“Forever and always,” Raine seconded as she knelt in front of him.
Liam stood behind her, hands on her shoulders. Their nearness engulfed Hammer in a cloak of reassurance as he pressed the button to engage the speakerphone. “Sterling?”
“Good news, Macen. It’s all over. You’re free. Judge Ayers ripped the local cops and the feds new assholes. They’ve dropped all charges against you. The LAPD has issued arrest warrants for Marlie and Todd. They should be in custody tonight.”
The two-ton weight on his chest evaporated. A lump of emotion formed in Macen’s throat instead, preventing him from talking. His vision blurred but not before he saw tears of joy welling in Liam’s eyes and streaking down Raine’s cheeks.
“Macen? Are you there?” Sterling asked. “Did you hear me?”
Liam cleared his throat. “He is and he did, Barnes. We’re all a mite choked up at the moment, but thank you for all you’ve done to help us.”
“You’re welcome. I couldn’t be happier with this outcome myself.”
Hammer quickly wiped his eyes and tried to find his voice, but it came out rough and choppy. “Thank you, man.”
“I’d usually say anytime, but after this circus, I’m going to say…hopefully never again.” Sterling chuckled. “You kids have a nice night celebrating. I’ll be in touch. Good-bye.”
Hammer ended the call as Raine launched herself in his arms once more and Liam enfolded them in his embrace. “It’s finally over.”
“Indeed,” Liam sighed. “Now we can start living—really living.”
“It’s going to be better than amazing,” Raine whispered softly.
“Is there some news you might be wanting to share with the rest of us?” Bryn called from downstairs.
Liam looked at the ceiling as if searching for patience. “They’ll be going home soon. I promise.”
“Maybe. But then again, maybe not.” Bryn laughed.
Hammer shook his head, and Raine giggled. The exhilaration of his sudden freedom merged with colossal relief. After endless, wrenching worry, it was almost surreal.
Liam rolled his eyes. “We’ll have some bloody privacy soon.”
“If you wanted privacy, you two should have thought of that before you knocked up your wee lass,” Bryn hollered. “You’ll have none once that babe comes.”
“Love you, Mum,” Liam called as he wrenched open the door. “We’ll be there in a minute.”
“I know we should go down, but I’m so happy. I just want to stay in your arms all night. I guess I should thank my brother for taking that plastic whore to bed to help us.” Raine grimaced. “It was above and beyond the call of duty.”
Hammer kissed her. “Way beyond. Focus on his sacrifice, precious.”
“It’s in the past now, where it belongs.” Liam’s voice was full of hope for the future.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Hammer grinned.
He and Liam wrapped an arm around Raine’s waist, then headed down the stairs.
Bryn ran toward them and kissed each of them on the cheek with tears in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you. It was touch and go there for a little bit, but you all stuck it out and fought for your family. You succeeded.”
“Congratulations, storm cloud!” River scooped her up in a big hug.
“We did it. You did it.” She wrinkled her nose. “I hope you don’t have to do it again.”
“You mean Marlie? Yeah, you and me both.”
“Make sure you see a doctor before you use that thing on anyone else,” Raine recommended.
“Trust me. I will.” River made his way to Hammer, offering his hand in congratulations.
“Fuck that.” Hammer embraced him. “Thank you. Believe me, I know what you did was a hardship.”
Beside him, Liam laughed and brought him in for a hug, too. “Welcome to the family.”
Bliss brightened the air. Joviality ensued. Within minutes, champagne corks were popping and glasses were filled.
Hammer lifted his flute. “Thank you all for the help you’ve given and the sacrifices you’ve made. To freedom, life, love, family, and happily ever after.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Liam cheered.
“I wish I could,” Raine groused until Bryn handed her a glass of apple juice. She held it up with a smile. “To us!”
Macen was thrilled to see their girl freed from all the stress and looking so happy.
As they clinked their glasses together and drank, Hammer’s phone rang yet again. He tugged it from his pocket as Liam shot him a quizzical glance.
Macen checked the screen. “It’s Dean.”
“Maybe they’ve already arrested Marlie and the AUSA.” Raine bounced with excitement.
“We can only hope.” Liam arched a brow.
Forcing down his trepidation, Hammer pressed the speaker button. “Hey, Dean. What’s going on?”
“A shit load. I assume you’ve heard that your neck is no longer on the chopping block.”
“Yes. Sterling called a few minutes ago.”
