CHAPTER FIVE
“Tell me what the fuck happened? How did Cassie end up catching a bullet?” Deke asked with steel in his voice.
“Like I said before, this little prick got here before I did. The night we grabbed the evidence, we took a shitload of money out of that house, money records, contacts, the whole fucking works. We took it all. The only thing Janelle had to give the Feds was her cooperation. I turned everything I found over to Leon and he followed the case. Everything was going good until a few days ago…” Iceman paused. “Janelle knew her time was about up and she made one last play. She sent Randall after Cassie. She figured if she were going down, she’d meet Cassie in hell. At least that’s what she told Leon before he killed her.”
“Janelle is dead then? Are you sure?” Deke grabbed Iceman’s shirt.
Iceman took a step away as he tugged his shirt from his grasp and nodded. “Yeah, she’s dead. So is Flynn Rearden. Calderone made sure of that himself.”
“Good, then they both got what they deserved.”
“So is it true?” Iceman asked. “She’s carrying your kid?”
Deke nodded. He paused then asked, “I take it you and Peaches are an item?”
Iceman nodded. “Yeah, we’re together, much to her family’s displeasure.”
“Has she told you what they went through?”
Iceman nodded. “I’m sure not all of it but yeah, she told me most of it.”
“Cassie said something earlier that I don’t understand.” Deke shook his head. “She claims she’s damaged. Why would she say something like that? She was a virgin when we got together and she hasn’t been with anyone but me since then.”
“I think it has to do with the word that’s carved in her back,” Iceman explained. “Maybe that and all the rest of her scars. Janelle and her kid really did a number on her.”
“That don’t mean shit to me,” Deke assured him. “She is not now, nor ever been a whore.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” Peaches said from behind him.
Deke turned and saw her standing there. “How is she doing? She wouldn’t speak to me when I was in there.”
Peaches nodded. “I think she’ll be okay. She’s scared though.”
“Scared?” Deke was surprised. “What is she scared of?”
“I think she’s scared of you.”
“Me? Why is she scared of me?”
“Oh man, are you really that blind?” Peaches was shaking. “Cassie is so in love with you. She thinks you will insist she return to you because of the baby, not because you love her back. That’s what she’s afraid of. She’s afraid that you can’t or don’t love her.”
“So, how do I convince her she means the world to me?” Deke asked.
“All you do is tell her, make her believe you love her.” Peaches grabbed his hands. “She’s dying inside, can’t you see that? If it weren’t for the baby, she would be gone I think. When she left the compound, something inside her began to die. She’s barely hanging on.”
“How do you know all that?”
Peaches smiled sadly. “We talk every day. The past few weeks, she’s been really chatty.”
“I’m barely hanging on too,” Deke admitted. “Some days, it’s hard for me the even breathe.”
“I ought to have Iceman beat the shit out of you, you stupid, stupid man,” Peaches grumbled. “Go to her, tell her what you just told me and make her believe it, or you’ll lose them both. You’ll lose her and the baby.”
Deke turned back to the hall and walked blindly toward her room. When he looked inside, he found her sleeping.
Deacon was sitting on the chair pulled up to the bed and he was holding her hand. As Deke came into the room, Deacon put his hand up to stop him. “I think she’s had enough for one day.”
“I won’t disturb her,” Deke said quietly. “I just want to be here when she wakes up.”
Deacon glared at him for a long time, then got up and laying her hand carefully on the bed, he walked out past Deke, without saying a word.
Deke sat down in the chair and carefully took Cassie’s hand in his. Brushing the back of her hand with his thumb, he just sat there for the longest time. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. “God woman,” he whispered. “I’ve never been good with words but I’ll try. Everyone has been telling me that you need to hear the words, so I’m gonna try. I do love you so much. Some days I feel like my chest is gonna crack. I miss your smile when I open my eyes in the morning. I miss your laughter and the funny little way you look when you think no one is watching.” Exhaling he continued, “You belong to me because I can’t live without you in my life. You gave me yourself, your body, your heart and soul and I can’t give them back. I need you so much. You fill me up. I can’t live without you anymore. I don’t even want to try. To me, you aren’t damaged and never will be. You are stronger than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Are you sure about that?” Cassie whispered back. “You once told me you didn’t do the love thing.”
