reading her mind, Dutch stepped out of the elevator, and fired once more. The second bullet to the head flung Chad backward to the floor.
He lay in the hall, still, his eyes open and unmoving.
The demon was dead.
Dutch turned, wrapping her in his arms.
She fell against him, collapsing in the safety of his heat and strength. It was all she could do not to break down. Relief cascaded through her as she clung to him. “Oh, Dutch.”
A few guests opened their doors and peeked out. Others left their rooms, gathering in the hallway.
“Are you okay?” His arms tightened around her.
“I will be.” Now that he was there.
“God, I’m sorry it took me so long.”
She buried her face in his chest, took in his scent, relieved, comforted. Safe. “You were right on time.”
Epilogue
Magical. Sitting beside Dutch in front of their campfire, Isabel stared up at the majestic aurora borealis. Green ribbons of light tinged pink danced high in the sky. Pure, vibrant waves of energy. It was wondrous.
The US Marshals Service had flown them on a military plane to Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska. Arrangements had been made for them to embark on the last camping tour of the season to Chena Hot Springs to catch the northern lights.
Conditions had to be optimal for them to see it. The night as dark as possible, little to no cloud cover and there had to be enough solar activity. Those elements had converged perfectly, gifting them with this.
Sort of like her relationship with Dutch. It boggled her mind to think of all the factors that had to sync up at the right time, in the right way, to bring them together.
Dutch being picked for the assignment. Her needing someone like him to walk into her life. Chad spinning out of control. The auction that never happened because they’d stopped it.
Kismet.
Emilio must be livid, plotting his revenge. She’d considered showing Dutch the letter her father had written her, had contemplated using it against him, but she couldn’t and had burned it.
There was no denying her father was a monster, capable of unspeakable things. But he loved her, and she loved him. In a weird way, if it weren’t for him, she never would have met Dutch, the man who might end up being the love of her life.
Even more remarkable, roughing it in the Alaskan wilderness, without the danger and adrenaline and creature comforts, they were truly happy together.
“This is incredible.” She rested her head on his shoulder, snuggling against him in the frigid night air, thankful for everything. From being with Dutch to her toasty goose-down puffer coat.
He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her head. “More hot chocolate, beautiful?”
“No, I’m good.” She brought her denim-covered legs up to her chest, basking in this moment. The serenity. The safety. The splendor. “Thank you, for getting Allison to make this trip happen.”
“She just wanted us off the grid. The farther away from civilization the better. She didn’t care where.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I know. I love you,” he said, tightening his arm around her. “Once it’s safe, we’ll visit Brenda. I promise.”
Who knew how long it would take before she’d be able to see her friend again?
Max was working hard to build a case against Emilio. He was smart, cunning. If anyone in the FBI could do it, it was him. Teflon.
“I love you, too,” she said.
McQueen’s collar jingled as he got up and came out of their tent. With his ears up, he stood on alert, staring at the woods. Then he started barking.
Dutch fished his gun out of his backpack, stood and aimed in the direction that McQueen was looking.
“Stand down, Haas,” said a man coming out of the tree line, wearing a parka and backpack. “It’s me, Captain Williams.”
He was their liaison from the air base.
“What are you doing out here?” Dutch asked.
“It took me two days to find this campsite.” Captain Williams approached, looking winded. “You guys really picked a remote location. I couldn’t even get here with a vehicle.”
“What’s up?” Dutch asked.
“We got a call for you two on base from Deputy Marshal Allison Chen-Boyd. Her son’s been kidnapped, and she needs to speak with you.”
“Oh, God.” Isabel jumped to her feet.
“Do you have a satphone we can use?” Dutch asked.
“You can’t,” Captain Williams said. “We might even have to trek back to base. The aurora borealis occurs during solar storms. The massive bursts of charged particles create satellite disturbances and mess with our satphones.”