Whatever It Takes (42 page)
For an instant, Kathleen wondered if Ivy had taken the shot and she just didn’t feel it yet. Then she saw the woman’s face, the blank, shocked look in her eyes that said she knew she’d lost.
“Drop her, Kat,” Eli gritted out. “Now, dammit.”
Kathleen opened her hands and watched Ivy tumble into the ocean, immediately swallowed up in a massive swell of water.
Pulling her up, Eli wrapped his arms around Kathleen and held her tight. She couldn’t tell who was trembling the most. They held each other for several long moments. She knew there were people around them, scrambling to see if they could find Ivy Roane’s body. She didn’t care. She just wanted to stay in Eli’s arms forever.
“It’s over,” she whispered. “It’s really, finally, truly over.”
Eli’s hands cupped her face, and he kissed her softly, sweetly. “I love you, Kathleen Callahan. Now. Forever.”
Her voice ragged with emotion, she said softly, “And I love you, Eli Slater. Now. Forever.”
“Still want to marry me?”
“If possible, more than ever.”
He gave her the beautiful, sexy smile she so loved. “Then let’s go have a real wedding.”
Epilogue
The lake house was the perfect place for a honeymoon. If anyone wondered why two children and a housekeeper had accompanied them, no one asked.
Sprawled in a chair, Eli smiled at the sound of his girls giggling. Kathleen sat in the middle of the floor, Violet on one side, Sophia on the other. They had played outside all morning. When it had started raining, they’d moved the fun indoors. Soon, Teresa would come for them, feed them lunch, and settle them down for a nap. Then he had nap plans of his own with his beautiful, sexy wife.
The last two weeks had been both exhausting and exhilarating. With both William Johnson and Ivy Roane out of the way, the fear was behind them. Explaining everything to the authorities in both France and the US had taken some time and diplomacy. Thankfully, with all the documentation, along with his and Justice’s influence, the matter had been settled to everyone’s satisfaction.
It hadn’t been a happy ending for everyone. His mother was suffering from extreme guilt. She admitted that she’d given Phillippa their address in France so her friend could send a package of his mother’s favorite cosmetics she hadn’t been able to find in France. Phillippa had been found beaten and bloodied in her hall closet. Why Ivy had left the woman alive would always be a mystery. The elderly woman was still in the hospital, recovering. Even though he hated that Phillippa had suffered, he was glad that his mother had taken it upon herself to care for her. It was time for Eleanor Slater to come out of hiding. She would never recover if she continued to dwell on the past.
Jonah was gone again. Eli had known he wouldn’t hang around. He had an agenda and a mission. Nothing was going to stop him until he identified and destroyed the man who’d killed his fiancée. Eli understood his need but couldn’t help but worry.
His sister, Lacey, had surprised him by declaring her intention to return to college and get a degree in psychology, claiming the need to try to figure out how the Slaters got so screwed up in the first place. He knew she hadn’t been joking.
He’d seen Justice only once, and that had been at the small wedding reception Kennedy and Nick had thrown him and Kathleen when they’d arrived back in the States. Though Eli knew the man was relieved that Irelyn had had nothing to do with the murders or attempts on Eli’s and Kathleen’s lives, there was a lingering sadness in his demeanor. No matter how much he tried to hide it, his friend missed Irelyn Raine and needed her back in his life. Whether that would ever happen was anyone’s guess.
How it came to be that Irelyn and Ivy looked like identical twins had yet to be answered. He’d questioned Justice about it and in return had gotten one of his famous blank looks. What Justice wanted people to know, he obliged. When he didn’t, not even the devil himself could pry the information from him.
“Well, now, it’s time for lunch for you two,” Teresa announced from the doorway. “I’ve got peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all ready for you.”
Jumping up, the girls gave quick kisses to Kathleen and then ran out the door.
Before leaving, Teresa gave him a twinkling smile. “I’ll put them down for their nap and then occupy them for the rest of the afternoon. And perhaps tonight, too. If need be.”
“Thank you, Teresa. Not only are you a jewel, you’re also a very perceptive woman.”
“Oh, Mr. Eli.” Blushing slightly, she closed the door behind her.
Eli sat up and glanced over at his wife. “Care for a nap before lunch, my love?”
