Redemption: Triple R Security, Book 3

by Imogen Wells

  Roxy chuckles. “Well, Sullivan, this is your lucky fucking day, my man. This little delight here is going to bring down the whole house of cards, not just the ace.”

  “It’s as we thought, Rox?” I ask.

  “JJ, this is fucking gold.” Realising Rick is still confused, she stands and holds the laptop out to him.

  His eyes scan the screen, then lift to me with his mouth agape. “Holy fucking shit, JJ. Where did you get this?”

  “My mother. It seems that I really didn’t know her as well as I thought I did.”

  Forty-Five

  Rick

  Two weeks later

  “Max, are you ready? We need to leave in ten minutes.”

  “Coming, Dad,” he calls back, appearing at the bottom of the stairs a few minutes later. He places the bag he’s carrying with the others before dropping to sit on the bottom step.

  “Max, what’s wrong?” I squeeze in next to him.

  “Nothing really, just sad to say goodbye to my friends, that’s all.”

  “I know you are, but you’re going to make new friends, and we can come and visit.”

  “I know,” he says sadly. “I’m going to miss this house too, Dad.”

  I know he’s not just talking about the house. This is the house that Sam and I shared, if only for a short time, before he was born, it’s where he was conceived and the place where so many of our memories were made.

  I pick him up, moving him to my lap. “You don’t need the house to remember all those things, Max. They live in here—” I tap his head gently. “And here,” I say, pointing to his heart. “They’ll always live inside you, and just because we have a new house doesn’t mean you have to forget those memories. You’ll just make new ones to go with them.”

  Tyres crunching on gravel comes from outside the open front door, and a couple of minutes later, my dad appears.

  “You all set, Max?” he asks, stepping inside to pick up a suitcase. His brow furrows when he sees Max sitting on my lap.

  “Yeah, I’m ready, Gramps.” Max gets to his feet, picking up his bag and turns to me. “See you in a bit, Dad,” I pull him to me, hugging him tight.

  “I’ll be there before you know it. Be good and look after the oldies till I get there” He laughs as my dad reaches over to clip me round the head.

  “I will,” he calls as he dashes out the door to the car where my mum is waiting for him.

  “How are you feeling about giving your statement?”

  “It’s nothing I haven’t done before,” I say nonchalantly, even as the little pressure valve that seems to reside in me recently starts to crank up.

  “Not on this scale, son.”

  “Thanks for the reminder,” I say with a smile. “Things will calm down once this is over, well, at least until the trial anyway.”

  I help Dad load the cases into the car, then wave them off. Stepping back into the house, I do a last walk around making sure I’ve not forgotten anything.

  I feel a pang of sadness as I collect my overnight bag and close the door one last time. I’m closing the door on my old life. I’ll never forget Sam, but I need to move on for Max and myself, and we can’t do that in this house. I post the keys through the letter box and leave.

  The drive to London is an easy one at this time of the day, and I’m pulling up outside the court with fifteen minutes to spare.

  I enjoy the lull in craziness that has been the last two weeks. The USB was indeed the jack-fucking-pot and contained evidence on every person involved in Garcia’s trafficking ring right to the very top.

  Archie ‘The Archer’ Collins’ name was right there, along with Judge Charles Roberts, Seb’s father. Seb made sure he was there when his father was arrested. He’s waited a long time to see him fall from his throne. He and Jamie, along with a little help from Roxy, were able to get evidence of his involvement in several other organisations now they knew where to look.

  It seems that Jess’ mother had been gathering evidence since her failed attempt to destroy Archie with a tip off about the gun running with the Salcido cartel. Unfortunately, it backfired resulting in the death of Kuffs, her own son. According to Gigi, it had been a long time coming after spending decades at Archie’s mercy. With everything that Archie did to Jess, alongside trying to pull Christian into his dark world, she’d reached her limit.

  Jess is struggling to come to terms with what her mother did and refuses to even speak to her. But I have a plan.

