Crushing Beauty (Harbingers of Sorrow MC): Vegas Titans Series (18 page)

“Hey Brit. How are you doing?”

“Dominic. What are you doing here?”

“Jagger asked me to give you something.”

“Is he okay? Is he safe? Where is he? Why isn’t he here?” She
was frantic now, trying to piece her fears together. She looked past him, into
the woods, assuming that Jagger was hiding among the trees, awaiting Dom’s
signal that all was safe in the cabin.

Dominic paused, unsure of her knowledge of the situation. “Brit,”
he started. “Jagger turned himself in. I thought you knew that.”

Her heart sank. He chose not to escape. He had left her at
the cabin, alone, again. Britton turned from the door and dropped to the couch.
She knew she should be happy that her brother was willing to come speak with
her even after all her secrets and lies were revealed, but she couldn’t think
of anyone but Jagger. Why didn’t he want to run away with her? For the first
time in his life, why did he choose the ‘high road’?

Dom nestled next to Britton and laid his arm around her. She
stayed stiff for a time, but soon collapsed her body, using his as support. “I’m
so sorry, Dom.” She whispered.

“I know.” It was all he needed to say. Of course he knew she
was sorry. He saw the way she looked at Jagger. No one could fake that kind of
love.

“Does everyone hate me?”

“No one knows. Jagger only told me.”

It made her feel a hundred times better to know that her secret
hadn’t torn up their club. Of course Jagger hadn’t told anyone. He was most
likely too embarrassed of his short sighted mistakes to confess to his club
that he had been played.

“So he’s not coming back?” She knew the answer, but focused
on the slim chance that he had a plan to rejoin her in the works.

“No, Brit, he’s not coming back.”

Britton felt a tear roll down her cheek. It was just the
one. It was all she had left. She would need to prepare herself to go back out
into the world alone.

She sat up straight and took a deep breath. This was her
reality now. There was no way around it. “What did you want to give me?” She
was cold, knowing that any other side of her would easily break.

Dominic fished into his pocket and pulled out a piece of
paper. He unfolded it and handed her the sealed envelope. “I’m assuming it’s a
letter?” Dom had not read it; Jagger had simply passed it to him while he was
visiting him in prison.

Britton flipped it over in her hands, afraid of its
contents. He couldn’t be happy in confinement. Did he blame her? Would he ever
forgive her? Did he want her to come visit before she left for Washington? She
knew she couldn’t do that. Everyone still thought that she had been exclusively
fighting for the Feds during her undercover operation. If she were to show her
face at the prison, with an empathetic visit to Jagger, someone would surely
start looking deeper into her case.

“Thanks Dom.” She softly smiled at him.

“Of course, sis.” He stood up, preparing to leave her to
herself. He made his way to the door, not expecting her to walk him out in her
current state. His hand touched the knob, and he quickly turned back to her. “Oh,
and hey, thank you…for talking. I want you to know that I’m getting out.”

Britton’s shoulders lifted from their weights. “Really? Oh,
Dom, are you sure?”

“I am. You know, you were right. I don’t want Matty only
knowing me from behind bars.”

Britton suddenly felt as though she was to blame. “I
wouldn’t, Dom. You know that.”

“Of course I do. But you didn’t turn Jagger in either, and
look where he is.”

Britton’s focus went off into the distance. ‘Look where he
is…’ It would be all she could ever think about. Those words were destined to
haunt her forever. She snapped out of her trance and looked to Dominic. “I’m
proud of you.”

“Awe, shucks, sis.” He teased, forcing her to smile back. He
held out his arms, asking for a hug. She stood and met him with her open arms. It
felt good to know she still had gained something from this venture. Her brother
was back in her life, and she had influenced him to take a step in a different
direction.

“Thanks for coming, Dom.”

“Of course. And hey, maybe we’ll make it out to Washington
sometime.”

“Please do.” Her eyes begged. It would mean the world to her
to see him again.

“Bye Brit.”

“Bye Dom.”

He walked out of the door into the night. He turned and gave
her one last wave goodbye before disappearing into the dense trees. She closed
the door and rested her weight against it. She didn’t want to move from that
spot. She was afraid to read the letter that was sitting on the couch. She was
afraid of the hurt it would bring her for the rest of her life. When Jagger had
left her unconscious on the side of the road after the car accident, she had
hated him with all of her might for ten straight years. How long would she hate
herself for leaving Jagger to die in prison?

Britton found the strength to move back to the couch. She
slid her finger under the seal of the envelope and lifted the flap. There was a
single piece of paper lying inside. It was a letter from her love, possibly the
last words she would ever know of him.

Dear Britton,

I know you’re angry with me for
leaving you alone at our secret place, yet again. Please know it was not my
intention for you to suffer. I spent too long putting you in harm’s way, and I
couldn’t bear to do it any longer. I love you too much for that. The thought of
our few days together is the only thing that will get me through the time I
will be shackled to this place. You, my Britton, are the one true thing in this
world to me, and I will spend the rest of my days making sure that you are
never hurt again. That being said, and I hate to say this but I must…I don’t
want you to wait for me. I will be in here for quite some time, and I NEED you
to move on. Get married, have babies, and be the best damn FBI agent anyone has
ever seen. I’m so proud of you for what you have made of your life. No one
deserves happiness more than you.

I love you more than life itself. I
pray you never forget that.

Jagger

P.S. My one request: please don’t
marry David. I don’t trust blondes.

Britton let out a small chuckle as she reread his final
line. Even in a goodbye letter, he was able to make her laugh. She loved him
and hated him for that letter. Her mind fought the two sides of her emotions. The
couch was too soft. She needed to feel her body, know that she was still
breathing. Britton curled up beside the fireplace, holding his letter to her
chest. She couldn’t cry anymore. There was nothing left.

