Page 55 of Risk Everything

The judge studied the reports on the technology Oscar handed him. Tanner knew the information was impressive. Hell, even Bree hadn’t been able to figure out a way to easily hack it.

“Based on this data, I’m not going to put Mr. Ellis back in jail to await trial.”

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Oscar and Jared both answered in unison. Jared had obviously been coached not to say anything during this meeting.

“But if there is so much as a hint of any of Mr. Ellis’s other known acquaintances creeping around Mrs. Ellis or the children, then you can expect to be spending the rest of your time in holding. Got that, Mr. Ellis?”

Oscar immediately broke into protest. “Your Honor, I highly object to holding my client accountable for others’ actions.”

Judge Osborne very calmly turned the picture of Marilyn’s battered body back around on his desk, pushing it to the edge.

“Save your objections for the court, Counselor. I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”

The judge turned to Tanner. “Captain Dempsey, I will request that the Denver marshals’ office send officers over daily to make sure Mr. Ellis isn’t having any difficulties with his monitor.”

“Your Honor!” Oscar protested again.

“Your client is getting to stay out of jail. I’d be happy with that and concentrate on how you plan to convince a jury he deserves to stay that way.”

Oscar grumbled under his breath, but it was Jared who spoke.

“That’s fine, Your Honor. I just want to get this whole misunderstanding behind me. I look forward to my chance in court to show what really happened.”

The judge nodded, lips pursed. “Yes, I’m sure you do.”

Oscar and Ellis left, and Tanner thanked the judge for his time. On his way back out of town, Tanner stopped by the Denver marshals’ office himself. These were the ones who would be first on the scene if anything so much as beeped concerning Jared.

They had already heard what had happened over the past two days and took his concerns seriously. Jared’s whereabouts were a top priority for them.

They even took the time to double-check the monitoring system, bringing Tanner to the room where Bree had worked last week. While Tanner watched, they got the coordinates of Jared’s location, then sent an officer out to make sure that was correct.

It was.

By the time Tanner left, he wasn’t thrilled that Jared wasn’t back behind bars, but at least he knew the people here cared what happened. It wouldn’t be long before that bastard was behind bars for good.

Chapter Twenty

“It really is a beautiful dress, Bree. Tomorrow is going to be amazing.”

Bree took a sip of her wine. She, Cassandra and Marilyn were sitting in her apartment, in three chairs across from the couch where her wedding dress was laid out carefully.

The rehearsal dinner had gone without a scratch. Yes, half the town had been there, but Bree had just been able to relax and enjoy it. After everything she and Tanner had been through, she didn’t want her own wedding to stress her out. Like Cassandra had told her, if you did it right, you only got married once.

Looking over at Tanner tonight as he walked around the Sunrise Diner, where they’d decided to hold their rehearsal dinner, talking and joking with all their family and friends, Bree knew she was doing it right.

Tomorrow morning, she would become Mrs. Tanner Dempsey. Bree Dempsey.

When she’d first heard that unexpected knock on her door in her nearly empty apartment in Kansas City, she’d never dreamed it would lead her here. To this place. To this moment.

But how thankful she was that it had.

Everything; the danger, the pain, the fear... It was all worth it because it had made them the Bree and Tanner they were now.

All those variables.

“What’s that little smile?” Cassandra asked, taking another sip of wine.

It was after 10:00 p.m., the wedding was in the morning and her two best friends were here for a few more minutes. Tonight was her last night in this apartment. Bree doubted she would sleep very much, but that was okay.