Gracefully getting to her feet, Kathleen Slater, the most beautiful woman in the world, replied softly, “My vote is a nap before and after lunch.”
“You have a voracious appetite.”
“Only for you, Mr. Slater. Only for you.”
“Is that right, Mrs. Slater? Then perhaps an appetizer would be in order beforehand.”
Kathleen placed one knee on either side of Eli’s legs, straddling him. Her heart was so full she felt as if it might burst. Here was the joy she had longed for, never believing the possibility existed. After all the sadness, the heartache, and tears, this one man, with his determination, his good heart, had changed her life.
“Thank you, Eli.”
“For what?”
“For interfering in my life.”
His chest rumbled with laughter. “From anyone else that would sound like an insult, but I know what you mean. And believe it or not, it wasn’t interfering so much as a necessity.”
Kathleen nodded. “Because you wanted me to guard Sophia and Violet.”
“No. That really never crossed my mind until I started getting the emails.”
“Then why?”
“I didn’t have a reasonable explanation for it then. Still don’t. All I knew was the moment I saw you, I knew I had to have you in my life.” His expression was both vulnerable and resolute as he added, “I can be quite ruthless in getting what I want.”
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she whispered against his mouth, “Thank you for being ruthless, my love.”
“My pleasure.” His smile decidedly predatory, Eli proceeded to show her just how tenderly ruthless he could be.
Thank you for reading
Whatever It Takes, A Grey Justice Novel
. I sincerely hope you enjoyed it.
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Other Books by Christy Reece
Grey Justice Series
Nothing To Lose
, A Grey Justice Novel
LCR Elite Series
Running On Empty
, An LCR Elite Novel
Chance Encounter
, An LCR Elite Novel
Last Chance Rescue Series
Rescue Me
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Return To Me
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Run To Me
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
No Chance
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Second Chance
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Last Chance
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Sweet Justice
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Sweet Revenge
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Sweet Reward
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Chances Are
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Wildefire Series
Writing as Ella Grace
Midnight Secrets
, A Wildefire Novel
Midnight Lies
, A Wildefire Novel
Midnight Shadows
, A Wildefire Novel
Acknowledgements:
Special thanks to the following people for helping make this book possible:
My husband, for his continued love and support, as well as numerous moments of comic relief.
My mom, who always listens with extreme patience, even though she’s heard me complain about the same thing for every book I’ve written. Mom, ‘these characters are driving me crazy’ has got to be getting pretty stale by now. Love you!
My Aunt Billie and Uncle Marlin, for once again opening their home on the river to me.
Joyce Lamb, for her copyediting, fabulous suggestions, and delightful sense of humor.
Tricia Schmitt, for her beautiful cover art.
Marie Force’s eBook Formatting Fairies, for their professionalism and extreme patience.
Anne Woodall, my first reader, who always goes above and beyond, the extra mile, then one more mile, too, because she’s just that awesome.
My beta readers, for reading so quickly and your fabulous advice.
My proofreaders, for all the great catches you guys made. Special shout out to Linda for that ‘one’ awesome save!
The Reece’s Readers street team, for their support, encouragement, and for spreading the word!
And a very special thank you to all my readers, for your patience and support. The encouraging emails and messages you’ve sent were so very much appreciated!
Christy Reece is the award winning and New York Times Bestselling author of dark and sexy romantic suspense. She lives in Alabama with her husband, three precocious canines, an incredibly curious cat, one shy turtle, and a super cute flying squirrel.
Christy also writes steamy, southern suspense under the pen name Ella Grace.
You can contact her at
[email protected]
Praise for Christy Reece novels:
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Coffee Time Romance and More
“Romantic suspense has a major new star!”
Romantic Times Magazine
“Sizzling romance and fraught suspense fill the pages as the novel races toward its intensely riveting conclusion.”
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Flat-out scary, and I loved every minute of it!”
The Romance Reader's Connection
“A brilliantly plotted book. Her main characters are vulnerable yet strong, and even the villains are written with skillful and delicate brush strokes haunting your mind long after the book is done.”
Fresh Fiction
“A passionate and vivacious thrill-ride! … I feel like I’ve been on an epic journey after finishing it.... Exquisite.”
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
