determined to go after real-life monsters?
“Are you ready to go?” Anthony asked as she turned to face him.
A line of stubble darkened his hard jaw, making him look even sexier than normal.
Her sexy ex-marshal. “I’m ready.”
Ready to walk away from the past and start looking toward the future.
The future that waited, with him.