“Hummingbird.”
I gave him a wobbly smile. “That’s right. I’m right here. You need to let him go. The cops are on the way, and he’s not worth it, baby. Please, just let him go.”
It took several agonizing seconds, but Cannon finally let go of Lance’s throat and moved to me. He wrapped a protective arm around my waist as he turned to the elder Banks and ordered, “Get him the fuck outta here. He tries to run, you shoot him, understand?”
My eyes whipped to Banks, and it was then that I noticed he had Lance’s gun in his hand. “You got it, son.” Grabbing Lance by his collar, he twisted until it tightened around his neck and started dragging him toward the door. “We got this. You just take care of your girl.”
With that, he moved out of the office, taking with him the last of my nightmare.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cannon
I’d sat in that curtained-off bay, unable to take my eyes off Farah as the nurses looked her over. We’d been stuck in the emergency room of the hospital for an hour, and the whole time we were there, I couldn’t bring myself to look away from her, not even for a second, scared to death she’d somehow disappear if I did.
I’d watched as she was poked and prodded. I’d watched as Holt and another deputy came in to get her official statement. For an hour, all I’d done was watch and listen, and the more I heard, the more I wished I hadn’t let her stop me from killing that son of a bitch.
Bennett had been beside Farah’s tiny hospital cot, holding on to her hand, looking like he’d aged forty years in a matter of one evening. The only time he’d left her side was when he stepped out to call to Jase. Even now, we’d been home for two hours, and instead of going back to the carriage house, he’d chosen to sleep across the hall from us.
Our bedroom was bathed in darkness, the only light coming from the moon shining through the windows.
Crash was curled in a ball against Farah’s stomach, purring in his sleep; Triumph was snoring away at the end of the bed; and I was at her back, holding her like my life depended on it. Because Lord knew it did.
We’d lapsed into silence several minutes ago, and I thought Farah had finally fallen asleep. That was, until the soft, beautiful cadence of her voice filled the room.
“You didn’t lose me,” she said quietly, her hand sliding over the one I had resting on her stomach so she could tangle our fingers together. “I’m right here, Cannon. Flesh and blood. Alive and well.”
I squeezed her tighter, burying my face in her soft, silky hair.
“All I can think is that you could’ve been taken from me tonight.”
Letting go of my hand, she moved, rolling to her other side so we were face to face. “That was never gonna happen,” she said, reaching up to brush the hair from my forehead.
“You don’t know that, baby—”
“Yes I do,” she stated firmly. “I know it for a fact because that was the decision I made tonight. I finally found my happy, Cannon, and there was no way in hell I was letting him take that away from me. I know it because I wasn’t going to stop fighting, not for a second. Whether you showed up when you did or not, I was coming out of that fight a winner. Do you understand me?” Pressing her hand against my cheek, she shifted closer so I could see her eyes clearly. “I was going to win, Cannon.”
There wasn’t a single ounce of doubt in her voice as she spoke. She was so certain I couldn’t help but believe it too. My woman was the strongest, bravest, fiercest person I’d ever met. If she said she was going to win, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind.
Bending my neck, I pressed my forehead against hers and breathed her in. “Christ, I love you. You know that? From the first moment I walked into that bar and saw you standing across the room.”
“And I love you,” she returned, slipping her arm around my waist and snuggling closer. “Never in a million years did I think applying for that waitressing job would have led to something like this, but I’m so glad it did.”
“And never in a million years did I think I’d be so fuckin’ happy that a cat darted out into the middle of the road.”
Her laughter was like music to my ears. “You’re never gonna let me live that one down, are you?”
Pressing a kiss against her sweet lips, I gave her my truth. “Not on your life, Hummingbird.”
* * *
Farah
Disconnecting the call, I dropped my arm and held my phone at my side as I stared out the window into my back yard.
It was over. Finally, it was all over. I was so overwhelmed by the relief I felt in that moment, that all I could do was stand there, glued to the spot on the floor as I took in the incredible view of trees and mountains that butted up to a clear blue sky.
I was so lost in thought that I didn’t realize Cannon had come into the kitchen until I felt his heat at my back. His arms wrapped around my waist and his chin rested on my shoulder as he asked, “That the police on the phone?”
“Yeah,” I whispered at the beauty in front of me.
“What’d they say?”
“They got him.” The moment the last word left my mouth, tears spilled from my eyes.
After Lance had been arrested, he proved just how big a coward he was by confessing everything. He gave them the name of the man he’d hired, and the cops up north didn’t hesitate in tracking the man down.
When they finally had him in custody, they took a DNA sample and ran it against the rape kit. It was a match.