“Great. I’m so fucking happy for you, man. For all of you. I wanted to call and let you know that Internal Affairs at the Justice Department has Wellington locked in an interrogation room across town as we speak. I doubt highly he’s going to see the light of day anytime soon.”
“Thank god.” Hammer shuddered with relief.
“That’s not the best part.” Dean chuckled. “Guess what I get to do tonight? I’m leaving the station in about an hour to arrest the fucking cunt who almost put you behind bars. Want to join me?”
Raine gasped and nodded.
“Where?” Hammer grinned. This night just kept getting better.
“After what I went through to get her confession, I want to see it, too.”
“You must be River,” Dean said. “Hell of a video, man. Outstanding job. Thank god you don’t suffer from performance issues.”
Raine’s brother laughed. “I just couldn’t think about who I was doing too much.”
“Anyway,” Dean continued, “if you all want to watch me haul that coldhearted bitch to jail, come to the M Grill on Wilshire.”
“I know where it is,” Hammer assured.
“Good. Rumor has it Internal Affairs confiscated Wellington’s phone. After he put his kids to bed, he planned to hook up with Marlie there. I’ve checked out the restaurant’s blueprints. There’s a banquet room in the back. I’ll call ahead and tell the maître d’ that I’m meeting you there on police business so he’ll give us that space and some privacy. I’ll escort little Miss Plastic Twat straight to your table and arrest her there. You’ll all have dinner and a show.”
Hammer didn’t hesitate. “We’ll be there. But you might tell the maître d’ to hide the knives. I think we’re all ready to stab Marlie right now.”
“Oh, yeah.” Raine nodded. “I want to cut the bitch.”
After Hammer ended the call, everyone found something more suitable to wear for the upscale restaurant. River headed back to his place to change and meet them there. Duncan and Bryn opted to stay home.
When the trio arrived at the eatery, River was waiting in the lot. Once inside, the maître d’ seated them in the empty room in the back of the building, just as Dean promised.
“Is anyone hungry?” Hammer asked.
Raine shook her head. “Maybe after Dean arrests her, but I’m nervous right now. What if something goes wrong?”
“My stomach is as clenched as my fists,” Liam agreed in a clipped tone that told Hammer the man was ready to snap.
“After is fine for me, too.” River nodded soberly.
The minutes ticked by like hours. No one said much, just stared at the door, waiting.
Suddenly, Marlie and Dean entered the room. With one hand, he gripped her elbow. The other he’d wrapped around her waist.
When she caught sight of them, Marlie tried to dig in her heels, but Dean shoved her forward. Her ankles wobbled in her designer shoes.
?
?What the…?” Her eyes grew wide as she stared, slack-jawed, at the four of them. She pinned Dean with a hate-filled glare. “Why are they here?”
“After the shit you pulled, I figured they deserved to watch you go down.” Dean gave her a brittle smile.
Hammer stood, along with the rest of his family. “We weren’t going to miss this.”
She reared back, blinked, then seemed to notice River for the first time. “Rick?”
“River,” he corrected.
“What are you… Oh, my god. You’re a cop.”
The big guy laughed as he clutched Raine to his side and sauntered around the table to Marlie. Hammer and Liam followed.
“Nope.” River shook his head. “But I was horribly offended by the things you said about my sister.”
Raine looked up at her brother and smiled.
“Sister? She’s your…your fucking sister!” Marlie screeched, her stare darting manically between their faces.
Hammer enjoyed seeing the moment the bitch realized Raine and River had the same eyes. Obviously, she’d never noticed. And why would she? Marlie had treated his girl like dirt under her Prada stilettos.
Marlie’s face turned bright crimson. “You played me. You set me up! That’s entrapment.”
“Oh, no, baby,” River crooned in the same whiskey-smooth voice he’d used to seduce her. “You willingly confessed to everything. Thanks for a lousy time.”
“You…used me, too?” Marlie huffed.
“Yeah. Like a cheap roll of paper towels. You were the worst lay I ever had.”
“Bastard!” Indignant tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks as she struggled against Dean’s steely grip.
The cop simply grabbed her wrists, jerked them behind her back, slapped the cuffs on, and read the woman her rights. “You can’t safeword out of this.”
Marlie spat. “Let me go! This is a travesty. My parents are wealthy. I’m…I’m beautiful.”
Hammer had known the pretentious bitch was shallow, but her reckless stupidity floored him. How had he ever found her remotely attractive?
Raine gave Marlie a glacial laugh as she lurched forward.
