Dean loses it. “That fucker was chasing me!” he bellows. “He wouldn’t let up. I was unsafe and I was doing what I could to protect myself from being his next victim.”

“But he didn’t kill Kelly, you did.”

“You know nothing!” he roars. “I didn’t kill her.”

“You did and I have a strong investigation as well as evidence against you. You’ll go away, do you understand me? I’ll make sure of it. Not to mention you’re going to be charged with assault and rape while I’m at it.”

I thank the heavens for Dean’s fried brain, for all the drugs he’s done, for his stupidity, because he bellows, “You don’t understand. You don’t. It wasn’t my fault.”

“Why don’t you tell me what happened and we’ll go easier on you,” I say, not meaning a word of it. I know that with cowards like Dean, offering anything that can save their worthless asses is always good motivation. “The harder you make this for us, the harder we’ll make this for you.”

“She made me do it. She fucking made me do it.”

I keep calm even though everything inside me is wanting to scream with joy. “How can someone make you kill them?”

“She wouldn’t listen!” he screams, his eyes wide and frantic. “I tried to make her. Tried to make her see that I was good for her but she just wanted to run back to her brother all the time. It wasn’t meant to happen, we got into a fight. You have to believe me.”

“You took an innocent life, Dean.”

“She just wouldn’t stop!” he bellows, and his entire body jerks. “She made me do it. She made me stab her. I just wanted her to listen to me and she wouldn’t. She wouldn’t listen.”

That’s all I need. I stand and walk around the table. “Dean, you’re under the arrest for the murder of Kelly Knox, as well as the assault and rape of Janet Liason. You may speak, but be warned that anything you say or do can be used against you in the court of law.”

And just like that, another one bites the dust.

Chapter Thirty-two

Grace

My phone ringing jerks me from my sleep.

It’s been four days since Raide was locked up, and I’ve barely heard a thing about what’s been going on with him. All I’ve seen are stories on the news. I’m still staying at my parents’ house, because I can’t face going home. I rub the sleep from my eyes and stare at my flashing phone. It’s late, around 10 P.M. I glance at the screen and see it’s York.

With a yawn, I pick it up and press it to my ear. “York?”

“Grace, honey, sorry if I woke you.”

“What is it?”

“Good news. We arrested Dean tonight. He admitted to the murder.”

I blink. My entire world stops spinning.

“Grace?”

“He—” I wheeze. “—confessed?”

“Yes, he confessed. He’s under arrest¸ awaiting trial. He’s been denied bail. He’s going down.”

I burst into a fit of tears, my entire body sinking back onto the bed. “And Raide?” I croak.

“They’ll be going to trial on Monday. Raide will be cleared of charges, however, he still skipped bail.”

“How long do you think he’ll get?”

“Probably three to six months.”

That’s not life, though. I can live with three to six months.

“Thank you so much, York. Thank you.”

“No problem at all, honey. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” I whisper.

“Night, Grace.”

“Night, York.”

And that night, for the first time in four days, I go to sleep with hope.

* * *

Raide’s and Dean’s trials goes ahead as planned on Monday. They moved a lot quicker than normal trials would because Dean confessed to the murder of Kelly. Dean is found guilty of murder, two counts of assault, and rape. He’s sentenced to life in prison. Raide is found guilty of assault and skipping bail, he’s sentenced to four months in prison. I’m there through it all, but the most I get is a glance of my gorgeous man. When they lead him back out, he stares at me and that stare holds so much promise.

Four months.

I can do four months.

Right?

* * *

Two months later

It’s been two months since Raide was sent to prison. I visit him as often as I can, but Don recommends, for job reasons, that I keep it to a minimum. I’ve only seen him three times since he went away, and it’s through a piece of thick glass. I ache to touch him, my body aches to feel his pressed against it. I miss him with every passing moment, but I know that soon, I’ll get to see him again.

I’m still on office duties at work, which has kept me quite busy. Denver can be a crazy place when it wants to be, and we’ve had quite a few cases come in and out. I’m excited to be back in the saddle, but right now doing paperwork is probably the best thing for me. It allows me to focus while I deal with everything else around me. Don has let it all go, and seems to be fully back to normal with me. That feels nice.

I’m working one morning when my phone rings. I shuffle through paperwork to find it, and see Kady’s number on the screen. With a smile, I answer it and press it to my ear. “What’s up?”

“So, I’m at your house, right. And you have a visitor.”

“Firstly, why are you at my house?”

“It’s your birthday tomorrow, I was trying to give you a surprise birthday party.”

“You just ruined that surprise, you know that, right?”

She’s silent. “Well, shit.”

I laugh. “Anyway, who is there?”

“Some guy named Benny.”

Benny! “Benny is there?”

“Yeah, and,” she whispers low, “he’s hot.”

“Kady!” I warn. “No.”

She huffs. “You’re no fun. Can you come or should I send him to you?”

“I’ll come. I have a break coming up.”

“Right, see you soon.”

I end the call and grab my jacket, then I rush out with a quick explanation to Don as I pass. I hurry home and when I arrive I see Benny and Kady standing on my front porch laughing about something. I rush over and smile big when Benny notices me and extends his arms.

I launch into them and he swings me around. “Benny, it’s so good to see you.”

“Thought I’d get off my ass and come in to see how you’re doing. Raide would kill me if he knew I didn’t check on you at least once.”

My smile wobbles and he notices.

“How are you doing?”

I sigh. “Okay, I’m busy with work but I miss him.”

“Yeah, I bet you do. I saw him yesterday. He’s doin’ okay. I offered to kiss you for him, he wasn’t down with that.”

Kady and I both laugh.

“I wonder why.”

He shrugs. “It was just a kiss. He really is too uptight.”

With another smile, I wrap my arm around his waist. “You want to come in? I’m on my break.”

“You going to make me lunch?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course.”