Lost & Found (Possessed 3)

“Yes, you were.” One of the councilmen finally spoke up.

“Honestly, it’s a moot point now. We’re coming up on the noon hour, and every news station in western Canada has my first-hand recollection ready to be aired right now. If you persecute Sheriff Kelly and Deputy Mitchell, say goodbye to your career. You’ll only ever be known as the man who tried to ruin two heroes. The media are waiting on my word about which way you’ve chosen to go, by the way.”

The mayor’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water while the superintendent and two councilmen left their chairs, saying to her as they passed, “Well done. Never seen him speechless before.”

Judge Maddox stood, walked over to the mayor and suggested, “Let it go, Allan. They’re good men doing fine work. We need more of them, not less.” He left through his chambers, giving her a wave as he did.

Pepper stood at the podium, waiting for the mayor’s decision. Would he let it go or pursue his senseless and baseless case? If he wanted to bring charges against anyone, it should be her. She was the one to lead Alex into the cave, not them. They only tried to do their jobs by protecting her.

“Mr. Mayor?” she called softly when he remained silent.

He seemed to be startled out of whatever he had been thinking. Gathering the papers in front of him, he stood to leave. Finally looking past her to Nick and Ace, he told them, “You’re both free to go. No charges will be brought forward on you now or in the future.” The man refused to meet her eyes as he left the room in a rush.

The air left her lungs in a blast at his words. She had come to the hearing to make sure Nick and Ace wouldn’t leave with a mark on their careers. She hadn’t anticipated on having to bare her soul to people she’d never met before or to have it on a permanent record as she did now.

“You did it!” Tami cheered, running up to hug Pepper from behind.

“Thanks,” she whispered as the other woman slowly pulled away from her.

Taking a fortifying breath, she forced herself to turn and face the men she’d confessed her love for, unprepared for the blank looks on their faces as she murmured, “Hi.”

“Out,” Nick snapped at his lawyer. His intense dark chocolate eyes smoldered with unspent emotion.

The lawyer scurried away.

Ace prowled behind her.

“I’ll just…go.” Tami winked before leaving.

And the damn burst. Tears fell in heavy streams down her face, her chest heaved with inhalations that were too big for her lungs to hold.

“I missed you,” she stuttered.

Her body shook as Nick closed in on her. When Ace pressed his chest to her back, she wilted like a flower at the end of its bloom.

“You came back,” Nick marvelled. He didn’t know what to expect of the day, but Pepper being there never entered his mind. She’d been but a thought on the wind. He was positive they’d have to go to her.

“Of course, I did.” She hiccupped through her tears.

Taking the final step into her body, he pushed his hands through her neatly combed chocolate and red hair. Gripping her by the nape of her neck, he forced her to her toes as he buried his face in her neck. Breathing her in deeply, he sighed, “Vanilla and peaches.”

Ace’s hands wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly to his chest. They played tug of war, wanting her as close to them as possible.

“Are you okay? Should you even be here?” his cousin cooed into the back of her head. They both seemed to be choked up for words.

“I’m fine,” she responded, “I promise.”

For the first time in his life, Nick didn’t know what to do or to say. He was at a complete loss.

“I, umm, I remember everything.” She wiggled out of their grips, and he felt bereft without her against him. “Before, after, during,” she blushed, which had him and Ace smiling like idiots.

“When did you wake up?” Ace thought to ask.

She hesitated for a second before finally admitting, “Four days ago. Everything was still fuzzy. I had trouble focusing and understanding what was happening, where I was. It wasn’t pretty. When I found out you guys weren’t there, I might have tossed a food tray in James' face.” She shrugged like it was no big deal. “Needless to say, he jumped whenever I moved after that.”

“Should you even be out of the hospital yet?” Worry overriding his happiness.

“Probably not, but when James explained what was happening, why I was in Vancouver and not here, why you guys hadn’t come with us. Well, I had a sole focus that wouldn’t allow me to stay. Yesterday, I checked out against the doctor’s advice after speaking to Judge Maddox.” The sneaky bastard. Nick was grateful but shocked that the judge had stepped in.