Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(87)
“I’m so sorry.” Lizzy took Dalton into a hug and kissed him gently. “This won’t stop us from doing what’s right. We’ll start looking for properties tomorrow. We’ll find something.”
Dalton squeezed her tight and took a deep breath. “I know something perfect will come along. I have you by my side, what else do I need?”
* * *
Birch held Tate’s nude body against his as they drifted off to sleep. He looked down and smiled at the new ring she wore on her hand. He’d never imagined he’d be married again, let alone to someone as wonderful as Tate. Even though he knew she’d say yes when he had Crew fly them out to Camp David, it still seemed like a shock when she nodded her head up and down and threw her arms around him. With shaky hands, he had slipped the diamond ring onto her finger.
The second they’d made it back to the White House, word had spread that Tate was wearing a very important ring on her finger. In less than five minutes, Humphrey was knocking on the door with a list of dignitaries who must be invited to the wedding. Tate had laughed and used her foot to close the door on him.
At that moment, Humphrey was probably downstairs planning their whole wedding and they’d only arrived back to DC four hours before. A knock sounded at the door and Birch groaned. “Go away, Humphrey!”
Tate’s brow wrinkled in her sleep as if she too were annoyed by the interruption.
“I’m sorry, but it’s important,” came Humphrey’s excited voice.
“Give me a minute,” Birch called, waking Tate up in the process.
“What is it?” she mumbled.
“Humphrey is at the door.”
“I told you I am not picking out the china pattern right this second,” Tate yelled.
“I still think you should go with the navy blue one, but that’s beside the point. This is important.”
Tate shoved off the covers, and they slipped on some clothes before opening the door.
“What the—?” Birch started to say, but was cut off.
“Hey, congrats,” Lizzy said, kissing Tate’s cheek and pushing into the room.
“Again, I better be the maid of honor,” Val said with a wink.
“Aye, there’s nothing better than hooking up with the bridal party at a wedding. Congratulations, you two,” Grant said with a broad grin as he shook Birch’s hand.
“It’s better hooking up when that person is your fiancée, but someone is moving slow,” Dalton teased Grant.
“I think I’m going to ask Roxie to marry me,” Alex said, taking a seat on the bed.
“Dude! You’re like a baby,” Lizzy exclaimed before slapping a hand over her mouth. “Dammit! I said it, didn’t I?”
Everyone laughed, and Lizzy flicked off Alex.
“While we love seeing you all, what’s so important you had to come at two in the morning?” Birch asked.
“It’s the best time to come in unnoticed,” Lizzy pointed out.
“But we have news,” Crew said, smiling.
“Bertie Geofferies took a plea deal an hour ago. He pled guilty to treason the second the prosecutor announced they’d found the book with all his notes in it. The book was found in his shower in his Hamptons house. One of the marble tiles was actually a hidden compartment. Inside was the leather book Roland described, full of names, amounts, crimes . . . by the way, I’ve stricken the French prime minister from your wedding list as he’ll soon be in jail.” Humphrey huffed as if insulted that a potential wedding guest would dare be named in Bertie’s little book.
“What was the deal?” Birch asked. Was it truly finally over?
“Life at an undisclosed location. I was thinking of the secret prison in Saipan.”
Birch thought for a second. “Do it. I want him far away from the media or any of his cohorts that will be arrested from this fallout.” Birch took a breath then, realizing why Dalton was popping a bottle of champagne. “It’s over.”
“That’s right,” Humphrey said, grinning as he handed Tate and Birch a glass. “Everyone who was part of Mollia Domini are either dead or now in jail.”
Tate squealed as she jumped into Birch’s arms. “It’s finally over! I can’t believe it. We did it. Justice has been served.”
Dalton kissed Lizzy, and Grant brought Val close to his side. Everyone smiled and laughed as the last of the web unraveled.
Epilogue
Three months later . . .
* * *
The cherry blossoms were at their peak on April 2nd, the day of her wedding. Tate Carlisle looked out the window of the residence at the White House and at the crowd surrounding the fence. They were all there to see her and celebrate her wedding to Birch. But the memories of the last time so many from the media gathered on the grounds made the moment temporarily bitter before fading away.
News of the wedding date was leaked via one Sebastian Abel two days before when asked about backing out as a keynote speaker at a tech conference. “I’m attending a wedding,” he had said.
That was enough for reporters to dig around and discover the president’s schedule had been cleared for the next week. People had started arriving within the hour to surround the White House. While her office refused to furnish any details, Tate did announce she’d make a statement that day. She looked in the mirror once more.