Justice (23 page)

“Headache,” she said. “Thanks for the painkillers.”

Dallas nodded.

“What time is it?” she asked.

“Noon.”

“Crap. I have my shift in two hours.”

“You’re not going to work today, Mase.”

She slid off the bed. “I can’t keep taking time off. I’m going to lose my job.”

Dallas crossed his arms and leaned against the bureau. “I don’t really care about your job right now, Macey.”

She frowned. “You’re mad?”

“I'm not mad, Mase,” he ground out. “I’m fucking pissed. You could have been hurt.”

“Um, excuse me, but you could have been
killed
, Dallas!”

He dragged his hands through his hair. “I had everything under control, Macey. This is what I’m trained for.”

“He had a knife… and a gun,” she countered. “And yours was on the opposite side of the room.”

“Yeah, he got a little jump on me, but again, I had it under control.” He took a deep breath. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“I was thinking that my man was in trouble and he taught me to shoot for a reason, and that reason was standing over him with a knife.”

“I also taught you to shoot to kill, not wing a man. He had plenty of time to shoot back at you.”

“I was aiming for his
heart
!” she snapped. “He moved.”

Just when she thought the fight was going to escalate, Dallas burst out laughing. “Fuck.”

“I don’t find any of this funny,” she said.

Dallas closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. “We’re okay.”

She nodded into his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m not going to apologize.”

“I know, baby.”

“Are you okay?”

He stroked her hair. “Couple of bruises, small cut on the arm. Nothing that won’t heal.”

“I think I need more target practice.”

“Probably. We’re also going to move into the Naito condo.”

“Not until after we’re married,” she said.

“Okay, baby.”

“Studies show that people who live together before marriage tend to get divorced.”

“I know, honey.”

“So we have to get married first and
then
live together.”

He gave her a gentle squeeze. “Yes, I would very much like to live with you after we’re married.”

Macey burst into tears. “He had a knife. He was going to stab you.”

“It’s okay, Mase. I’ve got you. We’re okay.”

“He could have killed you.”

“Shhh. We’re okay.”

They stood locked in each other’s arms. She worked out her extreme emotions by soaking his T-shirt while he held her, stroking her hair as she cried.

She didn’t go to work and was glad for the time off. Dallas worked the rest of the day from home, sticking close to her as he took phone calls and typed up notes on his laptop to email to Brock later. Macey curled up on the sofa downstairs, a blanket wrapped around her, an unfamiliar movie on, while Dallas transcribed written notes, a stack of paper next to one thigh, her feet against his other.

Macey slipped in and out of sleep, the events of the night running through her mind until Dallas set his laptop aside, and slid behind her, pulling her back against his chest. “We’re okay, honey.”

“Who was that man?”

Dallas sighed.

She craned her neck to look at him. “You can’t tell me that?”

“I can tell you, I’m just not sure I should.”

“Yes you should.” Macey rolled over to face him. “I want to know what you know. I won’t tell anyone.”

“I know you won’t.” He slipped her hair behind her ear and stroked her cheek. “Brock and Jaxon are currently speaking to Bruce about what he knows.”

“He was involved?”

Dallas nodded. “In the cover-up. Don, the man who raped you, was Mona’s uncle. Her grandfather’s third wife was younger than Mona’s mother, and they had two kids. Don was ten when Mona was born, so they were raised more like cousins and I guess he and Mona were the closest, but she also knew about his issues.”

“He’d done that before?”

Dallas nodded. “Multiple times. We don’t know whether or not he abused Mona, but I tend to think he probably did, which messed with her.”

“As it would.”

“Exactly. The reason Mona warned you away from Bruce was because Don had you on his radar.”

She stiffened. “What?”

“He saw a picture of you and Bruce somewhere, probably social media, and you became a fixation. By then, Mona had been estranged from that side of the family for a while, but I guess Don reached out to her again. After Brock killed him, Mona manipulated the AG’s assistant to change the file.”

