I was there too. Adam sat up and gripped her hand. “Hell yes, I do. Do you think I enjoyed seeing her break apart at the funeral?” He slid his arm around her, trying to pull her in although she resisted. “We needed everyone to play their part in this, otherwise it wouldn’t have worked. Can you imagine how she would have reacted if she knew it was a set up? There wouldn’t have been that level of believable grief and we needed everyone to see that to have any chance at all of pulling this off.” He placed a finger under her chin and brought her face around to his. The fresh sheen of tears in her eyes hit him in the gut.
“It was worth it if it was the only way to keep them all safe.”
“Where are they?” A tear trickled down her cheek and he caught it with his finger.
“I don’t know and I wouldn’t tell you if I did. I’m sorry and that’s the truth of it.”
“Did Papa know too?”
Forgive me, Ben. “Yes, he did.”
“So, the accident was to do with all of this right?”
“Yes, we believe so.”
“So we won’t ever get to see them again?”
Adam rested his lips on the soft skin at the base of her neck. “I don’t know. Never is a long time. We’ll have to see what happens with the case in the future. I can’t say anything else at this stage.” I’ve already said way too much.
“Are we all safe, can you promise me that?”
“I believe so. I’ll always be close anyway. There’s no way anyone is going to get to you again, if I can help it. And the other thing on my mind, Cole has done the dirty and he’s going to pay for that too. I want to hit him with legal action over it. You have to agree to press charges. Do you think you can do that?”
“Do you swear Simon is safe?” She licked her lips and turned her head toward him.
“Yes, his family should be with him now and they’re under the watchful eye of the law so you can stop worrying.”
Lena turned her head, her lips searching for his.
I’ll take that as a yes then. Adam pulled her back down onto the sheets.
* * *
“How did last night go, bella?” Mama walked out to the kitchen and opened the back door, letting the morning sun in to shine across the checkered lino floor. She took a cup from the rack and placed it under the coffee machine.
You really don’t want to know, Mama. “It was great. The customers were really vocal in their sympathy for Papa. I have some cards and messages to give him. Overall, I think it was well worth the effort of contacting them all.” And the meeting afterwards made it all worthwhile.
Mama dropped a kiss on her head and patted her shoulder. “I knew it would be. Who can resist your cooking for long?”
Footsteps down the hallway heralded her father. “You’re up early. Thought you’d want a sleep in after last night.”
Nope, wake up sex was more my idea. Lena smiled and did her best to keep a normal look on her face. Last night had been awesome for more than one reason. Her body was still zinging from the sex and the news she never expected to hear would never dull the light in her heart. “It went well. Kind of gave me some of my confidence back, you know.” And the sex fixed my self-esteem problem.
He patted her shoulder with his good hand. “I’m glad to hear it. Now I need a coffee before I start outside in the garden.”
“Let me get it for you, Papa. Sit down.” She rose and took the mug her mother passed over and put it under the coffee machine.
“How’s Adam? He told me he intended having dinner with you last night?”
“Yes, he did and he walked me home afterward too. We talked a bit about Cole as well.”
“Good. Time that man got what was coming to him.” Lena smiled at the frown on her father’s face. Her ex-husband wasn’t the most popular person. Truth be told, he probably never was.
“Adam wants me to press charges. I think I should because it was disgusting behavior. People could have died and that’s unforgiveable.” Lena made the coffee and then placed it in front of her father.
“He also wanted to sue for damages. Not sure how that will work out because I doubt he has the money to pay up even if I won the case.” It would be nice to hit him where it hurt.
Her father looked at her for a moment before he spoke. “I think you should too.”
You know something here Papa and you’re not saying it.
“I’ll think about it. Right now I have to worry about rebuilding my reputation and making the restaurant pay for itself.” I want it to be a success.
Chapter 30
“Lena, I want to introduce you to Jeremy Marsden from the federal police. He’s the person in charge of the case involving your cousin.”
Jeremy stepped forward and held out his hand. “Ms. Hawkins, a pleasure to meet you. I wish it could have been under more pleasant circumstances.”
“Yeah, me too. Can I get you a coffee?”
Jeremy glanced at Adam before accepting. “Thanks, I’d appreciate it.”
Her hands were shaking and Adam felt for her. Her life had been turned upside down by her ex-husband and his underhanded dealings and now she was paying for it. He showed Jeremy to a table and they both sat waiting for Lena.
She brought over their coffees and then came back with a plate of one of Adam’s favorite snacks. “Zeppole, Jeremy. I dare you to stop at one.”
Lena sat next to him and clasped
