“From what Holloway told us, he was okay with selling the chemical weapons out of the country. As far as he was concerned, it was just one terrorist killing another. He didn’t know about the smaller sale of weapons or the attack planned on the Denver airport.”
“Holloway was a well-respected general,” Bran said. “Why did he do it? I realize his share of twenty-five mil is a shit ton of money, but still...”
“Apparently, the general wasn’t happy with the progress of his career. He was still a lowly brigadier, not the two-or three-star general he was convinced he deserved to be. His wife had left him, his kids were overindulged pains in the ass. His personal life had turned to worms, and he wanted payback for all of it. This way he became a wealthy man, as well as secretly giving the army the middle finger. Just didn’t work out the way he planned.”
“What about Weaver?” Bran asked.
“Weaver is headed back to the maximum security side of ADMAX—where he’ll be locked up twenty-three hours a day for the rest of his worthless life.”
Jessie’s eyes filled. Bran reached over and laced his fingers with hers. “I hope he and Weaver both rot in hell,” he said.
Tripp made a sound of agreement. “Jessie?”
“I’m here.”
“I want you to know your father’s name has officially been cleared. The army thanks Colonel Kegan for his many years of outstanding service and regrets the loss of such a fine officer.”
Her throat ached. “Thank you.”
“One more thing,” Tripp said. “Last night the police arrested Andrew Horton as he tried to leave the country. He was caught at the El Paso International Airport, trying to board a connecting flight to Guadalajara, Mexico. He won’t be seeing the light of day for a long, long time.”
Bran squeezed her fingers. “It’s over, Jess.”
“That’s right,” Tripp said. “Just let me know if there’s anything I can ever do for either one of you.”
When the call ended, Bran pulled Jessie into his arms. “Thanks to you, your dad’s name has been cleared. He can rest easy now.”
And knowing she hadn’t failed him, Jessie felt lighter, as if the burden she had been carrying had finally been lifted.
She wiped a tear from her cheek, looked up at Bran, and smiled. “So...after all the excitement, are you sure life with me won’t seem boring?”
Bran just laughed. “Not a chance.”
EPILOGUE
The smoky aroma of barbecue brisket, Texas-style, floated on the air. It was a warm April Sunday in Dallas, the perfect time for a Garrett family and friends get-together.
The barbecue was at Chase and Harper’s new home in Old Preston Hollow, a charming older custom ranch with molded ceilings, overhanging porches, and lots of paned glass windows. A good house for kids, Chase had said.
Bran stood on the pool deck next to Hawk, Jaxon Ryker, and Jonah Wolfe while Chase grilled the meat. The house was great, but it was the three-acre property less than a twenty-minute drive from the city that had made the sale. Vast stretches of lush green lawn shaded by ancient oaks, brick walkways lined with flowers, even its own little creek.
Beneath the wide, covered patio, Jessie, Harper, Kate, Mindy, and Reese’s date, Fiona St. James, were laughing as they set the table with plastic plates, paper napkins, and red Solo cups.
Jessie glanced Bran’s way and their eyes met. The smile she gave him was so bright and filled with love it made his chest ache. She was happy. Besides adoring her like a lovestruck fool, he had given her the thing she wanted most. A family.
Her mom and dad were gone, her brother, Danny. But Bran, Chase, Reese, Harper, Kate, Hawk, and everyone who worked at The Max had accepted her as if they had known her forever. They loved her.
And Jessie loved them right back.
She sauntered up to him, slid her arms around his waist, leaned up, and kissed him. “I’m starving. How much longer?”
He flicked a glance at Chase.
“Ten minutes,” Chase said.
“I guess I can manage to wait.”
Bran grinned. “Maybe I should drag you inside and entertain you until the food’s ready.”
She grinned back and fanned her cheeks. “You wicked, wicked man. Don’t tempt me.”
He laughed. She was wearing his engagement ring, a perfect diamond solitaire he had chosen to suit her small hand. They were getting married. Jessie wasn’t the only one who was happy.
A lot had happened in the months since they had moved in together.