“They’re charging him with rape and attempted murder. Lance is being charged as an accessory to both. It’s finally over.”
Cannon stood to his full height, grabbing my hips and turning me to face him. That beautiful golden green was shining with concern as he asked, “What’s goin’ through your mind, right now, Hummingbird?”
“I finally have it,” I answered softly, reaching up to place my hands on the sides of his neck. “Everything I ever wanted but never thought I’d get. I have it all. You gave it to me, honey.”
Cannon squeezed his eyes closed and inhaled deeply as he rested his forehead against mine. “Christ, baby. You have no idea how happy you make me. Never thought I could ever love someone the way I love you. Not in a million years.”
“I told you once that moving here was the best decision I ever made. But I was wrong.”
He lifted his head and looked down at me in confusion. “What?”
“Moving here was only the second best. The best decision I ever made was falling for the guy I spotted across a crowded bar who made my pulse race.” Standing on my tiptoes, I pressed my lips against his and declared, “I love you with everything I am, Cannon. You’re my future, my everything. You’re the best decision I ever made.”
Epilogue
Cannon
"God, Cannon. This place is amazing.” I turned from watching Triumph run around the backyard to Sage’s grinning face. “Never imagined you as the type of guy to live in an old, restored Victorian, but it works. You just . . . you fit here.”
“Not the house, darlin’,” I replied, bringing the beer bottle to my lips and taking a pull. “It’s the woman in it.”
“She’s pretty amazing too,” Sage quickly added. “Beautiful and sweet. And she still doesn’t put up with your shit. I like her honey. In general, but for you especially.”
“Means the world to me, Chestnut,” I mumbled, hooking an arm around my oldest friend’s shoulders and pulling her into a sideways hug.
“You really love her, don’t you?”
That answer was as easy as breathing. “With everything I am. She rambles when she’s nervous or excited, doesn’t know the difference between a Harley and a Triumph, she’d take in every stray she found on the street if she had her way, and she can’t cook for shit, but I can’t imagine spending a single day without her.”
Her eyes grew watery as she looked up at me with a wobbly grin. “That makes me happy, honey.”
“Thanks, darlin’.”
We turned bac
k out to the amazing view that surrounded the old house my woman had poured her love into until it was restored back to its former glory. I was content to stand with my friend in silence, but apparently Sage had other plans. “Just one question.”
“Yeah?”
“If she’s such a terrible cook, why the hell are you letting her make Thanksgiving dinner for all of us?”
At the fear laced in her expression, I threw my head back on a deep laugh. Before I had a chance to answer, I heard a knock coming from behind me, and turned to see Farah’s panicked face through the kitchen window.
“Help,” she mouthed, looking like she was only seconds away from a heart attack. Then she clasped her hands together in front of her chest. “Please.”
“Don’t worry about it, Chestnut,” I said as I let Sage go and started for the back door. “I got a backup dinner stashed in one of the spare rooms.”
With that, I closed the door on the sounds of my friends laughter and headed to the kitchen to save my woman from what was sure to be an epic disaster.
* * *
Farah
I looked at the congealed blob of goo in the pot, feeling the first wave of panic crash into me. I had a houseful of people, all waiting for an incredible Thanksgiving dinner. And I had goo. Turning my gaze to Cannon, I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and bit down. “I think something’s wrong with the gravy.”
“I knew it!” Jase cried, throwing his hands up in frustration while Bennett laughed uncontrollably. “Told you letting her cook was a mistake. You think that Chinese place in town is open?”
I shot him a killing look that made Bennett laugh even harder. “Keep talking and you won’t eat a damn thing,” I threatened.
“It’s all right, baby,” Cannon said, that smokey voice of his doing wonders to calm my frayed nerves. “We’ll get it squared away.”
“I don’t know what happened,” I cried as I looked around the disaster before me. “I followed the recipe you gave me. Something must be wrong with the ingredients. Maybe they were past their expiration.”
Cannon’s deep chuckle hit my ear as he scooted over to me, pushing me out of the way. “Hate to break it to you, Hummingbird, but that’s got nothin’ to do with expiration.”
“That’s it.” Jase pushed up from his chair, pulling his cellphone from his pocket. “I’m calling for Chinese.”
Before I could cuss my brother out, Brantley’s voice sounded through the kitchen right before he plowed into me, wrapping his arms around my legs. “Pwetty Fawah!”
“Hey sweetie.” I grinned gown at him and reached to ruffle his hair.
“I’m hungwy. Let’s eat!”
“What the kid said,” Jase deadpanned.
