Chapter 40

Dalton

The idea of spending an entire day in bed with Devolin had proven to be too good to be true. At least we’d made it through lunch before reality came knocking.

From the kitchen fridge, I heard Devolin’s panicked “Mom, what’s wrong?”

Bottles of water forgotten, I slammed the door shut and rushed into the room, only to find Joleen’s eyes red-rimmed and her face pale.

Devolin led her to one of the chairs, easing her down in it.

“I was on my way over when I got a call from your uncle’s lawyer,” she announced. Joleen’s eyes found me and rounded with surprise. “Dalton?”

“Hey, Jo.” I gave her a small smile in greeting and made to leave, sensing that perhaps Devolin’s mother would be more comfortable without my being there. It didn’t take a genius to know that whatever was plaguing the older woman would weigh heavy on both women before this visit was up.

“You can stay, Dalton,” she said. “Devolin shouldn’t be alone when I leave.”

That’s a little cryptic.

“Mom?” Devolin prompted, while I found a seat on the sofa.

The older woman’s sweet demeanor turned to one of anger as her face suffused with red. “Where the fuck have you been, and when were you going to tell me that you were working for your uncle?”

“Mom—”

“Don’t Mom me, young lady!” she shrieked, getting up to her feet, setting a pacing rhythm. “We talked about this. You promised! Promised, Devolin!” She skewered her daughter with a venomous look.

“Mom—” Devolin tried again, coming to sit next to me.

“No! Max called you up and asked you to help him” she growled, pointing her finger in our direction. “You and I talked things over and I told you that this was dangerous business that you were getting into. You told me that you wouldn’t.”

“I know.” Devolin’s shame was evident in her words.

“Then why? Why would you do this?”

“Because he’s family,” she answered. “You taught me that no matter what, family is always there for one another.” Joleen’s mouth opened, then snapped shut. “I told him to contact Dalton and his team.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

Devolin’s mother didn’t miss the act.

“That’s why you were here that day, wasn’t it?” Her look of accusation was directed at me. “You dragged my daughter into this after she’d given me her word.”

“No, Mom!” Devolin cried. “Dalton and I worked a case on a missing woman a year ago. That’s how I knew he would be able to help Uncle Max. I just didn’t expect to find what I did, which is why—”

“Which is why she got in touch with me,” I supplied. “I brought her onto my team because she’s amazing at what she does. Her talents were wasted with Hewitt.”

“You put my baby in danger!” she raged on.

“I kept her safe.” My tone was firm. Unwavering.

The older woman met my gaze and locked there. Her posture relaxed some within seconds. “You’re not just her boss, are you?” Running out of steam, her ass met the chair she earlier vacated.

“No, ma’am,” I admitted.

Joleen’s eyes shifted from me back to her daughter, then filled with tears. “I got a call from your uncle’s lawyer this morning.” Taking a calming breath, she pushed forward. “Scott was found dead in his cell last night. He was shanked.” Devolin gasped beside me, her nails digging into our joined hands. “They found out that Nadia had played them, but I expect you already knew that.” Devolin and I both nodded. Shaking her head, Joleen leaned forward, massaging her temples. “I suspect you haven’t gotten word of this latest news just yet, though.”

“What is it?” Devolin prompted her mother.

“This morning, the RCMP was sent to arrest your uncle. They got there too late. Nadia’s body was found badly beaten. Max was hospitalized with similar injuries. They don’t think he’ll make it either.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“What?” Devolin whispered her disbelief, then looked at me. “Y-you told me that she would be safe. You told me that they all were going to be safe. Kip—”

“Baby.” I released her hand, grabbing onto her shoulders while I shifted to face my woman. “I told you that they’d do everything they could, but you know that there aren’t any guarantees.”

Devolin gave me a feeble nod as her mother continued her explanation.

Turning to Devolin’s mother, I sighed. “I need details, Jo.”

“They said it was a break and enter gone bad. The house was ransacked, but nothing seemed to be missing except for Max’s computers, and the safe was found empty.”

On Devolin’s soft sob, I pulled her into me. She followed my guidance easily before mumbling, “Ortiz is going to get away, isn’t he?” in my chest.

“He might,” I gave her the truth. “But Miguel will do everything he can to make sure that doesn’t happen. Nadia made sure he had all the information he would need to put him away. It’s out of our hands now, sweetheart. I know it’s not fair, but we did what we had to do to make things right.”

“And we failed.” She balled up a fist and slammed it against my chest, beside her face.

“We succeeded, Devolin,” I told her. “Eighteen women got their lives back. All because of you, me, Nadia, and our team.”

Another feeble nod.

I sifted my hand through her hair until Devolin regained her bearings enough to pull back. Pecking me on the mouth, she said, “You’re right. But it doesn’t make it easier.”

“It doesn’t,” I agreed, then grabbed at both sides of her face, dipping mine into hers, “but it doesn’t make what we do any less important.” Her eyes cleared a little as she contemplated my words. “Come here.” Kissing her forehead first, I pulled her in for a hug.

Despite the tears streaking down her face, Joleen’s smile was hard to miss.

I think I just won the woman’s stamp of approval.