Adams, Eve - Trio [Gideon's Ring 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (40 page)

“I haven’t done anything wrong. You have no proof.”

She gave Strickler a shrug and nodded for the men behind her to take him. They did without hesitation. “I have two million dollars in proof.”

“That’s my money. And this is my ranch. Check the deed.”

Amber handed the paper to Carol, who opened it and then grinned as she turned it around to show Strickler. “It’s blank, aside from the signatures.”

“No.
No
, goddamn it! That was supposed to be the deed. I put up two million dollars for a piece of this ranch.”

Carol’s voice was smooth, cool. “Looks like you put up two million dollars for a piece of paper.”

Strickler shook his head desperately. “No. That’s not possible.”

“Oh, but it is.”

“You’re FBI. You can’t pull a scam.”

“But I can,” Norris said softly. “I’m not bound by the same rules as the feds. I’ve been tracing your money since you started draining the accounts. You bounced it plenty of times, I’ll give you that, but you didn’t bounce it enough.”

Strickler paled. “This can’t be happening.”

“It sure is.” Carol walked over to Norris. She shook his hand as he nodded at her. “Thanks for the assistance, Emerson. If you ever want to get back into the bureau, give me a call.”

“I was SBI, not FBI. Besides, I like what I do now much better.”

She smiled. “You make sure you get that money back to the rightful owners.”

“Scout’s honor.” He raised his right hand.

“Let’s go.” She turned around and started out of the room when Sarah’s soft voice stopped her.

“Carol?”

With a sigh, she lowered her shoulders and nodded for Sarah to join her off in the corner. They exchanged a few words, and then Sarah nodded, hugging her.

“I’ll see you around. And Matt? I’ll definitely take you up on that offer.” Then Carol left, Strickler in custody.

Barrett still hadn’t a clue what had just happened and turned to his brother. “What the hell was that?”

Matt grinned. “That, my dear brother, was the ultimate sting. Carol told me about Lucky that first night.
”

“
What first night?
”

“
Remember when she showed up in the play room?
”
Chris asked.
“
She had come to the room to talk to us both, but you stormed off to find Sarah. Matt had already tucked his couple into bed for the night
,
so I asked him to keep Carol company while I joined you and Sarah in the kitchen.
”

“
She told me everything, the real reason why she
’
d come to the ranch
,”
Matt explained.

Barrett swung around to Norris. “What about you? You knew about her, too?”

“Not until she called me right before the meet to tell me who she really was. Apparently your playboy brother knows how to keep a secret.”

“Three weeks!” Matt cried and let out a guttural sigh before laughing like an insane man. “I had to keep that for three damn weeks. Dear God, that had to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It feels so good to finally have that off my chest. And then Norris and Amber came in. And then Sarah dropped the bomb about the baby. And then Strickler. And now this scam. I can’t wait for our lives to get back to normal.”

Barrett didn’t know whether to hug his brother or kick his ass for keeping this all a secret. He couldn’t decide, so instead he took Sarah’s hand and pulled her to him.

The worst was over. With Sarah in his arms, the ranch still in his name, and his world back on its axis, he could finally start his life.

With his
family
.

Chris snuggled up against Sarah’s backside, sandwiching her between the two men.
“
I love you, my sweet Sarah.
”

“And I love you,” Barrett murmured in her ear.

She reached up and touched them both, a hand on each of their faces. Emotionally she’d touched him the minute he’d spotted her in the bar
,
and he knew Chris felt the same.

Her eyes sparked with fresh tears.
“
We’ve denied ourselves almost a full month of time together. We have some serious making up to do, boys.”

She then leaned into her men, and Barrett knew they’d all have forever to make up for the past.

THE END

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