When she looked up, Rafe and Ms. Patti had disappeared, leaving her and Antonio alone in the living room.
“It still hasn’t sunk in, that it’s all over. No more hiding. No more running away, afraid all the time. It’s kinda surreal, but in the best way.”
“Does that mean you’ll stay here?”
“Wow, I’ve never really thought far ahead, if I’m being honest. Never let my guard down, because it was temporary and I knew I’d have to leave. Living in Shiloh Springs, it’s been the longest I’ve stayed in one place since the trial ended. Even when I bought the townhouse, I knew in the back of my mind I’d have to leave it behind one day. Now, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Stay.”
His words, the way he said them, sent a shiver down her spine. Not in fear. But hope.
“You want me to stay?”
“More than anything. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and I’m moving back to Shiloh Springs. I’ve never been happy in Dallas, and I miss it here. I talked with SAC Williamson, and I’m going to transfer to the Austin office. Most of the time, I’ll be commuting a few times a week, and part of the time, I’ll work from here. We’ll work out the finer points, but I’m coming home.”
“That’s wonderful, Antonio. Your family will be happy to have you here. I know Ms. Patti has missed you.”
He stood and pulled her to her feet, and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Leaning in, he whispered, “A big part of my coming home is you, Serena. There’s been something between us from the day we met. I fought it because long distance relationships rarely work out, and I was too focused on advancing up the ranks in the FBI. But every time I came home, every time I saw you, those feelings grew and intensified. This last time, when I found out who you really are, and the danger you were in, all I could think about was making sure you were safe, because the thought of living in a world where you weren’t a part of my life—I couldn’t bear it.”
“I thought I was the only one. Every time I saw you, it was like, I don’t know how to describe it, like the missing part of my soul was found and I was finally whole.”
“Exactly. Say you’ll stay, give us a chance.” He cupped her face gently between his hands, and Serena felt the intensity of his stare down to her toes. “I’m head over heels in love with you, Serena Snowden.”
Finally, she could say the words, the ones she’d know to be true for so long. “I love you too, Antonio Boudreau. I think I fell in love with you the day we met, and I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you. I’ve dreaded waking up each day, thinking about leaving you, this town, and everything I’ve come to love. I can’t believe it’s finally over, and my every dream is coming true.”
“For goodness sake, would you kiss her already, before Momma has a heart attack out here in the hallway!” Rafe’s laughter echoed through the living room along with Ms. Patti’s huff of outrage.
“My pleasure.”
When his lips touched hers, Serena knew everything was going to be alright, and surrendered herself to his kiss, and for the first time looked to the future with hope.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Serena sat at the long conference table set up for the meeting. Antonio clasped her hand tight, giving her a modicum of composure. She both dreaded the upcoming meeting and wanted to be here, because this would be the last time she had to see her uncle face-to-face. His cadre of attorneys lined one side of the table, in their expensive suits, briefcases filled with what she assumed were reams of papers to try and offset the insurmountable evidence against him.
Antonio and Williamson had shown her the mountain of evidence provided by the mysterious informant, who’d cooperated with the Department of Justice once the file had been hand delivered to their office. Serena had no clue who this person was, only they were a ‘credible’ witness from deep within her uncle’s fanatical followers. She hoped she’d get the chance to meet with them, thank them for doing the right thing, especially since it meant she didn’t have to go through another excruciating trial. Once had been more than enough. When added to the information she’d provided Williamson on the thumb drive, she prayed this would be the last time she ever faced her uncle again.
There were several other people, men and women, seated at the table. Antonio whispered they were DOJ, and attorney generals for several of the states where bombings had taken place.
“Are you sure you want to be here, Serena? You don’t have to face him, you know. I can get you out of here. We’ll go someplace, just the two of us, and forget all about Big Jim or anything else except us.”
She gave him a shaky smile. “I need to be here. It’s important. He needs to see he didn’t win. He didn’t break me, no matter how hard he tried. His personal empire is crumbling around him, and there’s no way out. He’s a broken man, he just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Jonathan Drury and his wife are going to spend time behind bars. Drury’s copping a plea to attempted kidnapping, use of a deadly weapon—both vehicular and a gun—along with several other assorted charges. He’ll spend a lot of years behind bars. Corinne’s pleading to identity theft, yours, and a few other charges. Since it’s her first offense, she’ll probably get a light sentence, but it’s better than nothing.”
She knew the district attorney
