Chapter Nineteen

 

Confusion swarmed her as federal agents rushed at them, placing not only Groto in handcuffs but Bishop as well. A blanket was thrown around her shoulders as a female officer led her away.

“Wait!” she cried. “Bishop! He’s innocent! Stop, let me go! Bishop!”

The woman wouldn’t let go of her and Evie found herself being led down the hill where several large vans were parked. She spotted Chris waiting, biting his nails. As soon as he saw her, relief blossomed across his face and he rushed toward her. They hugged each other tight as tears ran down her cheek.

“They took Bishop,” she said to Chris.

He wiped the tears away. “I know. It’s all right, Evie. If he cooperates, I’ll do my best to make sure they’ll cut him a deal.”

She pulled back and cocked her head. “You’ll do what? How?”

He took a deep breath. “Don’t be mad—”

“Chris, what did you do?”

“You were slipping into addiction and I knew you had to be getting it from someone in Groto’s casino. People talk, Evie. Everyone knew Groto’s true business was drug smuggling. He used the casino to launder the money as well as the tourist trade to further his investments.”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“I went to the DEA and struck a deal,” he said. “They agreed to pay for your rehab if I provided a way to get Groto. When Brogan attacked you, you managed to get his DNA under your nails, which the hospital collected. With that, they were able to pressure Brogan to give Groto up. After that, they got warrants to bug the casino and that’s when they discovered he was coming here. They managed to get his confession to you recorded. I think we won’t have to worry about Groto ever again.”

“But they arrested Bishop too.”

“Let’s hope he’ll cut a deal too.” Chris hugged her. “I’m just glad you’re all right, Evie.”

She hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Chris. Thank you for always being there for me.”

“You shouldn’t have left rehab.”

“I’m going to be fine, Chris. Eva-Ann has been laid to rest. But I have lots to tell you.”

****

The police officer opened the hotel room to them and Evie trudged inside, beyond tired. Almost twenty-four hours had passed since the whole ordeal at the Recovery had happened, and she was exhausted.

“Who knew the cure for insomnia was a federal investigation,” she murmured.

“Not even funny,” Bishop replied.

She sighed. “I know.”

The officer left them alone but she knew he’d be standing guard at the door, not only protecting them but making sure Bishop didn’t leave. He had agreed to testify against Groto but this was just the beginning of the journey.

“I’m going to take a hot shower,” she said, heading to the bathroom. Bishop came up behind her and began helping her remove her clothing, so she turned to face him and started doing the same.

They undressed each other, light touches punctuated with heated kisses as skin was revealed. There was a desperation in the movements, and she understood Bishop’s hungry need. They had no idea what tomorrow would hold. With Groto’s arrest, would the Feds want Bishop as well?

In between kisses, he maneuvered her into the shower and turned on the hot water, adjusting the knobs until the temperature wasn’t scalding. He soaped up her body, taking a long time between her thighs. One finger traced along her slit until he pushed it into her pussy. Evie gasped as he found her sweet spot and stroked it. She clung to him as her desire rose. He bent to take a nipple between his teeth and gently bit the tender bud. The slight pain spun her out of control and she came instantly. Bishop rode out her pleasure until she slumped a little, and then he withdrew, turned off the water, and scooped her up in his arms. Heedless of the water dripping off them, he hurried to the bedroom and laid her down on the bed. Their gazes met and held as he fit his cock against her opening and pushed in. The air swooshed out of her lungs, and she knew, right then and there, that he was her soul mate. The missing half. Eva-Ann and John never had their lives together, but now their souls were joined once more.

Bishop had to have felt it too. Their gazes continued to hold even as their pleasure spiraled higher. This time when she came, he followed her almost immediately, pulling out of her body to spill his seed across her thighs. He kissed her tenderly and fell to the side, brushing the wet strands of hair from her cheek.

“I am in love with you,” he said softly.

Her eyes widened. “I’m in love with you, too.”

He smiled. “I know.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “You sound a little smug about that.”

“Never,” he said, kissing her lightly on the mouth. “No matter what happens with this case, I want you by my side, Evelyn. Always.”

“And I’ll be there,” she vowed. “No matter what.”

He pulled her close and hugged her. “There was more to the research than simply finding out what happened to John and Eva-Ann, you know. I found out what happened to Clyde.”

“I would think he succumbed to the drink.”

“Actually, once Eva-Ann died, he left Nevada and moved to Colorado. He changed his name, remarried and had a son.”

“Clyde remarried? Huh. Eva-Ann told him to live a life. I guess he took her advice. What did he change his name to?”

“Duncan.”

“What?”

“Clyde is your great-grandfather.”

She blinked, not quite sure she heard correctly, although to be fair, it made sense in a slightly odd way. Why else would she have experienced the memories of a woman who had died over a century earlier?

“Oh my God,” she said, shaking her head. “I never knew. My dad was born in Las Vegas.”

“It was actually easy to trace the line. Clyde’s son moved back to Nevada. Who knows, maybe he had gold fever too.”

“Well, it certainly explains a lot,” she murmured. “It explains why my dad always drank. Don’t they say alcoholism runs in the family?”

“Maybe. But at least Chris seems to have beaten it.”

“Yes. Thank God. Thank you, Bishop.”

He held up a finger. “Wait. It gets better. Remember, Clyde was owner of a claim.”

Excitement gripped her belly. “The Recovery.”

“Yep. I remembered something Groto told me long ago. The mine was in escrow, waiting for the owner.” He cupped her face. “You are the owner, Evelyn. I have all the research papers you’ll need to lay claim to it.”

“I own a mine?” Though she had no reason not to believe Bishop spoke the truth, disbelief tinged the question.

“Yes. Well, you and Chris.”

“Wow. What do you think we should do about it?” The brief excitement she’d felt blossomed into hope and displaced any doubts to his research’s validity.

“Eventually you need to figure out if you want to have it checked to see if there’s any gold in there. But right now, I just want to hold you.”

She curled happily against his side, putting thoughts about the past, mines, and gold out of her head and concentrating, finally, on the present. “You can hold me forever.”

“Hopefully, I can do just that.”