  The press have had a field day with it. Not to mention the number of convictions now being re-investigated. Some have already been overturned. Several government officials were also named, along with half a dozen cops and judges. Along with those from Tempest, it’s a lot to sort through and has thrown the whole government and justice system into complete disarray.

  I’m here to give my statement in front of my lawyer, Jeremey, a judge, not one on the list, and a policeman, who was handpicked by Roxy. There’s never been such a high-profile case, and this is to ensure there is no bribery or coercion and no further corruption of the legal system.

  My phone rings, and I smile as I answer it.

  “Hey”

  “Hi. You at the court?”

  “Yeah, I’m just waiting for Jeremy. How’s things your end?” I hear Roxy laughing in the background.

  “We are almost done with the packing. No thanks to Roxy,” Jess shouts over the noise.

  “Hey, I heard that.” Jess laughs before calling back to her that she was meant to.

  “Mum and Dad are on their way with Max. Are you sure you’re going to be okay driving all that way?”

  “Rick, I’ll be fine. Are you sure you can wait that long to see me?” she asks seductively. I hear a door close, cutting off the noise in the background.

  “Are you trying to kill me with blue balls?” I groan, adjusting myself, which isn’t exactly appropriate outside the damn courthouse. It’s been less than twenty-four hours since I was last inside her, and I’ve been craving a taste of her since she left yesterday afternoon.

  She gave her statement and got given the all-clear from the doctor before she left, so I’m desperate to fuck her without worrying I’ll hurt her.

  She laughs, it’s light and happy. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you when you get home.” There’s a slight hesitation when she said the word home, but there’s no need.

  “Hey, don’t do that. I love you. Max loves you, and it’s our home. Where we are going to have wild monkey sex later tonight and fill it with love, laughter and life, okay?”

  “Yes, sir,” she sasses back, and it only makes my dick harder.

  “I’ll see you soon,” I tell her and end the call just as Jeremy approaches the car. Stepping out, we shake hands and walk to the courthouse together.

  When I leave the courthouse several hours later, I’ve got a thumping headache, but I don’t let it deter me. I’m on a mission to get home to my woman, but I need to make a quick stop first.

  Once I’m on the road, my mind drifts to today. It could be months before we get a court date, and even longer if either party aren’t ready and request an extension to gather witnesses and evidence.

  Jeremy said there are people coming out of the woodwork left, right and centre claiming they were framed or coerced into giving false statements. Every case the judges and cops have ever worked on needs to be looked at again. The whole thing is a fucking mess.

  Archie is currently rotting in a prison cell awaiting trial for countless crimes, and I hear he receives regular beatings from ‘unknown’ assailants. Nothing will make up for all the things he’s done, and even death isn’t good enough. However, a life of perpetual suffering in prison will go some of the way.

  I shake the thoughts away as I look to the passenger seat where the next chapter in my life sits. Jess has no idea what’s waiting for her at the barn, and I hope like hell she’s ready for this. I know with every breath and every beat of my heart that I am.

  A voice message fl
ashes across the screen of my phone, and hitting play, Roxy’s voice fills the car.

  “You best be on your way, Sullivan, because operation break-down is well and truly on. Put your foot down and get your arse there asap! Oh, by the way, Alicia and her mum are settled in WitSec, and she said thank you.”

  Thank fuck for that. Alicia and her mum deserve to live their life safely and in peace. I’m still pissed at Roxy for not being at the house, and Jess and I are still clueless as to why she never showed, but she’s done a great job with getting them out.

  I accelerate, over-taking some jerk talking on his mobile plodding along in the middle fucking lane. He gives me the finger as I pass, but nothing is going to spoil this day.

  Forty-Six

  Jess

  “No tears, Eleanor. I’m not leaving here all puffy-eyed and red faced. We’ll be back before you know it,” I tell her, wrapping my arms around her and squeezing tight.

  “I know, just ignore this silly old woman. Harry, come and say goodbye and give me a minute, will you.” She steps back, letting Harry in.

