Lucky gazed at the room filled with everyone he loved, his hand tightening on the worn Bible in his hand that his father had passed down to him, and he would pass on to his son.
Willa wiped a tear away as she leaned against him, sharing her love and happiness for him without words. He had never been more thankful than he was at this moment in time.
Lucky stiffened, turning around to make sure Shade wasn’t standing behind him. He could have sworn he heard, “You’re welcome.”
Epilogue 1
“Why am I not surprised to see you?”
Lucky turned at Bridge’s snide comment as he was escorted into Knox’s office. Knox shoved his prisoner forward into the office, slamming the door closed behind him and leaving Lucky alone with the man it took all his control not to kill.
“If you’re expecting me to—”
“Shut up, Bridge. I’m done listening to the shit coming out of your mouth. I came by for only one reason, and it’s to tell you that Willa’s refusing to press charges. Sissy won’t, either; she thinks she’s in love with you.”
At Lucky’s disgusted expression, Bridge went on the defensive. “I didn’t touch that girl. I only gave her a room to sleep in while she hid out from everyone. I only wanted to use her to get to Willa. I didn’t intend to throw her, but she was biting the hell out of me. Her family’s already fucked her up enough.”
“She needs counseling, which Willa tried to get for her, but she refused. She’s ready now, so hopefully it can help her. If not, she’ll walk the same road as her mother and uncle, and she won’t have anyone to blame but herself.”
“Why isn’t Willa pressing charges? I figured she’d be pissed off with Sissy almost taking a nose dive off that cliff.” Lucky saw the regret in Bridge’s eyes that he would never voice. The man he had once loved like a brother had saved countless lives; therefore, to almost take one unintentionally must be a bitter pill to swallow.
“Because she has faith that you’ll realize your actions almost cost them their lives. She’s praying that almost succeeding opened your eyes to the price your revenge could take.”
“I see you’re not thinking the same way.”#p#分页标题#e#
“No, I don’t, which is why I’m here.” Lucky turned his back on Bridge, no longer able to look at him. Talking about almost losing Willa without beating Bridge to a bloody pulp was testing his resolve.
“During our last tour, Evie was hurt, and the men responsible not only nearly killed her, but got in a fight with Levi, Evie’s fiancé. When they were up for court martial, it looked like they were going to walk. Shade and the rest of the squad were ready to kill the fuckers before the trial was halfway over. One of the main attackers was a general who was using his rank. It was Evie’s word against four men. Levi’s death had already been ruled an accident, so the brothers were out for blood. I knew it was only a matter of time before Shade killed them, lost his career, and then spent the rest of his life in a military prison.
“I pretended to be drunk and started a fight in the barracks, and they threw me in a cell for a week that was next to the men who had attacked Evie. It took three days before the arrogant pricks started bragging. They gave every fucking detail, and I remembered it all.
“I testified against them, and with my record and past as a pastor, it was no longer just Evie’s word against theirs. They’ll be sitting in that prison until they need Viagra to get a hard-on, and even then, they probably won’t be saved from Shade.
“All the men gave me their markers. Each promised to repay me for putting those fuckers away. I didn’t do it for their markers; I did it for Evie and Shade.” Lucky turned back to face Bridge.
“I didn’t know anything happened to Evie.” Bridge’s face had gone pale, his body taut with anger.
“No one did. It was kept quiet. They said it was out of respect for Evie, but everyone knew it was to protect General Lander and his son’s reputation. It happened two weeks after Kale died. You were stateside with your family.”
“I served with Evie.”
Lucky continued as if Bridge hadn’t spoken. “I never took any of them up on their markers until Viper and I returned from Kale’s memorial service, and Viper told me Shade was coming after you.”
Lucky still remembered how harshly Bridge had told him to leave when he and Viper had arrived. Viper had heard every threat.
“I called in his marker not to kill you, and he has kept it all these years. You were like a brother, and it’s not easy to kill a brother, even when Willa’s life hung in the balance. When Willa was in surgery, repairing her shoulder, I released him from that promise. Willa and I are trying to start a family. She could have been pregnant, and you could have succeeded in killing Willa and my child. I thought I could protect her from you, but I won’t take that chance again.