Britton didn’t leave that spot beside the fireplace until it
was time for her move to Washington. She stayed crushed to the cold stone for
three days. It seemed only fitting.

Britton pulled the tape off the box and flattened it against
her chest.

“Done!” She called.

“Finally!” A voice answered from the other room.

It had been three months since her move to Washington, and
she had finally unpacked her last box. She stepped out into the living room and
glared at her little sister.

“And you were such a big help, Rebecca.” She sarcastically
commented.

“I told you I had to write a paper. At least I’m keeping you
company.” She smiled back at Britton. They had the same smile.

Rebecca had been spending most days with Britton. Neither of
them dared to ask for any time to themselves; they were too happy to have a
family again.

Rebecca looked up from her computer. “Do you want me to call
Dom? See how things are going?” She was cautious.

“No, I don’t want to know until the end.”

It was the day of Jagger’s trial. Hank would be taking the
stand and admitting to a jury everything he had witnessed. It was surely enough
to put Jagger behind bars for quite some time. Britton couldn’t bear to think
about it. David had called her after she had settled into her new apartment on
the east coast, and asked if she’d be able to come out and testify. Britton
told him she didn’t see any cause for her testimony. Jagger hadn’t admitted
anything to her while she was undercover. It was a blatant lie, but she already
blamed herself for Jagger’s current sentence; there was no way she would hold
the guilt for any extra time he spent in a small cell.

Even with everything against her, every day she found more
and more reason to hope. There was always a chance that he’d be able to come
back to her. Maybe it wouldn’t be tomorrow, but despite the plea in his letter,
she was determined to wait for him. She didn’t want anyone besides him. How
could she ever love again when she had already had the love of Jagger Stromm?

A knock at the door startled her out of her daydream.

“I’ll get it.” Rebecca called.

“Expecting someone?”

“Pizza. Perfect paper writing food.”

She flew to the door and swung it open. “Dom? What? Hi!” Rebecca
threw her arms around her brother.

“Becky! Don’t you look gorgeous? College life suits you well.”
Her brother flattered her.

Britton stood up, completely shocked at her brother’s visit.
Matty ran in, followed by Cindy.

“Sorry, it was a long flight. Hi Britton.” Cindy smiled,
catching her son.

Britton moved to the door to greet her guests. “What are you
guys doing here? What about…” She froze. Jagger stood in the hallway, leaning
against the wall. “Oh my God.” Britton forgot all manners and ran into the
hallway, jumping on Jagger. He caught her, using the wall to catch his own
weight.

“Hi Britton.” He whispered into her ear.

She couldn’t speak. Her laughter was mixed with tears of
joy. Jagger managed to set her on her feet, and everyone walked into the
apartment. The greeting of hugs came full circle, and Rebecca finally solicited
the question her and Britton were dying to ask.

“How are you here right now?”

“They dropped the case.” Dominic beamed.

“But…”

Jagger stepped in. “There was no physical evidence, and for
some reason, Hank realized he had forgotten everything he knew about me.” Britton
cocked her head to Jagger, knowing full well what that meant. Jagger shrugged,
unapologetically. “Old habits die hard.”

Everyone laughed, even Matty, although he had no idea what
was so funny.

“So what does this mean?” Rebecca asked, gesturing to the
new group.

Dominic smiled. “Las Vegas was getting a little too hot. We
figured we’d try our hands at the east coast.” He turned to his wife and stole
a kiss.

Britton was glowing, unable to hold in her emotions. Jagger
replied with a sly smile and flash of his dimples. He moved to Britton, wanting
only to touch her, ensuring she was real. A single step away, he dropped his
voice. “Is there a David?” He questioned. She knew what he meant.

“No. No David. There could never be a David.”

He scooped her up in his arms and made his way down the
hall, not even glancing over his shoulder. “Sorry guys, we’re going to be a
bit.”

He found her bedroom and closed the door behind him. “Wow I’ve
missed you.”

Britton said nothing, only grabbed a hold of his face and
kissed him. They sunk to the bed together, both refusing to let go of each
other’s lips.

“So this is it?” Britton asked, not believing how her day
had changed so quickly.

“This is it. I'm on the straight and narrow, no more crime. Just
you and me…and everyone out there in your living room.” They laughed, unable to
break eye contact.

“You gave it all up for me. I never…” She didn’t know how to
finish that sentence. She was still in shock. “What will you do?”

Jagger thought about it, not having considered any options. “I’m
really good with motorcycles.”

He smiled, knowing everything would be alright as long as he
was with her. He wrapped his arms around her, crushing her body to his. This
time, he promised, he would never let her go.

It only took ten years.

THE END

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The following is an
excerpt from my next book in the Vegas Titans Series:

Breaking Beauty
(Devil's Aces MC)

Coming Soon!

Though he’d made this trip a hundred times, it never seemed
to get old. To begin with, all the world would be flat in front of him, the
highways lonely and dark. The horizon would seem nonexistent until suddenly, as
he rounded the tight corner just beyond the jutting lip of the Hoover Dam—there
she’d be: a glittering, blinking metropolis, flashing her blinding grin his
way.
Las. Vegas. The city on the edge of forever.

He’d accelerate on his way into city limits, letting the
thrum of the speeding engine begin to outpace his heartbeat.  It was always
like mounting a rollercoaster, this odd mixture of dread and glee which filled
his blood whenever he drifted through this funky town. Perhaps because he was
usually on the run from something (or someone…) when he took shelter here.
Perhaps because the neon lights made such a stark contrast to the silent
prairie plains of his youth. But in the way that say, the stilted bungalows of
Northern California or the waterfront clapboards of Seattle were designed with
certain sorts of folk in mind, Vegas was a town for the runaway, the man of
mystery. It was a town made for him, and in this way...it was home.