“Wait a moment, love. I just need a word or two,” Liam whispered before inching closer to Marlie.
The slut’s eyes grew wide. She trembled in abject fear, just as she had the night she’d slapped Raine and Liam had unleashed his verbal fury on Marlie. Time hadn’t lessened her fear of the man—or his hatred for her.
Hammer watched panic play across Marlie’s face as Liam leaned in closer and closer.
“You can’t touch me.” She sent Dean a pleading stare. “Don’t let him touch me. He’s going to hurt me.”
Dean pretended not to hear as Liam settled his mouth in close to Marlie’s ear.
“The only thing that’s saving your life right now is this cop and those cuffs. You’ve done the unthinkable, twisted truth into lies to harm me and mine. I hope you meet with the same welcome my ex-wife did in prison.” Smile cold, Liam thrust his shoulders back and returned to Raine’s side.
“W-what happened to her?” Marlie paled, shaking uncontrollably.
“She got shanked in prison,” Dean replied. “She was a self-centered, pretentious bitch like you. She didn’t last long behind bars. Your chances don’t look good, either.”
“Oh, god! You can’t do this to me. I can’t go to prison.” Marlie shook her head wildly.
“You can,” Raine replied as she marched toward the evil snake, then drew back her hand. With all her might, she slapped Marlie across the face. “I’m looking forward to watching it.”
The woman reared back and gasped. “You bitch! That’s assault!”
Raine sent her a cold glare. “And you can’t do a thing about it.”
“Arrest her!” Marlie demanded.
“For what?” Dean asked.
“She hit me!”
“I didn’t see anything.” He shrugged.
“You liar. She assaulted me. You saw it—all of you.”
“Shut up before I tase you,” Dean warned.
Raine moved in with fire in her eyes and something on her mind. Hammer leaned in to hear because this ought to be good…
“How dare you try to send Macen to prison and tear our lives apart? Did you really think he could actually love you? Or did you just assume he’d be yours because you wanted him and you’ve never heard no your whole pampered, entitled life?” Raine shook her head. “Let me tell you, Nastysnatch, you were never special to him, just a convenient, easily forgettable sperm-whore. Hammer’s devotion, love, and desire? All mine. No man, especially one with such an amazing, loving heart, could feel a damn thing for a skanky piece of trash like you.”
“She’s right.” Despite his fury, Hammer controlled his voice carefully as he slid his arm around Raine’s soft body and pulled her close. He kept his stare locked on Marlie’s as he lifted Raine’s chin and pressed a reverent kiss to her lips. Never once had he shown Marlie any real affection; he’d merely fucked her.
“You bastard!” Marlie hissed. “How can you put your mouth on that—”
“Be very careful,” Hammer warned.
“Or what?” she challenged. “Some fearsome Dom you are, dropping to your knees to clean up her broken china and soggy fucking muffins. You’re pathetic and stupid. Obviously you and that dumpy piece of trailer trash deserve each other!”
River growled.
Hammer had to hold Raine back from attacking Marlie again.
Liam stepped in and tucked their girl under his arm. “She’s not worth it, love. Let Hammer say his piece.”
As Liam inched Raine away, Hammer faced his nemesis. “Let’s get one thing straight. To me, you were a plastic whore, no better than a blow-up doll.”
“That’s why she was ‘obscured’ for Mum. She’s more artificial than real,” Liam mused behind him as if he’d just figured that out.
Probably so, and they’d discuss that later. For now, Macen kept lighting into Marlie. “You’re a parody of a real woman, both inside and out. No heart. No soul. Not one redeeming quality to entice any man to do more than sink his cock inside you and achieve a few minutes of empty gratification. You’re a shallow, selfish, narcissistic, calculating bitch. You tried to rip me away from my best friend and our woman, and I would love to tear you apart with my bare hands.”
Marlie blanched and swallowed tightly, shrinking back in fear. “Don’t. Please.”
“Who sounds pathetic now?” He narrowed a vicious stare her way. “I’ve been given something you’ll never have: a second chance and unconditional love. You don’t have the capacity for either. And you don’t deserve them. These two people I love more than anything will always stand by me. Nothing you say or do could ever take me away from them. Think about that while you’re rotting alone in prison.”
Fury bubbled in his veins and throbbed in his temples. The urge to rain down his unholy wrath on the whore trembling before him thrummed through him. But her inability to let go when she should have had started this fucking disaster. He refused to make the same choice or give her another ounce of his energy.