Chapter 40- The joy

Joy expanded his chest, the feeling growing and growing till he thought he might explode from it.

The door to the back of the station opening grabbed their attention. Charlie emerged, bags under his eyes but a grin on his lips.

“Things are looking good.”

He took a seat across from them and scrubbed his hands down his face. Logan had let go of Terri’s face, but they still sat close together, their knees and shoulders brushing.

Charlie dropped his hands. “Have you been checked out by the medics?” he asked Terri.

“Yes. We both have.”

Charlie’s gaze slid to Logan. “Thank you. You might have saved her life.”

Logan nodded. “She means a lot to me. You don’t have to thank me.”

Charlie hesitated, and in that moment Terri’s hand found Logan’s. “We can trust him, Charlie.”

Both men looked at her in surprise. The tender expression on her face didn’t waver.

“Logan risked his life to help me,” she said. Her glimmering eyes turned to him. “And I would do the same, because I love him.”

“Wow.” Charlie blinked. “Okay… I have to say, I’m not surprised.”

“You’re not?” Terri and Logan asked at the same time.

“I’ve seen the way you look at each other. You two are clearly obsessed with each other… even if you try to hide it.”

“You’re going to stay true to your word, right?” Terri asked.

“You mean dropping Logan’s investigation?” His gaze met Logan’s. “Yes.”

Terri let out a little cry of happiness, and Logan wrapped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze.

“When are you coming back to Chicago?” Terri asked her brother.

“There are some hoops to jump through first,” Charlie said. “We’ve arrested Bryce in Switzerland, but he’ll be tried in Chicago. Still, it’s not as simple as putting him on a plane and shipping him over. There’s paperwork to be completed and calls to be made. Long story short, as soon as possible.”

“I can stay here with you,” she said without a moment’s hesitation.

Logan squeezed her shoulder again. The limitless boundaries when it came to her heart made him proud.

“Thank you,” Charlie said, “but no. Go back to Chicago and rest. You’ve been going non-stop. You need some time to recuperate.”

“I second that,” Logan said.

Her lips twisted. “Okay. But please, you’ll call if you need anything?”

“Speaking of calling…”

She groaned. “Yeah, I get it. It was a bad idea for me to come here on my own, but you know what? I found those photos, and now you have enough to incriminate him with, right?”

“It looks like it.”

“So there it is.” She crossed her arms. “You don’t get to chastise me ever again.”

Charlie smirked. “You did good, Terri. Both of you did.” He stood. “I need to get back there. Be safe, okay?”

“You too.” Terri stood and drew him into her arms for a tight hug.

After his sister released him, Charlie glanced at Logan and hesitated. Taking the initiative, Logan extended his arm. The handshake felt even better than he’d expected it to. It signified the beginning of a new period.

One of peace. Understanding.

And honesty.

“See you soon,” Terri said with a wave as Charlie went back through the frosted door. She turned to Logan. “Well?”

“Now we go back to Chicago.” He laced his fingers with hers.

“Good.” She let out a sigh that signaled days of exhaustion.

“Really? I half expected for you to argue we need to do some jet hopping around Europe while we’re here.”

“How about we do that another time?” she suggested.

“Of course. Anytime you want. Just not today.” Chuckling, he lifted her hand and kissed the top of it.

With their arms around each other, they left the police station and emerged into a sunny afternoon. Wisps of clouds floated across the sky, and people hurried about on the sidewalks.

“It’s weird.” Terri stopped on the station’s steps.

“What’s that?” He paused on a step below her.

“This is almost over with. Bryce. The trafficking ring. It’s going to court, and Charlie will win. He has to.”

Logan nodded. “With that evidence and the two of us testifying against him, yes, I agree.”

Her gaze became unfocused as she looked down the street. “What next?”

Logan set his hands on her hips. “What would you like to be next?”

She blinked her eyes back into focus and studied his face.

“This whole thing has lit a fire under my ass. I don’t know exactly what I’m gonna do, but I want to help people. Like I originally planned to.”

He nodded. “Any chance you want to do that with a guy like me by your side?”

She threw her head back with laughter. “Not a guy like you… You. I want to do it with you.”

“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”

His face broke into a grin and he shuffled closer so that their bodies brushed. Terri wrapped her arms around his neck and he trailed his fingers up her back.

The bright sky. Her glowing face. The sense of peace and wonderful things to come. It was a moment he wanted to remember forever.

“Well?” Terri teased. “What are you waiting for? Are you going to kiss me already?”

“Oh,” he said on a chuckle. “A kiss is only the start of what I plan on doing with you.”

Her eyebrows rose, but she didn’t get the chance to ask because he covered her mouth with his and kissed her with everything he had.