It’s been hours since we could comfortably say we’ve put this whole mess behind us. We arrived back to my car to the sound of Liam’s phone ringing from inside. It was his captain calling to let him know he’d received his message. Liam filled their team in on the day’s events and pretty much everything that led up to it. When the conversation was over, he and Justin ran back to double-check that all the windows were boarded. Using a chain from JP’s trunk, they secured the front entrance to ensure that even if Serena and her crew could break free from their bindings, they’d have a tough time getting out.
By the time we made it home to our cabin, the sun had begun to rise. I was beyond tired, so I know they had to be, too. But neither of them showed it. Instead, they stayed up, waiting for the FBI to arrive and haul Serena and her crew off to jail. The goal was for me to relax and get some sleep, now that I no longer have to run for my life. The thought sounded good, but my nerves wouldn’t let me rest, though I laid down anyway.
An hour ago, we got another call. Liam’s team was about twenty minutes outside of Escape. This is finally ending. He shared the coordinates of the abandoned groundskeeper's cabin as we loaded up to meet them there. He insisted I stay behind, but I’m not going to miss the opportunity to see that wench in handcuffs. I want to see her face when she realizes we have indeed won.
Now, I’m pacing backwards and forwards near the rear gate of the cemetery. I alternate between squeezing my fist at my side or stacking them on top of each other as I walk. It’s just me and JP out here now. Considering it’s Liam’s case and his dedication that led us here, the captain wanted him to make the arrest.
“How long does it take to read them their rights?” I swirl on my heels to look at JP who’s leaned against my car.
“Breathe. They’ll be out soon. I’m sure Liam’s briefing them.” He peers into the distance, quickly standing upright. “Here they come now.”
I rush to his side, lifting on my toes to peek around layers of overgrown bushes and tree branches. There’s a herd of people: local law enforcement, men in SWAT gear, and with the exception of Liam, at least five FBI agents. Serena continues to argue, saying things in her language that only Liam seems to understand. She and her gunmen, all escorted by a different federal officer, are stuffed into the back of individual unmarked cars.
The moment the door closes on the vehicle that houses Serena, a wave of relief rattles through me, all the tension peeling away as I drag in one satisfying breath after the other. The last two people to exit the unkempt forest are the captain and Liam. The two appear to be in deep discussion, which stops when they’re a few feet from Justin and me.
“JP, Lotus, this is Captain Miles. Cap, this is the young lady I was telling you about, and this—” Liam begins.
Captain Miles interrupts the introduction and holds a hand out to me. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Reed. I’m humbly apologetic of the things you’ve had to endure on the account of the Dembrinsky family. Agent Wright here has done a great job at making sure they spend the rest of their life behind bars.” He cups my palm between his and gives me a sympathetic smile before turning to Justin.
“Nice to meet you, Captain.” Justin accepts his firm handshake.
“Likewise. Wright tells me you’ve been a vital informant in this operation. On behalf of him and the federal government, thank you. It couldn’t have been easy driving them around all this time, knowing the heinous things they were capable of. It’s not surprising that after so long, you blended in the background. It’s interesting the things you become a witness to when folks forget you’re there. And to report information to him without giving up your cover. Very impressive!”
JP doesn’t verbally acknowledge any of what the captain says. He nods, thanks him, and leans back against the hood of my Hyundai.
“And, Wright. We found Johnson’s body and the two other men, right where Mr. Parker said they were. I swear the arrogance of those people, to dispose of their victims on their own property is baffling. We found hundreds of buried canisters of remains. It will take forensic some time to extract DNA, if any is left behind after the acid touched it. I guess there wasn’t much time to do the same with Johnson’s corpse. Either way, if it wasn’t for your cooperation…” He looks to Justin. “We never would have figured out they owned the burial grounds next to the hospital. It wasn’t listed under any known alias of theirs, but instead Maxium’s family’s name and not the Dembrinsky title.” He shakes his head. “Well, I’ll leave you to debrief these two and get Ms. Reed home safely. Mr. Parker, your request to remain anonymous during the trial has been granted. You’ve served us well these last six years, and we wouldn’t want you dedicating anymore of your life to this. All of you! The intel collected has allowed us to identify several other members of their organization. They’re being detained across the country as we speak. So, it’s all behind us now.” He taps Liam on the shoulder and excuses himself.
I glance between the boys, somewhat confused yet impressed with the story they’ve seemed to weave together. I raise a brow, a slight smile on my face as I try to recall when they had the time. Liam didn’t share the full background of what JP did for Serena. But from what he has shared, and the bodies the man helped get rid of, I know he isn’t a damn driver.
When the coast is clear and all law enforcement officers are on their way, Liam addresses his friend. “Sorry it took this long to bring them down, but I appreciate your sacrifice.” He pulls Justin into a brotherly embrace.
“You know how we do it. Brothers for life! I’ll always have your back, just like I know you’ll have mine. I’m grateful you could spin the driver story and use those bomb-ass hacker skills to wipe all traces of my involvement on those cleanups.”
“It was tight, but I’m glad we got it done. But what are you going to do now?”
Justin looks to the sky then back in our direction. “I dont know, man. Think I might need to take a bit of a detour.” He blushes with emphasis on the last word before waving us off and leaving in his own vehicle.
Liam turns to me, cupping my face and pulling me close. I stare up at him, waiting for him to take the next move. I can see in his eyes he’s not sure if he should kiss me. There were plenty of intimate and vulnerable moments between us, and I know he’s wondering if they really meant anything. I know because I’m wondering the same thing, too. It’s undeniable that I didn’t want to see him again, or that there has been so much hurt in our final years together.
Neither of us know what’ll happen after today, but I think it’s safe to admit you never really know a person or what their story is. When you meet them, you see the person society sees. Never the reckless socialite who spends all Daddy’s money, but the Mafia Queen. Never the known leader of the Russian Mob who hides behind charity galas and philanthropy, but a doting father covering for his child. Never the down-on-his-luck guy who falls in love and will do anything to be accepted by his new family, but a federal agent devoted to finding justice. We meet their representative, the persona they take to hide what truly lies beneath.
I was ready to run when this all started, to get as far away from him as possible. But now knowing who he is, I’m just as certain as the day I met him that I want to explore getting to know the real him. And I realize now, after all this time, I was on the wrong side of Mr. Wright.