Eric’s mouth fell open and his knees hit the floor, then he crumpled the rest of the way over. One second Harry was wishing his life wasn’t about to end, and the next the asshole was bleeding out next to him, panting with shallow, wheezy breaths.
A short haired, clean-shaven Cam came into the cabin through the broken kitchen window. Harry nearly laughed when he saw his ATF branded Kevlar vest and shield. He stood over his uncle.
“C-Cam…” Eric pleaded, his hand twitching as if in his mind he reached out for his nephew.
“I’m not your nephew, you piece of shit!” Eric’s eyes widened one last time before his head lolled to the side. “I’d cuff you, but you’re already dead.”
“Is Brayden safe?”
“Safe and unharmed,” Cam said.
Tears stung the back of Harry’s eyes. “Thank God.”
Twirling his hand around, Cam said, “Sorry about all this.”
Harry looked at Eric then back up at Cam, who held his hand out. Harry let Cam help him off the floor. “Thanks.” They stood starting at each other for what seemed like hours.
Harry broke the silence. “So this whole time…great. Undercover…asshole. This entire time.”
Cam shrugged with a smirk. “Been watching this asshole for years. ATF.” He stuck his hand out. “Hi, I’m Alex Kingswood, nice to finally meet you.”
“Yeah, nice. You could’ve just fucking told me.”
“Actually, no, I couldn’t. I came close a few times though.”
More ATF agents entered the house through the front door.
“How did you know we were here?”
“Your family told me, but after I found out that Agent Wilkes insulted you by refusing your case files, I wanted to apologize. Then a waitress from the Nifty Chef called and said you told her to call it in.”
“She used my name?”
“Yeah. I got concerned when you didn’t answer your phone and weren’t home. I knew this cabin wasn’t far from the restaurant. Eric had seen me look this place up online while I was checking you out.”
Harry narrowed his stare.
“Oh, you’d do the same thing. Like you didn’t check everything out about me. Of course, you couldn’t find shit on me other than a petty crime sheet. Anyway, Eric made a big deal about it, so I told him the place was for sale and I was looking at it. I never thought he bought the story though.”
“Does my family know anything that’s going on?”
“Yeah, and they’re here.”
This got Harry out of the house seconds later, followed closely by Alex. Grace, Mikey, and Brayden sat on the bumper of an ambulance. Now that the situation was under control and the perp was dead, dozens of FBI, ATF personnel, and vans, police cruisers, and emergency vehicles had arrived. He’d been aware of the sirens and engines pulling up, except nothing prepared him for the amount of lights flashing and semi-ordered chaos he’d walk into.
Brayden was sandwiched between Grace and Mikey. Harry scanned the area, looking for Natalie. Had she come with Grace and her family?
“Harry!” Brayden shouted, running toward him. Mikey came forward, keeping his distance. The man knew when to back off. Harry needed this moment with his grandson. Brayden smashed into him. If it hadn’t been for the kid wrapping his arms around his waist, Harry might have fallen over. He hugged him back so tightly, they may have fused together. And damn him, he cried harder than Brayden. “I was scared, there were so many gunshots, I thought you were dead.”
“No, no, buddy, I’m fine.” Harry’s eyes blurred with tears to the point he no longer saw much of anything.
“Good. I love you and I’m not ready to give you up. You still haven’t taught me how to fish.”
Harry chuckled with tears pouring from his eyes. “I love you too, Brayden. I love you…too.”
“I’m glad you still know the word,” Natalie placed a hand on his shoulder.
Harry gave Brayden one last squeeze. “Will you let me talk to Natalie? I’ll come find you later.” The kid nodded but stayed put. “I’m sure your dad and Grace…” Natalie clasped his elbow and turned him toward her.
“He’s fine,” she said. Tear tracks lined her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, I want to tell you how much you mean—”
“Shhh, it’s okay.” Natalie embraced him and he put his head into the crook of her neck. “You’ll tell me when you’re ready. It was wrong for me to pressure you into saying something you’re not ready for. I don’t want to you tell me you love me out of guilt or obligation.”
“But Natalie, I do lo—”
“I love you and I want you to be happy. And that means I can’t be selfish.”
“Expecting the person you’re in love with to feel the same as you isn’t selfish, Nat.”
“I know you feel the same.”
Harry picked his head up and studied her face. “Okay, what did Brayden say to you?”
“I didn’t tell her anything,” Brayden said. “Honest.” He put his palms up.
“He didn’t.”
Harry brought his lips to hers. “It was Grace then.”
“Uh uh,” Natalie said. Harry kissed her slowly, savoring the feel of her lips.
“Yay! They’re kissing! Dad! Grace!” Brayden shouted.
Harry smiled against her lips. “I love you.”
“Yeah, I know you love him,” she said.
“Will you stop with that? I’m in love with you.” He kissed her again. “I love this woman! Right here, I love her!” Harry shouted. The closest agents and cops all stopped and stared. A few clapped.
“Shhhhhhhh, quiet.”
“Why? Am I embarrassing you?” Harry smiled so widely his cheeks hurt.
Grace came over and hugged him. Brayden must have felt left out because he wanted in on the hug.
Mikey gave Harry a quick hug too. “Thank you.” They nodded both in respect for one another.
“Harry,” Brayden cleared his throat, “will you marry Natalie already?”
“You want us to get married?” Harry looked at Natalie, who smiled.
“I was thinking that I’d like a new grandma and if I could pick one, I’d choose her.”
“So she meets with your approval. I must say you have great taste, kid. I choose her too.” Everyone came together for a group hug. There was lots of I-love-yours and never-leave-mes tossed around.
In all the excitement, Harry had nearly forgotten about his missing best friend. “Has anyone seen Cedric?” He broke from the hug with a surge of panic.
There was a collective response from the group. “I don’t kn—”
“I’m right here,” Cedric said, visibly overcome with emotion. He apparently had come out of nowhere and found them all hugging and had joined in without anyone noticing.
“Have you been here the whole time?”
“Nooo,” his voice wavered. “The police finally let me through.”
“Aw, get in here,” Natalie said.
And he did. Harry’s family stayed locked together for long time and he knew it would last forever.