  Harry hugs me, then pulls back, gripping my shoulders. “You ever need anything, you know where we are,” he croaks before stepping back.

  I look up to the sky as my eyes well with tears. When it’s safe, I give him a nod of my head. It’s all I can manage, and I refuse to cry after I just admonished Eleanor.

  I walk to the car and open the door, throwing my bag in the footwell. With one foot inside the car, I turn back to them both.

  “I can never thank you both enough for…” I wave my hand in front of my face, but it’s too late. Tears tumble down my face like a damn waterfall. “Oh, God.” I swipe at my face. “I love you,” I quickly call out before slamming the door shut only to hear Roxy laughing.

  “It’s not funny. Just bloody drive, Roxy.”

  “You have no idea how funny it is to see you so emotional.” She pulls out of the drive, and I swear she mutters something about not being able to wait till later. I’m too busy waving goodbye to take much notice.

  I was meant to be driving myself, but the garage called to say my car wouldn’t be ready, which is shit as it means I’ll have to organise getting it to the barn at some point.

  Roxy quickly offered to drive me, claiming she wanted to see this amazing barn that I’ve told her all about. When I asked her about needing to get back to work, she told me she’s taken some time off. There’s something funny going on with her right now, but she’s being elusive and vague any time I ask her.

  I could just be reading too much into it as she’s worked her arse off these last two weeks. Between everything that happened with Archie, I can’t bring myself to call him father, and getting Alicia and her mum set up in WitSec, she hasn’t stopped at all.

  I’m so glad that Rick went to see her that night because I dread to think what would have happened to her if he hadn’t. It turns out that it was her dad who was the inside man at Lux Designs for Garcia. How he ever got involved with Garcia is a mystery, and one we’ll probably never get an answer to.

  It seems that Tobias had no clue about any of it. We all thought Lottie was the target in our kidnapping but turns out it was me. Poor Lottie was another victim of collateral damage in something that should never have touched her. Another nail in Archie Collins’ coffin. It was him who arranged to have me kidnapped and get me out of the picture, but taking Lottie was their downfall. We believe that whoever lured Lottie to that building was someone she knew but was obviously on Collin’s payroll.

  When Richard heard what had happened, he recommended Triple R to Tobias, which placed not only me on Archie and Garcia’s radar but Rick too. Although, from what Rick and I know, Garcia was always coming after Rick for what happened to his brother and for his part in bringing down Marcus and Tempest.

  “What’s got you thinking so hard,” Roxy asks, breaking me out of my thoughts as we slip onto the motorway.

  “Nothing really, just thinking.” Needing to change the subject, I ask, “How long you planning on staying, Rox?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, few days. Maybe I’ll just never go home.” She laughs, but it’s completely fake. There’s no real humour and her smile doesn’t reach her eyes at all.

  “Alright, enough is enough, spill the beans, Rox. What the fuck is going on with you?”

  “Nothing. Why do you think something is going on with me?”

  “Er, maybe because you’ve been off since the night of… And you never take time off and now you’re joking about never going home.”

  “Joke, being the operative word there, JJ. And did you forget we just busted the biggest trafficking ring this country has ever seen? Besides, can’t a girl take some time out. Everyone needs a break now and again.”

  “Fine, have it your way, but you’ll tell me soon.”

  “Not that there’s anything to tell, but I’m a damn fortress. You ain’t getting shit from me unless I decide to give it to you.” She looks over at me, and I can’t help but laugh at her.

  She’s not wrong about giving anything up that she doesn’t want to. Girl can keep a secret better than anyone I know and holds the longest grudges known to man.

  Roxanne Whitmore is no wallflower and anyone stupid enough to think otherwise, better be prepared for a fucking war.

  An hour into the journey, we stop at the services. Despite eating before we left, I’m craving some snacks.

  Roxy tells me to go ahead as she needs to make a call, and she’ll meet me in there.

  I use the loo, buy a ridiculous amount of snacks and am just queuing for coffees, when Roxy jumps into the queue beside me and almost causes me to drop everything.

