the deep scratch on her shoulder, taking as much care as he could not to hurt her. He was thankful that the bullet had only grazed her soft skin. It could have been so much worse.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you," he said, gazing into her beautiful green eyes, relieved that they were bright and filled with warmth and life. "I had just entered the cemetery when I heard the first shot. My heart stopped. And then I saw you running and Sylvia chasing you." He shook his head. "I should have been faster."
"Stop." She put her hand on his thigh as she moved closer to him. "You had perfect timing. You saved my life—again. It's getting to be a habit."
"I really thought the danger was over when I texted you earlier. I know that's why you felt comfortable enough to leave your sister's house. I should have made sure everyone was in custody before I told you that. It was a big mistake. I just wanted you to know that the main guys had been arrested."
"No more apologies. You were busy, and I probably jumped too soon. I knew everyone hadn't been arrested yet, but I wanted to tell my grandfather, and then he asked me to tell Natasha, and that's why I went to the cemetery. When I was talking to Natasha, I felt like someone was watching me, but I thought it was Natasha's spirit. I know that's silly. I should have been more aware."
"And I should have seen Sylvia for the menace she was."
"She told me that no one ever saw her as being important. Even when she tried to warn the men about me, they wouldn't listen. They didn't think I was smart enough to figure anything out, but she knew I'd get to the truth. That's why she killed Julia, to give herself a scapegoat. She also said she didn't believe me when I told her I was going to quit. I guess I wasn't that good of an actress after all." She blew out a breath. "I haven't had a chance to ask you what happened with David. I know he must have given you enough evidence to get arrest warrants."
"He did."
"How did you get David to turn on everyone?"
"We photoshopped images of David meeting with prominent FBI agents and told him that we'd make sure his bosses saw them. Or he could start working for us. He chose to save himself. He gave us everything, all the details of the current operation. He had copies of confidential papers that had been exchanged. He's been a goldmine of information."
"Will you be able to keep him alive to testify against everyone?"
"We'll have to. But, as I said, others are now talking as well, and the people who were forced into compromising positions like Bragin and Wallace are being forthcoming."
"You must have been up all night, putting everything together."
"I was."
She ran her fingers down the side of his face in a tender gesture. "You're exhausted. We don't have to discuss everything now."
"I will tell you whatever you want to know, Maya, maybe not this second, but later. The most important thing is that it's over. You're safe and your family is safe. I can promise you that we are going to build the best and tightest case against every individual we picked up today." He would do everything in his power to keep that promise.
"I know you will, Jax. I'm not worried. And it may sound terrible, but I'm glad Sylvia is dead. She had no remorse for taking Natasha or Julia's life. She was dead inside. The only emotion she showed was when I told her that David had betrayed her."
He nodded. "David was her kryptonite. She kept him in the operation, even knowing that he was too weak to play the game she was playing."
"He's probably the only person she ever loved. I don't think she even loved herself. But it sounds like she had a hard childhood."
"No excuse."
"Agreed." She let out a breath and gave him a tentative smile. "So, what's next?"
He smiled, happy that he didn't need to get back to work until tomorrow. "Nothing. We have absolutely nothing to do for at least the next twelve to fifteen hours."
"I have a few thoughts. Some of those involve you sleeping, some don't."
He raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You're not angry with me anymore?"
"It's hard to be mad at someone who has saved my life more than