Deke raised his eyes to hers. “I’ve been known to be a dumb shit at times, but I’m more sure than I’ve ever been about anything before. I don’t deserve someone like you but I’ll be as some one said a lucky sonofabitch to have you in my life. With you, I can finally breathe again, with you, I have purpose. When you walked out of my life, you took something that I want back. Something I needed to survive was gone. You took my soul along with you.”
“This isn’t just because of the baby is it?” Cassie had to ask.
Deke shook his head. “No, baby it isn’t. Although, the idea of having a kid makes it that much better. I never wanted a kid before but I do now, with you.”
“What happened to the guy that shot me?”
“Iceman took him out.”
“And Mrs. Pierce?”
“Eleonore Pierce was really Janelle Walden. Leon took care of her and your dad. Neither one of them will ever bother you again,” Deke assured her. “Did Peaches tell you her and Iceman are a couple?”
Cassie smiled. “Yeah she did, and I don’t think her Daddy and Grandpa are too happy about it.”
“Cassie…” Deke leaned forward to press his lips on her forehead. “…Will you come home with me?”
“I’d like that very much as long as you understand that Redemption House needs me too. That’s my dream and I want to see it through.”
“I’ve been talking to the guys I sent down there. I think what you want to do there is great,” Deke admitted. “In fact, if you’ll let me I’d like to help you.”
“Can your club do that?” she asked.
“Why not?” Deke shrugged. “We’re not running guns or dope and we don’t break the law. We’re just a bunch of guys that like to ride. Sure, we have the dance club and a couple of bars but they’re legit. Maybe this will show the city of Troy that they don’t have to fear us. Respect us yes, but they shouldn’t have to run and hide from us. We live here too. We protect what’s ours.” He chuckled. “I have to tell you something. Each and every one of the guys in my club has the utmost respect for you. Not only that but they love you as well. You have earned the name of Spitfire, because you earned their respect and that ain’t easy to do And believe me when I say this, if I ever get out of line around you, each and every one of them will be more than happy to kick my ass.”
Cassie giggled. Reaching out, she cupped his checks and brought him close to her. When she pressed her lips to his, heat suddenly enveloped them both. Deke pushed his tongue into her mouth and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. When they broke apart Deke whispered, “Will you marry me?”
Cassie’s eyes grew huge. “You really want to marry me?”
“I really love you. I don’t want to lose you, not again.”
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” Cassie whispered. “I don’t have much but what I have I give to you.”
“I only want you, nothing else, only you,” Deke whispered before he took her mouth again.
~* * * *~
Deacon was standing in the waiting room staring at Marnie when Lance Sullivan walked in. Gator, Wiley and a couple of the guys that had been there when Lance came to the clubhouse before came to stand in front of him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Gator grumbled.
“I’m here to see Cassie,” Lance replied firmly. “I stopped at the clubhouse and was told she’d been shot this afternoon. Is she going to be all right?”
“She’s as good as can be expected, why?” Gator asked.
“I have some more questions for her that’s why.”
“She told you everything she could,” Gator insisted his arms across his chest.
“Oh, not everything,” Lance retorted. “Were any of you aware of the bodies she reburied in the woods?”
“She told you about that,” Gator ground out. “She told you she reburied the four kids the old lady murdered.”
Lance nodded. “The only problem we have with that is the fact that we found six bodies where she said we would only find four. And we found evidence the other two died within the last five years.”
“Maybe Janelle found out where she reburied the bodies and added two more.” Iceman reasoned. “What’s that got to do with Cassie?”
“The evidence leads us to believe Cassie murdered these kids,” Lance informed them.
“She wouldn’t do something as horrible as that!” Peaches cried out.
“Not only that, but there’s a little fact of some missing gold as well. Cassie’s fingerprints are all over what was left of almost a million dollars of raw bullion.”
“That bitch!” Peaches cried out. “That horrible crazy bitch.”
Gator turned toward her and snarled. “You’d better not be talking about Cassie.”
“No!” Peaches yelled. “I’m talking about Janelle.” She came closer to Lance and asked, “Tell me something, was part of the evidence you found a little gold locket with a tuft of brown hair in it?”
Lance narrowed his eyes and stared at her. “Yes, that’s part of it, why? Who does the locket belong too?”
