losers sounds just what the doctor ordered. I’m sure you can file the paperwork on my behalf, Paul?”
Walker nods but my attention is on Alicia when she claps her hands excitedly. “That’s Awesome! After all, my wedding wouldn’t be the same without all of you there to celebrate with me and Roger!”
“Wedding?” I ask.
“Of course,” Alicia nods. “I divorced Roger when he was arrested. But it wasn’t out of lack of loyalty or because I didn’t love him anymore. We planned on me getting close to VDB so I could work to prove his innocence. But now that everything is right again, I don’t want to spend another day apart from the love of my life.”
I have a new admiration for Alicia. She definitely had me and her own children fooled with the act of the insensitive, superficial gold digger she put on, but deep down I now understand that she was doing what she needed to free her husband. Yes, she gave me to Pierce and that will take a while to forget but I can only imagine the kind of constant duress she must have endured in the last two years. And if Blaine and Royce can forgive her, so can I.
“And of course, Sloane, you’ll be my maid of honor, right?”
I groan at the idea of another one of Alicia’s weddings but she giggles at my expression and reassures me that this time things will be different. “I promise that this will be a small family affair, darling. And you’ll be able to choose your own dress. Deal?”
The hopeful look in Blaine’s eyes makes me agree, the heat in his green gaze promising some wonderful reward once we’re alone.
“Well, I guess we’re all done here.” Walker announces. “This boat will be seized by the authorities soon. And I’m going to join my CIA colleague at the local police station to arrange VDB’s return to home soil.”
“There’s still one little problem.” River clears his throat, getting everyone’s attention and I know exactly what—or better whom—he’s referring to. “That fucking piece of shit, Hunter, is still tied up and gagged in a cabin below deck. I’d be more than happy to feed him to the sharks but I guess that would mean legal repercussions, right?”
Walker looks at us with a shocked expression. “Agent Hunter is alive?”
Kaden explains how Pierce turned up here in Monte Carlo and how he almost managed to snatch me away from them. “I suspect he managed to isolate Sloane from us by bringing a woman who looked just like her on the boat and getting her to lure us out of the way. Then he basically kidnapped Alicia and threatened her so that he could put his hands on Sloane. I think the woman who helped him, the doppelgänger must’ve gotten away but we got Hunter. That bastard is seriously unhinged and fucking dangerous.”
Walker shakes his head. “This time not even his connections will save him from some serious time in a maximum security penitentiary. I’ll take him into custody and escort him and VDB back to the US. Can you take me to him, Vance? I’m calling the local cops to arrange a police car. In the meantime, you all can go but I’ll need to take your statements about Hunter before you all leave Monte Carlo.”
We decide to stay at the hotel tonight while Royce and Blaine arrange a flight plan for their private jet and a car to Nice for tomorrow morning.
We make our way to the main deck just in time to see the local cops board the boat and we’re asked to stand aside until they take their ‘prisoner’ into custody.
I squeeze River’s hand so tight that I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d broken a few bones when I see Walker and Kaden walk toward the local police with Pierce between them.
My ex has his hands cuffed behind his back and looks definitely worse for wear. The guys must have had a ‘talk’ with him earlier. I don’t feel sorry, he deserved a good beating and even more.
Kaden and Walker are pointing their guns at Pierce. “You can go, Vance. I’ve got it from here.” Walker instructs and Kaden returns his gun to his shoulder holster without securing it before he steps close to me and River, coming to stand on my other side.
That’s it, I think feeling numb. This is hopefully the last time I ever see Pierce Hunter.
Walker pushes him toward the gangway and the armed police waiting