“But why?”

“Because her husband’s running for mayor.”

“So, this was to try to bury the fact her family is totally screwed up. Okay, I guess I get that, but why would she feel the need to attack me? I have done nothing to her.”

Dallas scowled. “She didn’t.”

“She didn’t?”

“No. Bruce did.”

Macey sat up. “Why?”

“Because he’s an asshole.”

“That’s not the reason,” she snapped. “He’s been an asshole his whole life, Dallas.”

“He was pissed you dumped him and had plans for you.”

“Um, what kind of plans?”

“Not goin’ there, babe.”

She shot off the couch. “Yeah, you are. What did he have planned, Dallas?”

He sat up and dragged his hands down his face. “He thought that he could scare you into his life and then convince you to stay with him.”

“What?” she rasped.

“He’s not right in the head, Mase.”

She nodded, wrapping her arms around herself. “But he knew I loved you. Knew I wouldn’t leave you.”

Dallas stood and pulled her against him. “Which is why he planned to kill me. And if he couldn’t kill me, then he was gonna kill you.”

“No.”

“Babe, it’s okay. He can’t hurt you.”

“How do you know all this?”

“I think this is enough information for right now,” he said.

She looked up at him. “How do you know?”

“The team found plans, photos, and diaries when they raided his place.”

“Ohmigod.”

“He’s been arrested, Mase. He’ll be locked up for a long time and unable to hurt you. Trust me on that.”

“What if he gets off?” she asked. “They have that kind of money and influence, Dallas. What if he beats the charges?”

“He won’t.”

“What if he does?”

He didn’t answer.

“Dallas. What if he does?” she pressed.

“Then I’ll kill him.”

She blinked. “You would, wouldn’t you?”

“In a heartbeat.”

Macey had a couple of ways she could go with this information. She could freak out, make him promise not to do something so reckless, make him promise not to get himself thrown in jail for her. Or…

“Okay,” she whispered, and hugged him. “Okay.”

“Love you, honey.”

“Love you, too,” she whispered.

“Let’s make dinner and then we’ll relax down here for a while.”

She nodded and followed him upstairs, her heart lighter than it had been in a very long time.

EPILOGUE

“
E
VERYTHING READY?” DALLAS asked into his phone.

Macey didn’t know who Dallas was talking to, but he’d been acting a little weird all day. He was planning a surprise, she knew that for sure, but she just needed to find out what.

“Who was that?” she asked, as she ambled into the bedroom.

“Brock.”

“What are you getting ready?”

Dallas set his phone on the bureau. “It’s a surprise.”

“I figured that, honey.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Did you now?”

“Yep. What should I wear?”

“Something comfortable. We’re going to see a movie.”

“I already figured that out, too. As good as you are at your job, you kind of suck at surprises.”

“You’re right babe. You got me.”

“Are you taking me to see
Troll 2
?”

“Shit, Macey. When did you figure it out?” Dallas sighed.

She grinned. “You don’t think I have alerts set up to ping me when it’s playing somewhere? Like at the Academy?”

The Academy Theatre on Stark was one of her favorite theaters to see cheap and often outdated movies. Sometimes they even played cult hits that never made it to the big screen.

“So much for my big plan.”

Macey suddenly felt like a bitch. “Dal, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have guessed. Now I’ve ruined it.”

“I just wanted to do something nice for you and you have to go and snoop!” Dallas complained. “Just once, why can’t you pretend you don’t know what’s going on?”

She bit back tears. “I’m so sorry, honey.”

He grinned and she punched him in the arm.

“Ow!” He rubbed his bicep.

“You are such an ass!” she snapped. “I thought you were really mad.”

He chuckled as he slid his hand behind her neck and gave her a squeeze. “Babe, I knew you’d find out.”

Macey narrowed her eyes. “You sure I haven’t screwed everything up?”

Dallas smiled and leaned down to kiss her quickly. “You haven’t screwed anything up.”

