BROKEN HOPE (Broken Redemption Book 2)

Chapter 4

Lucas

"Then let me. I'll do it." Where it comes from, I don't have a clue. All I know is I'm still crouched down next to Emilia when I blurt the words. Before I can second guess myself, I look into those sad whiskey eyes and say, "Embree, please let me do this for you. For them. I can help."

"No! That's not happening." Creed stands abruptly, as Nero growls and bears his teeth from where he sits at my side.

With a hand on Creed's chest, Agent Hunt attempts to calm him. "Creed. It has to be done, you said so yourself."

"Are you kidding me? I don't know this guy. I haven't a clue who the fuck he is and you expect me to hand over my wife and kids to him?"

"His name is Lucas Holt. He's Jen's brother and I can vouch for him. He's a good guy, Creed," Ben tries to reassure him.

"Of course he is..." He shakes his head, throwing it back as he laughs incredulously. "God, that explains so fucking much." With a pained expression he lowers his gaze, then fixes Emilia with a cold, hard glare. "Tell me then, Emilia, if he's such a good guy, why did he leave you the way he did? And where the hell has he been all these years?"

That's it!

Standing I give Nero the signal to stay, then I step into Creed's space. "This is about what you did! I may have left her first, but I was only a 17-year-old kid. You, on the other hand, abandoned the family you created and should have protected until your dying breath. You walked away, leaving them to live with the consequences of the mess you made. It's why you no longer have a say. From this point forward, all choices belong to her, so back the fuck up and learn your goddamn place."

When Creed attempts to take a swing at me, Agents Hunt and Halder step in to restrain him. Ignoring the scuffle that ensues, I return to Embree's side and squat down so we're at eye level.

Taking her hand, I ask, "Sweetheart, what do you want to do? Whatever comes next is your call." Her eyes are vacant, and she's no longer crying. When she shrugs, I know she's lost in her thoughts. "Embree, listen to me. You're the one in control here. Tell me what you want and I promise you, I will make it happen."

Like he knows what I'm trying to do, Nero lays his head on her lap.

"I want this to be over." Her eyes are a pool of emotion, as with her free hand, she reaches down to pet Nero.

"Tell me. What does that mean?"

"I'm ready," she says in a whisper. "I'll sign the divorce papers and whatever else they need."

"You got it. What about the girls?"

"Will you...?" She pauses while a lone tear slips down her cheek.

"I told you, whatever you need, I will do." I give her a warm smile, even as apprehension prickles down my spine. God, I hope neither of us comes to regret this.

"Now hold on a second," Ben interrupts. "Someone please explain to me how this solves our issue with the FBI."

"Glad you asked." Maxine steps toward Ben and with a bright smile hands him an envelope. "It's a flash drive with evidence taken straight from bureau servers. It includes email exchanges and other documentation between parties who were coerced into manufacturing the evidence used by the judge to issue the surveillance warrants on Emilia. Get this to OPR the same way you gave them the audio file from Kessler's visit to her house. Tell them you don't know the source of the information, only that it was mailed to your office anonymously."

Stepping back to where Hunt is still struggling to contain Creed, she adds, "There's enough there to end Agent Kessler's career, as well as a few others, including a federal judge. After that, we doubt anyone at the Bureau will bother her again. All we ask is you wait 24 hours. By then, the divorce and pertinent paper trail will be filed and uploaded, leaving no doubt that Creed and Emilia's relationship ended several months before he took this assignment."