My head was seconds away from exploding when Cannon jumped into action. Bending down, he scooped the rambunctious four-year-old up and carried him over to Jase. “Dinner’ll be ready in just a bit, buddy. Why don’t you and Uncle Jase here go watch some football, yeah?”
“Yeah!” Brantley yelled, squirming around until my brother finally put him on his feet, then he bolted out of the kitchen.
“I’m afraid to leave her unsupervised,” Jase mumbled, looking to the stove with trepidation.
“Out,” Cannon ordered. “We got this under control. Don’t need you in here makin’ things worse.”
With Cannon’s tone leaving no room for argument, Jase and Bennett headed into the living room where the rest of my new family had congregated in front of our giant TV, leaving me and Cannon alone.
He patted the counter beside the stove while adjusting the dials on all of the burners. “Have a seat. You can relax and keep me company while I finish this up. How’s that sound?”
That sounded like the best offer I’d had in a long time, and I didn’t hesitate to take him up on it, hopping up on the counter so I could watch my man work.
“Think any of it’s salvageable?”
He gave me a reassuring wink. “I can make it work, don’t worry. And just because I love you, I’ll even give you all the credit.”
My lips tipped up in a teasing smirk as I replied, “And just because I love you, I’ll allow that.”
I hadn’t thought it possible for my man to get any hotter than he already was, but watching him move around the kitchen, saving the Thanksgiving feast we were about to feed to all our friends and family, had to have been one of the sexiest things I’d ever seen. And while I was excited to have everyone I loved under one roof, there was a part of me that couldn’t wait for them to leave so I could have Cannon all to myself.
Shifting from the stove, he put his hands on my knees and pushed my legs apart to step between them. His expression warmed as he leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. “You happy, Hummingbird?” he asked as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
My house was full of laughter and love, I was surrounded by friends and family, and I was currently holding my future in my arms. There was nothing but good on the horizon for me.
And it was all because of this man and this incredible town.
“Not happy, honey. I’m blissful,” I answered. “But then, every day with you is better than the last, so I guess I’ll need to think of an even bigger word for tomorrow.”
His grin made my belly flip. “Lookin’ forward to hearin’ what you come up with.”
I leaned in to give him a kiss, only to be interrupted when Jase came waltzing back into the kitchen with my snoozing cat in his arms.
“You know, I’ve been meaning to ask. Why’d you name your cat Crash?”
My head whipped back to Cannon, my eyes narrowing as I snapped, “Not a word out of you!”
With that, my man burst into laughter and the sound moved right through me, making that now ever-present warmth in my chest bloom brighter.
Oh yeah, I thought as I held him even tighter. This is definitely bliss.
The End
Thank you so much for reading, and don’t forget to leave a review.
Keep a lookout for more from Redemption, TN
Coming May, 2020
Discover Other Books by Jessica
REDEMPTION SERIES
Bad Alibi
HOPE VALLEY SERIES:
Out of My League
Come Back Home Again
The Best of Me
Wrong Side of the Tracks
Stay With Me
Out of the Darkness
CIVIL CORRUPTION SERIES
Corrupt
Defile
Consume
Ravage
THE PICKING UP THE PIECES SERIES:
Picking up the Pieces
Rising from the Ashes
Pushing the Boundaries
Worth the Wait
THE COLORS NOVELS:
Scattered Colors
Shrinking Violet
Love Hate Relationship
Wildflower
THE LOCKLAINE BOYS (a LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP spinoff):
Fire & Ice
Opposites Attract
Almost Perfect
The Locklaine Boys: The Complete Series Boxset
THE PEMBROOKE SERIES (a WILDFLOWER spinoff):
Sweet Sunshine
Coming Full Circle
A Broken Soul
Welcome to Pembrooke: The Complete Pembrooke Series
GIRL TALK SERIES:
Seducing Lola
Tempting Sophia
Enticing Daphne
Charming Fiona
STANDALONE TITLES:
One Knight Stand
Chance Encounters
Nightmares from Within
DEADLY LOVE SERIES:
Destructive
Addictive
About Jessica
Born and raised around Houston, Jessica is a self proclaimed caffeine addict, connoisseur of inexpensive wine, and the worst driver in the state of Texas. In addition to being all of these things, she’s first and foremost a wife and mom.
Growing up, she shared her mom and grandm
other’s love of reading. But where they leaned toward murder mysteries, Jessica was obsessed with all things romance.
When she’s not nose deep in her next manuscript, you can usually find her with her kindle in hand.
Connect with Jessica now
Website: www.authorjessicaprince.com
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Bad Alibi: a Redemption novel Page 24
