The Unexpected Wedding(42)

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shock you. I just wanted you to know the truth.”

“But the inheritance?”

“It was all part of a plan to make it seem like Ellie had… died. To hide her better and protect her. We had some money saved, so we set a plan in motion to have Becky Lee and her siblings inherit the money. The Feds helped us set it up.”

“So that’s why you didn’t come then. I always wondered why you didn’t come back… to see me… after she died. I didn’t understand what was keeping you away.”

“Well, Ellie still needed me. We felt badly that her family and friends thought she was gone. But it was safer that way.”

“Well, at least I know why you didn’t come back. You were—are—still married to her. I understood that she was your best friend and you couldn’t let her go into witness protection alone. I know your marriage to her was just to help with her new identity. But it still—hurt.”

“No, I couldn’t let her go into witness protection alone. I couldn’t. Not after she turned over evidence against that company. Especially after what happened to her…”

“She was very brave to do that. She was. I admired her. I just didn’t know that her bravery would cost me… you.”

“She needed someone with her. We’d been best friends almost from the day we were both born.”

“I know. She did need you. I couldn’t stand for her to start a new life all alone either. I understood your choice.”

Martin took both her hands in his. “But, I didn’t marry her.”

“What?” Greta closed her eyes for a moment. “But that was the whole reason, part of the plan.”

“I know that was the plan, but… well, we pretended we were married for a while. Nothing official, just told people we were married. Then one move—at first we moved around often—we switched to telling people I was her brother. It was just… easier. I would have married her for real, like I said, to keep her safe, but the guys in witness protection said being a brother would work. Heck, I’ve always felt like a brother to her, so the ruse was an easy one.”

“So you and Ellie aren’t married? And she’s alive.” Greta took a moment to process all the news. “But why are you here? Isn’t it making it unsafe for Ellie?”

“Someone is digging into everything. I came to warn you. I actually only have a few more minutes. Then I have to go meet someone who will whisk me away again.”

“No.” Her voice was barely a whisper. She reached out to touch his face. The familiar, yet older face. Clean-shaven, tanned. The familiar strong jaw. She traced a finger along his jawline.

He captured her hand and kissed it.

“Yes, I need to go. Took me forever to persuade them that I had to come here and see you, even if only for a few minutes. They’re going to have a protection detail watching over Ellie’s family. Covertly, of course. No one can know. But I was worried about you. I needed you to know there is some danger again. It was well known that you and Ellie were good friends. You need to keep your eyes open. Be careful.”

He stood up and pulled her to her feet. She leaned against him, her head on his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. After a minute, he pulled away slightly and bent down and kissed her. Her arms wound around his neck, and the years dropped away.

“I love you, Greta. Always have. I never stopped.”

“Oh, Martin. I love you, too.” She stood lost in time, wavering between memories and reality.

He stepped slowly away. “Be careful. Don’t tell anyone about Ellie. That she’s alive. Or that I was here.”

“I won’t.”

He touched her cheek and brushed back a lock of her hair. “I’m so sorry, Greta. Sorry for what you had to go through. Sorry for the pain I caused. For the pain I’m causing you now. But I needed you to know there is danger… and I wanted to see you one more time. Please be careful.”

She watched as he turned and walked away from her—for the second time in her life—not knowing if she’d ever see him again. Darkness enveloped her very being and she sank onto the chair, spilling the coffee on the table beside her. She stared at the drops of coffee dripping from the table to the planks on the porch. Drip. Drip. Drip.

The ever so familiar pain—the pain that she’d tried to pretend had lessened over the years—crushed her heart until she thought she couldn’t breathe.





CHAPTER TWENTY





Becky Lee and Cal pulled up to TJ’s apartment in the small town near Baton Rouge. “We’ll get Scotty’s stuff then swing by my apartment and grab what little I have, then go see TJ.”