“You know damn well its Cassie’s locket. You also know the hair in it was her mother’s.” Peaches was seething. “Janelle took that locket away from Cassie when she was seven. I was there the day she found it. Cassie had kept it hidden for four years. She used to bring it out at night and talk to her mother. One night, she fell asleep and forgot to put the locket away. Janelle found it and took it away from her. Cassie cried for days. It was the last thing she had of her mother. It just about killed her to lose it.”
“What about the gold Janelle had?” Lance asked.
Peaches shook her head. “I never saw any gold and I’ll bet Cassie never did either. She wouldn’t take something that didn’t belong to her. She just wouldn’t.”
“But she did,” Lance insisted. He glanced around at the crowd of people standing there. “Look, either I get to talk to her or the FBI is going to. They are on their way right now, and they have a warrant for her arrest.”
“What else did Janelle tell you Cassie did?” Peaches asked brushing away her tears.
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that,” Lance admitted. “The case is still pending.”
~* * * *~
No one noticed Wiley as he slipped down the hall. He carefully closed the double doors behind him and made his way to Cassie’s room. He was relieved to see Deke sitting beside her. “We got trouble boss.”
“What’s going on?” Deke asked.
“Boston badge is here looking for her.” He pointed at Cassie.
“What does he want with Cassie?”
“Something about finding two extra bodies buried in the woods and missing gold?” Wiley shrugged. “Said the Feds had some questions as well as a warrant for her too.”
Deke looked back over at Cassie and could see something was wrong. Cupping her chin, he raised her face to his. “What is all this about?”
“I have no idea,” Cassie answered. “I told Sullivan the truth.”
“He claims there is evidence you knew about the two extra bodies and that they’d only been there for five years,” Wiley informed her.
“But that doesn’t make any sense,” Cassie said. “I haven’t been to Boston in a very long time.”
“We need to get her out of here,” Deke said. “We need to get her safe before we talk to the Boston badge again.”
“Where do you want us to take her?” Wiley asked. “The clubhouse is the first place they’ll look.”
“Yeah and Redemption House is the second,” Deke commented.
“Come with me,” Amos called out from the doorway. “I know a place they won’t find her.”
Deke didn’t even stop to wonder why one of her guys was so close, he knew she had loyal people all around her as she’d earned it. He busied himself by carefully ridding Cassie of the IV in her arm while Wiley grabbed extra blankets to wrap around her. Deke lifted her into his arms and followed Amos out the back way.
“Deke we shouldn’t just leave like this,” Cassie tried to protest. “I haven’t done anything wrong!”
Deke glared at her. “Do you have any idea how many innocent people go to jail or worse every year? Janelle set you up and until we can find out how and why, we need to protect you.”
“But isn’t running a sign to the police that I’m guilty?”
“Not in this case, it isn’t.” Deke grimaced. “In this case, we’re doing what we need to do. We need to know what the Feds got against you, so you can explain it.”
When they reached the back door, Cassie was in a lot of pain. She’d been jostled enough to start bleeding again and her belly felt on fire. Luckily, Amos had his car parked in the back. Deke carefully laid her in the back seat. Kissing her briefly, he told her, “I love you. Please…you have to make it through this. I have to go back and figure things out with the badges.” He turned to Amos. “I’m trusting you with the only thing in the world I care about. No harm better come to her or I will hunt you down and take pleasure in killing you. Am I understood?”
Amos sneered. “Oh, I understand you, boss.” Then he jabbed his finger in Deke’s chest. “You got to understand something here too. I would never let anything happen to Miss Cassie. Me and my guys love that little girl and we would die for her. Now, get the hell out of my way. Got places to go and people to see.” Amos got behind the wheel and took off. His car backfired a couple of times before he rounded the corner and then he was gone.
“I hope you just didn’t make the biggest mistake of your life,” Wiley told him.
“Me too,” Deke admitted. “Let’s go see what the badge from Boston wants.”
They made their way back inside just as Lance Sullivan opened the double doors and walked to Cassie’s room.
Peaches, Iceman Gator and Deacon followed him.
When they reached the room, Lance looked inside to find no one there. He whirled around and glared at everyone behind him. “Where is she?”
Peaches frowned. “Isn’t she there?” She brushed past him and stared at the empty bed. “Where did she go?” Her face was filled with panic.