  “Fuck you,” I grumble when my heart finally returns to my chest.

  “Next,” calls the cashier, and I move forward to place my order.

  We get back to the car, and while I’m searching for the charger to my phone in the mountain of bags and boxes crammed into Roxy’s car, she gets in and starts the car.

  Only it doesn’t start. It just makes a clicking noise, not even turning over.

  “Shit,” Roxy exclaims from the front seat.

  “What’s wrong? Why’s it not starting?”

  “Hey, I deal in criminals not cars, JJ,” she snarks.

  After an almost two hour wait, thanks to a dead battery, we are finally back on the road. The car battery isn’t the only thing that’s dead around here. My phone died too, and I couldn’t find the charger anywhere.

  Thanks to modern technology, and pure laziness, I haven’t managed to memorise Rick’s number, so I can’t call him and let him know we are running late.

  As if that wasn’t bad enough, we then get pulled over by the police in a routine check. Admittedly, it’s quickly resolved but still.

  After almost six hours, we finally turn into the drive to the barn. Passing the house, I see Beth and Robert’s car parked outside, but no sign of them or Max anywhere.

  Pulling up outside the barn, there’s no sign of Rick either. I was almost sure he would have beaten us here after it took us so fucking long.

  “Wow, this place is amazing, JJ,” Roxy says, stepping from the car and walking to the front of the car to look out over the lake in a move identical to mine when I first saw the place.

  “Isn’t it beautiful? I still can’t believe this is my home.” I step up beside her, and she throws her arm around me.

  “You better believe it, and you fucking deserve it too, JJ. Christian would be so damn proud of you.” She squeezes me knowing how much her words mean to me. “Come on, show me around.”

  We walk to the barn arm in arm, laughing and joking and it feels amazing.

  This last month has been fucking hell, and I’m still coming to terms with everything. The next few months aren’t going to be any easier either. But I have more than I could ever have asked for, and I don’t intend on wasting a second of it.

  I expected Rick’s parents and Max to be here and don’t have a key. So, when we re
ach the door, I hesitate. Looking to Roxy, I see a knowing smile on her face, but before I can ask her about it, she reaches for the door and walks right in.

  “Come on, JJ.”

  “What is—” My words cut off as I step inside and see a large sign hanging from the ceiling.

  Welcome Home!

  Roxy grabs my hand pulling me forward. Reaching the kitchen, she steps aside, still holding one hand, to reveal an envelope with my name on it on the counter.

  “Roxy, what is going on?”

  Squeezing my hand, she says, “Read it, JJ.”

  I pick it up, hands shaking as I tear it open. I pull out a folded piece of paper and open it.

  * * *

  Carpe Diem - Seize the day.

  I need you to keep that saying in mind for the next few minutes. I also need you to not answer a question with a question just this once.

  * * *

  When I look up, there’s no sign of Roxy, just illuminated arrows on the floor. Following them, I push open the double doors into the garden.

  As I step outside, I can’t see anything else, just him. Dressed in dark blue jeans and a white t-shirt, standing in the middle of the lawn and wearing a wicked grin.

  “What are you doing?” I half whisper, as I reach him. A nervous smile spreads across my face as I suddenly realise we aren’t in fact alone. Standing behind him are all our friends and family, including Harry and Eleanor. As my eyes land on Roxy, things become very bloody clear.

  “I’ll deal with you later, Rox,” I hiss around a smile that’s impossible to hold back. “Hey,” I say, looking back to Rick.

  “Nice trip?” he asks with a wink. I reach out to slap him on the arm, but he catches it, bringing it to his mouth for a tender kiss.

  “Was that your question? You know, the one I wasn’t meant to answer with a question,” I ask with a laugh, and everyone joins in.

  Gripping me round the waist, Rick leans in, whispering, “Absolutely not.” Without another word, he releases me and drops to one knee, pulling out a box from his pocket. My hands come up to cover my mouth as he opens it, revealing the most astounding pear cut diamond.