“You’d tell me if you did, right?”

“Definitely.”

Choosing to take his word at face value, she nodded. “Are we eating before or after?”

“Up to you. Although, I think since you’re still not ready, we should eat after.”

“Fine by me. Shouldn’t we tell Brock and Bailey what we’re doing?” she asked. “And then we should absolutely give Payton the info.”

Dallas laughed. “You’re impossible. Who says any of those people will be joining us?”

“Let me fill you in on something. Payton has not called me once today,” she revealed. “Lots of texts, mostly one-worders, but no phone calls. Do you know how many times that has happened in our friendship? Six times, honey. Six. And every one of them was when something big was going down and she was supposed to keep the details from me. So, even if I didn’t have alerts on my phone, email, and Twitter about
Troll 2
, I would have known something was up just because of that.”

“Does she know?”

“That she gives it away every time?”

He nodded.

“Hell no,” Macey retorted. “She’s my link to information. Do you think I’d give her a clue so she can change her behavior?
I
am not an idiot.”

Dallas laughed. “God, I love you, Macey.”

Macey pointed at him. “There he is.”

“Sorry, babe. I’ve been a bit distracted, huh?”

“A little. But I’m okay with that. Honestly. I get it. I don’t mind distracted, just so long as you’re not mad at me. That I
can’t
handle.”

“Best woman ever.”

“Mother Teresa,” she quipped.

Dallas grinned. “Macey Gilbert gives her a run for her money.”

“Pretty sure she didn’t fornicate with her boyfriend before marriage.”

“Then she missed out on a lot of fun.”

Macey smiled. “You may have a point.”

“Finish getting ready and we’ll head out.”

“Okay.”

Macey did as he asked and they drove in silence to the theater.  Dallas was nervous. She could tell. He was a little more wired than normal and, although he smiled often, he was distracted.

Dallas parked the car and jogged around it to open Macey’s door, linking his fingers with hers and heading to the ticket window. He purchased their tickets and then led her into the lobby to find Payton, Brock, and Bailey in line for concessions.

After helloes and hugs, Dallas and Macey waited with them, bought popcorn and soda and then walked into the theater. Macey was surprised that the lights went dark almost as soon as they took their seats and the screen lit up.

But there were no previews and there was no movie. Instead, there was a rolling slideshow of photos of her, her family, her friends, and her and Dallas.

“What’s going on?” she whispered.

“Just watch,” he said, and wrapped an arm around her.

The slideshow ended, the lights came up, and Dallas rose to his feet.

“What are you doing?” she asked, glancing at Brock and Payton. “What is he doing?”

Payton giggled.

“Macey,” Dallas began. “Will you stand up, baby?”

She did and glanced at the crowd, her mouth dropping open when she recognized the majority of her friends and grandparents.

“You know how much I love you,” he said. “As does everyone here.”

Macey forced back tears. “Ohmigod,” she whispered.

“Macey Gilbert, will you marry Dallas Stone?” the crowd asked in stereo.

She gasped as Dallas went down on one knee and opened a velvet box that was a little worn on the corners. Like it had been touched often.

“Baby, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” he asked.

She covered her face with her hands and nodded. “Yes. Absolutely.”

He rose to his feet, slid the ring on her finger, and wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her off her feet. Leaning down, he kissed her until the crowd started clapping. Then he let her go so everyone could gather around and “see the ring.”

As the people she loved most in life shared in her joy, she grabbed hold of Dallas’s hand, refusing to let go, and rode the wave of happiness they were experiencing.

After congratulations were done, her family proved their love even more by sitting through
Troll 2
, and then Dallas whisked her home, deciding to skip dinner all together. He surprised her with a chilled bottle of Dom Perignon, opening it and carrying it back to the bedroom.

As he made love to her, she sent up a silent prayer of thanks for the man of her dreams who had gone to hell and back with her and didn’t leave her side.

Life was about as perfect as it could get.