Deacon pushed past Lance and came to a stop inside the room as well. “She couldn’t have gotten far,” he said. He looked from face to face. “Where the fuck is she?”
Lance looked from face to face as well. Everyone he looked at seemed as surprised as he was that Cassie was missing but he knew someone here knew where she was. “This isn’t helping her case any at all. Unless she answers some questions, she will be considered a fugitive. People could get hurt here, don’t you all realize that?”
“You got Cassie all wrong,” Peaches defended. “She wouldn’t run away from this. She’s never run away from anything before, why would she start now?”
“I think maybe we should go somewhere and talk about this,” Deke suggested.
“Let’s go to your clubhouse,” Lance insisted.
Deke shrugged. “Fine let’s go and you can tell us what’s going on. I think we’d all like to know.”
As they turned to leave the hospital, Marnie came up to Deke. “We might have a problem.”
“What is wrong now?”
“That woman Reva,” Marnie told him. “She took three runaways home with her. I don’t know where she lives but if the Feds search the clubhouse are they going to find the kids there?”
“No, but they’re close.” Deke sat on his bike for a minute then told her. “I’ll let Gator know. He can warn her if they show up.”
“Okay, I’ll follow you guys to your place.” Marnie nodded.
~* * * *~
Twenty minutes later, everyone made their way inside the clubhouse. Deke, Gator, Deacon, Peaches and Iceman gathered around one of the tables, the rest of the brothers spread out and found seats where they could. Not only were the members of the club there but everyone from Redemption House was present as well. Everyone but Amos that is and no one told anyone he was missing either.
Wiley, at Deke’s nod, began passing bottles of Jack Daniels around to the different tables, while some of the others in the MC passed around glasses.
Finally, Deke glared at Lance Sullivan and asked what everyone wanted to know, “Just what the hell is this all about? Why did you come looking for Cassie?”
Lance exhaled. “During our investigation into Janelle Walden we found a number of things Cassie failed to mention.”
“Such as?”
“Such as we found six bodies instead of the four she told us about. Two of the bodies haven’t been there five years yet and we found a piece of jewelry that belonged to Cassie on one of the bodies.”
“I told you about the locket already!” Peaches cried out.
Lance nodded. “Yes you did, but I needed to hear that from Cassie.”
“What else?” Deke demanded.
“We found a stash of gold hidden in the basement wall. According to Janelle Walden, a good size portion was missing and we found Cassie’s fingerprint nearby.”
“Cassie was often locked down in the basement, so her fingerprints would also be there,” Deke pointed out. “Is that all you got?”
Lance stared at him for a moment then shook his head. “No it isn’t, but until the FBI gets here I can’t talk about it.”
“Look…right now you have our cooperation.” Deke gave him an icy stare. “If for some reason you’re dicking with us, you will lose our cooperation and this will become a battle neither side will win. Either tell us what you know, or get the hell out.”
Lance sighed as he shook his head in obvious disgust. “Janelle Walden was desperate when she turned herself in. When she explained to us who she was and who she needed protection from it was understandable. The Vincinti family is ruthless and they pretty much run Boston.”
“Maybe you should know something here.” Deke grinned. “Peaches is part of the Vinicnti family.”
Lance swung his head to where Peaches sat with Iceman. Staring at her for a few minutes, he finally said, “You’re the missing daughter of Calderone Vincinti?”
Peaches nodded. “And before you say anything, I want you to know Janelle arranged my kidnapping when I was five years old. She was also responsible for my mother’s death. Flynn Rearden rammed his car into my mom’s and carried me back to Janelle. My mother died in that accident and if Cassie hadn’t done what she did, Janelle would have sold me off or killed me. That is something, Janelle never let either of us doubt for a moment.”
“Just how did you escape the safe house we had you in anyway?” Lance asked.
“Cassie can get out of anywhere when she really wants too.’ Peaches grinned. “She had a feeling you wouldn’t keep your promise to find my family, so she found them for me.”
Deke and Iceman knew she was lying to protect them, so neither of them said anything.
“Yes, well, that wasn’t my call either,” Lance murmured.
“What else are the FBI bringing up against her?” Deacon spoke now.
“There is still a warrant outstanding for the attempted murder of Robbie Pierce.”
“Robbie killed himself!” Peaches cried out. “The most that charge is worth is assault and you fucking know it.”
