Long Road Home(67)

She flinched at some of the things that spilled from her mouth. And still they questioned her. Prodded. Poked until she felt she had no more blood to bleed.

She slumped forward in her chair, fatigue overwhelming her. Would the day never end? How many more times could she relive the horrible events of her past?

Finally Senator Whiting leaned forward and spoke into the microphone. “You’ve been very cooperative, Ms. Trehan. I know I speak for all of my colleagues when I say your testimony was very helpful. Your honesty was appreciated.”

He exchanged glances with the other senators then leaned forward once more.

“In light of your testimony, and the countless documents and files that support your claims, we feel it would be a crime to prosecute you for your involvement.”

He paused and his expression softened.

“You’re free to go, Ms. Trehan. With our thanks.”

She sat there numbly, looking at him in disbelief. Could that really be the end of it? Finally? She was free to go?

Beside her, Agent Vasquez put an arm around her shoulders and helped her up. She looked at him, too, her lips trying to form the question.

“It’s over,” he said quietly.

She swayed precariously. Vasquez caught her before she fell and guided her toward the door. Once outside, she broke away and hurried for the bathroom. There, she leaned over a toilet and emptied the contents of her stomach.

She stood, braced against the toilet until her stomach stopped rolling. Slowly, she straightened and walked to the sink to rinse her mouth. Her reflection startled her. She looked like hell.

When she rejoined Vasquez in the hall, he looked at her in concern.

“Everything all right?” he asked as he took her arm.

She nodded.

They walked slowly down the long hall leading out to the main entrance. As they walked, Jules’s mind whirled. She had to find Manny. She looked up at Vasquez, knowing how stupid her request was going to sound.

“Agent Vasquez, do you…that is, do you know how I can get in touch with Manny Ramirez?”

She felt stupid for asking, but she didn’t even know where Manny lived.

A peculiar smile flashed across Vasquez’s face.

“I think I do, Ms. Trehan.”

He gestured toward the door. Jules looked up to see Manny standing there. Her heart tumbled and fell. She stopped in her tracks. Had he been at the hearing? Had he heard her testimony? The thought made her want to vomit all over again.

She curled and uncurled her fingers and tamped back the urge to flee from his scrutiny.

Then he simply opened his arms.

Tears flooded her eyes, and she flew across the room, launching herself at him.

He gathered her tightly against him. She buried her face in his neck and sobbed.

“Ah, baby, it’s okay. Don’t cry,” he soothed, stroking her hair.

Manuel glanced over Jules’s head at Agent Vasquez, who stared at them with something akin to satisfaction.

“Thank you,” Manuel said sincerely. “Thank you for looking out for her.”

Vasquez nodded. “You’re welcome. It was my pleasure. You take good care of this little lady.”

“I’m never letting her go again,” Manuel vowed.

The agent smiled and walked away, leaving Manuel and Jules alone.

Manuel hugged Jules to him and closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of her in his arms. He’d never felt such relief as when the Senate committee dismissed her. Watching the torture they’d put her through had damn near killed him.

He pulled her away from him and ran his eyes hungrily across her face. She was pale, her eyes rimmed with fatigue and pain, but she was beautiful. So very beautiful.

He bent his head and captured her lips in a long, delicious kiss. Then he hugged her to him again, just wanting to feel her against his chest.

“I missed you.”

She started crying again, and it tore at his soul.

“Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Without caring what anyone watching thought, he picked her up and cradled her in his arms.

“Were you there?” she asked in a low voice.

He nodded. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”

She hung her head in shame, and anger coursed over his body. He set her down in the parking lot next to his SUV, then he tilted her chin up so she looked him in the face.

“I love you, Jules,” he said fiercely. “Do you honestly think hearing the hell you went through for the last three years changed that? God, I wanted to howl, I wanted to cry, I wanted to kill the bastards for what they did to you, but never, never did I think any less of you.”

She stared up at him. “Do you mean that?”

“Baby, if I was any more serious, I’d be lying in the hospital with a heart attack.”

“I love you so much,” she whispered.

“Marry me, Jules. Marry me, spend the rest of your life with me, have my babies, the picket fence, the whole nine yards.”

A glorious smile spread across her face. It was as though a ray of sunshine spilled across a frozen pond.

“Yes. Oh, yes.”

He fused his lips to hers once more. She curled her arms around his neck, and he anchored her body to him.

“There’s just one thing,” he said in between kisses.

“What’s that?”