She nodded as he unlocked the door, and she stepped out.
But there was something about what the man had said. He referred to me, Malachi, and Steele as her men. I had to admit there was a certain ring to that phrase, and it was the first time I ever wondered if she would be willing to choose all three of us instead of just one. I didn’t care to share, but it was a far better outcome than living a life as a friend.
“She did it,” Malachi said, pulling my attention to her.
I nodded. “She did.”
“Now she can choose,” Steele said. There was a dark shadow in his gaze that caused my heart to palpitate.
“What if she chose all three of us?” I blurted out.
Malachi snorted. “No way.”
“It would be better than nothing,” Steele added.
“I don’t like sharing,” Malachi growled out, setting his glare between the two of us.
I shook my head.
“Well, the point is, we are free. But I fear it may still be too soon to celebrate,” I said.
“Why not?” Malachi asked.
“Because we still have her ex-boyfriend to contend with,” I said.
Spencer turned to face us. “About that.”
I turned my attention to him. “Thanks to Steele’s tip, we were able to inform the proper authorities and have him arrested for stalking and trespassing with the intent to do harm.”
“No shit?” I asked.
He chuckled. “The others that were with him in that photo were shifters. We took them in on a charge of conspiracy. None of them you’ll have to worry about for quite some time.”
“Thank you,” I said and turned to Steele. “Your noggin saved the day.”
He chuckled. “Let’s go get Cassidy.”
“Took the words right out of my mouth,” I said and headed toward the door feeling like a new man.
29
CASSIDY
I listened carefully as Charlotte spoke with absolutely zero remorse. She truly thought she was doing the right thing for herself. Some sick, twisted, demented way to keep herself in power and avoid victimizing herself.
She stared at me, speaking as though her words came effortlessly. Like she could speak freely to me because I was finally out of the way.
In some ways, I pitied her. In others, I despised her.
As she had finalized her confession, I let out a deep breath of air I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Within seconds, the task force showed up, surrounding Charlotte. The expression on her face was priceless. Her eyes were wide with shock. Her mouth opened and closed as though she was gasping for air. She settled her gaze on me and I couldn’t help holding gaze and being the one who smiled at her as she was arrested.
She had stolen her last dime. She had taken advantage of her last unwitting victim. Though I certainly wasn’t her last victim, I was making sure she would never take advantage of another woman again.
She was done for.
I continued to smile at her as she glared at me.