“You’re wasting our time badge man,” Frankie called out. “Why is that?”
Deke suddenly got to his feet. “Close the front gate and lock it down,” he called out to his men. “Lock it down now!”
The crew of the MC scrambled to do his bidding. Within moments, the gates were locked and everyone was standing watch. It didn’t take long before they saw them. Three cars came down the driveway.
Iceman grabbed Lance by the shirt and pushed him up against the wall. “Do you have a death wish? Is that what this is?”
“No, I do not,” Lance replied. “All I wanted was the chance to talk to Cassie again.”
“Well now, none of us may get out of here alive.” He pushed Lance away from him.
Deke came over to where Lance was standing. “We don’t want any trouble here. We got women here. We don’t want to see anyone get hurt. Am I making myself clear to you?”
Lance nodded.
Deke looked over at Peaches. “Call your family and let them know what’s going on. Do it now, before the Feds get trigger happy. We got nothing to hide but they aren’t getting in here.”
Peaches grabbed her cell phone and called her grandfather.
When Lance’s phone rang, Deke nodded he should answer. “Put it on speaker.”
Lance held the phone out. “Sullivan are you all right in there?” One of the FBI agents asked.
“I’m fine as long as you guys don’t start something stupid.”
“We came with a warrant for Cassie Ryan.”
“They know why you’re here Jerry,” Lance told the other man. “She isn’t here though. She disappeared from a hospital bed after being shot earlier today.”
“Do you believe that for a moment?” Jerry asked.
“Oh, she was shot today and she wasn’t in her room,” Lance assured him. “I don’t know where she is but I don’t think she’s here.”
“Who is in charge inside there?”
“I am,” Deke spoke up. “My name is Deke Tory and I have about forty people in here. One belongs to the Vincinti family, so don’t start shooting. We are unarmed for the most part.”
“Where is Ms. Ryan?”
“She isn’t here,” Deke assured them.
“Let me ask you something Mr. Tory,” Jerry Tate said. “Would you protect someone who committed an act of murder?”
“If you’re talking about Robbie Pierce, that wasn’t murder, that was self-defense and you fucking know it.” Deke growled.
“Perhaps, but I wasn’t speaking of Robbie Pierce. Does the name Jeremy Talbot mean anything to anyone in there?”
Peaches gasped and the color drained from her face. It was apparent she knew the name. She sat down on her chair hard.
“Can we call you back?” Lance asked before he ended the call.
“Maybe they should hear this?” Deke suggested. He waited for Lance to call them back, then he came over to where she was sitting and squatted down in front of her. “What do you know about this Peaches? Did you or Cassie know this kid?”
She nodded. “Yeah, we both knew him. We were twelve and still living in Boston when we met him and he was trouble from the moment he laid eyes on us.”
“What happened?” Iceman wanted to know.
“It was just before we left Boston,” Peaches began. “We lived in the homeless section of town. There was a gang of thugs that ruled our neighborhood and Jeremy was their leader. He was a bully and tried to pull crap on Cassie all the time. He and his gang caught her one time and beat the hell out of her. She barely made it home before she collapsed. She took a terrible beating. The one thing that kept us safe was that no one knew where we were staying. Cassie was always very careful about that. Two days later, Jeremy came looking for her again. He didn’t find her and that pissed him off considerably. He began roughing up the other people in our neighborhood hoping someone would tell him something. No one ever did…” She paused and looked up at Lance.
He nodded his head for her to continue.
“Four days later, Cassie knew we had to leave town. Jeremy was cracking down and cracking heads to find her. She didn’t want anyone hurt because of her. We packed up and moved out. We left Boston without running into Jeremy or any of his friends. We heard a disturbance behind us at one point but we didn’t look back.”
“How badly beaten was Cassie at that point?” Deke wanted to know. “Could she have hurt this Jeremy?”
Peaches shook her head. “She had several broken ribs and a sprained ankle, not to mention both eyes were black and swollen. One of Jeremy’s guys had punched her in the throat and she could barely swallow water. We couldn’t go very far without stopping. She could barely catch her breath. That’s when we found the cave on the top of the ridge overlooking the city. We ended up staying there for two weeks before Cassie felt good enough to move.”
“Can I ask a question?” Lance spoke up. “How tall was Cassie?”
“Back then?” Peaches shrugged, “Maybe four foot ten. She isn’t much taller now.”
“I’ve seen the video from the bank cameras. The person who beat Jeremy Talbot was at least five foot seven.” He looked at Peaches again. “Did Cassie ever own a dark green jacket?”
Peaches thought for a moment then shook her head. “She didn’t. She shopped Goodwill all the time and the only jacket she got from them was a blue one. But when we left Boston, neither of us had jackets. We didn’t need then it was summer time.”
“Did you hear that Tate?” Lance requested.
“I heard but I would rather have heard it from Cassie,” he grumbled from the other end of the call.
“Me too, but she isn’t here. Miss Vincinti was with Cassie the whole time.”
“Miss Vincinti?”
“My name is Killiegh Vincinti,” Peaches spoke up again. “I’ve been called Peaches most of my life.”
“And your father is?”
“Calderone. My grandfather is Leon.”
“I see,” Jerry Tate commented.
“Did Janelle Walden tell you she had me kidnapped when I was five, and that she was going to sell me?” Peaches wanted to know. “Just wanted you to know the type of person she was. She lied for a living, she was cruel to those under her care, and the only person she ever cared for was the son she had. She allowed that monster to do horrible things to the other kids.” Peaches scoffed in disgust. “I hope you didn’t give her too good of a deal, or the people will be outraged.
“What people would that be?” Jerry asked.
“The people who pay your salaries,” Peaches ground out. “I’m sure I can get at least one major paper to run this story. It seems the kiddy ring you busted made all the newspapers on the East Coast. An eyewitness account of the whole thing would really turn the tides against you wouldn’t it? If you screw me or Cassie over, the whole world will hear the story, I can promise you that. And I should probably tell you my grandfather knows you’re here hassling us. I don’t think he’s very happy right now.”
“Is that a threat young lady?”
“No sir that is a promise from me to you.”
“Can you give us a moment to discuss these latest discoveries?” Jerry Tate ended the call on his end.
Deke got to his feet and turned to address Lance, “Is that all or is there more?”
“Did you know anyone that owned a green jacket?”
“The only one I ever knew was Robbie. He had a green jacket. He used to wear it all the time, summer or winter. Probably the only thing his mom ever bought for him.”
“Was this before or after Robbie died?” Deke asked.
“This was after he died,” Lance informed them.
“Are you sure he actually died?” Peaches scoffed.
“Why do you say it that way?” Lance inquired.
“I know Cassie really messed him up that night but I wouldn’t put it past either Janelle or Robbie to fake his death for another reason.”
“Another reason?” Lance asked. “What would that reason be?”
“Janelle was losing control of her son. Cassie always said one day, Robbie was gonna kill somebody and after what he did to her, I didn’t doubt it a bit.”
“What did he do to her?” Lance asked.
“That’s Cassie’s story to tell you but only if she wanted you to know,” Peaches replied with a glare. “You saw part of what he did to her. She showed you the word he carved in her back. That was just the icing on the cake. He’s done so much more than that and none of it was pretty.”
“Why can’t you guys just leave Cassie alone? Hasn’t she endured enough?” Marnie asked.
Lance’s phone rang and when he answered it, he paused and then turned the speaker phone on. “We’re leaving. We heard enough to know Janelle Walden lied under oath. She violated her order of protection.”
Iceman looked over at Deke and raised an eyebrow. He knew Janelle wasn’t in custody anymore anyway. Neither man said anything.
“Wait and I’ll join you. I was leaving anyway.” Lance ended the call but before he left he looked at Deke and the others. “I hope Cassie is going to be okay. When I get back to Boston, I’ll look into Robbie’s death a little better. If I find anything off, I’ll let you know. Either way, please look out for her. Someone out there doesn’t like her and they will stop at nothing to get at her.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Deke nodded.
They all watched from the doorway as Lance got into his vehicle and drove to the front gate. Wiley was there to open it and when Lance pulled out, he closed and locked it again.
Deke turned to Frankie. “Can you get a hold of Amos and have him bring Cassie home?”
Frankie nodded. “You bet boss.”
Peaches chuckled and leaned into Iceman’s arms. “God, I’ve missed that woman.”
“Haven’t I kept you happy enough?” he wanted to know.
“Oh, yeah,” Peaches agreed and leaned into his kiss.