Jackson stood on the balcony of the Beck lake house that was overlooking the water for what would likely be the last time. He hadn't been surprised when Dustin had called him in a rage, hadn't been surprised when Dustin had asked him to meet him either. He could hear the arguing between Dustin, his father, and Teal, but instead of helping he just looked out over the lake. He spooked slightly, jumping at the sound of a gun being shot, but he didn't turn. The less he knew the better.
"Well it looks like we'll be planning a few funerals after tonight," Dustin laughed as he joined Jackson on the balcony. He didn't seem to notice the war raging in Jackson's mind. "When's she getting here?"
Jackson looked at his phone, the blinking light of Sawyer's contact slowly approaching his own circle on the screen. "About ten minutes, five if Spencer's driving."
Dustin smirked but nodded, "Good."
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Spencer grunted as Rip pulled a vest over her head, blowing the strands of hair from her face as he adjusted the straps. "This is stupid the first thing they're gonna do is make me take this off."
Rip sent her a cool glare, silencing her from complaining more. He brushed the hair from her face once he finished, smiling before pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Humor me then Sunshine."
"You're lucky I love you."
"I tell myself that everyday," Rip chuckled as he looked over to Kayce who had been on the phone with the Sheriff's department since they had pulled onto the driveway. Kayce nodded once, a quick thumbs up as he continued on the phone.
Rip handed Spencer her gun, although he held back for a moment. "Are you sure about this?"
Spencer looked up at Rip with the most clarity she had had in a while. "Without a doubt."
"Alright we got permission, warrant will be coming in with the deputies in thirty minutes but we can enter now," Kayce spoke up as he handed his phone to Jimmy, swapping for his weapon. "Whatever happens between now and then, that's up to us."
"Let's go then."
The door was unlocked, just like Jackson had told Sawyer it would be, but it didn't really settle anything for her as she crept in behind Ryan. Ryan and Spencer had tried to make her and Cole stay behind, but this was just as personal for them as it was for Spencer. And they wanted to witness the downfall of Dustin Beck as much as the Dutton girl.
"I was wondering when you would come in," Dustin's voice mocked the group from the living room. Spencer turned the corner to find Dustin staring at the fire burning in the fireplace, Malcolm sitting on the couch behind him, and Jackson standing uncomfortably across the room.
Spencer smirked as she trained her weapon on Dustin. "Well I'm so sorry we kept you waiting. Malcolm, lovely to see you again."
The man only turned his head toward Spencer, a patronizing smile sweeping across his face. "Spencer Dutton, the woman of the hour it seems. Did you enjoy your stay at my house?"
"A little smoky for my taste, and your chef was terrible. But I guess it's hard to get good help when you're poor."
Malcolm's smile dropped as Dustin's head whipped to Spencer before spinning to look at his father. "I didn't say anything, I swear."
"He's right," Spencer confirmed, holstering her weapon to the complaint of Kayce and Ryan. "But he's just a fucking idiot who gave it away. So how does it feel to be the poorest casino owner in the country? I'm sure Erin would love to do an article on that for you. Jackson, you think that would make the front page?"
Jackson's gaze broke from his sister at the mention of his name. "I think it would be the talk of Montana. Especially when you add in all the murders, the money laundering-"
"Oh and don't forget the kidnapping and blackmailing," Spencer smirked over her shoulder at Jackson as she plopped ungracefully to the couch in front of him. "Granted I think bartering a child's wellbeing and then moving her across state lines falls under trafficking, but I'll have to double check with Jamie when we get back."
Dustin bristled as his gaze now flicked to Cole, who only held a smug expression on his face as he met Dustin's stare.
Kayce had moved across the room at that point, standing with his back to the windows near Jackson to make sure no one did anything stupid. Ryan kept himself in front of the kitchen, where Cole had told them another door was. If either of them tried for the front, well Rip and Jimmy were more than happy to have some batting practice. All eyes turned back to Spencer as the safety of her gun clicked off.
"Now here's how this is gonna go. Dustin, I'm going to give you one last chance to accept my offer. You don't take it, I'm sure one of these guns has a bullet with your name on it. Malcolm, honey, different game for you."
Malcolm scoffed, turning to fully face Spencer. As if the venom dripping from her words wasn't scaring him like it did the rest of the room.
"You confess, right here, right now, to blackmail, extortion, and kidnapping, this bullet doesn't land right between those baby blues. I'll let y'all think it over for a minute."
Spencer turned to look at Dustin, the only one she was really trying to get through to. Because she knew what happened when evil lingering in your life, what hateful and despicable things it could make a boy do. And when that boy had no love shown to him and hate filled that void, well she had never seen that but she saw how close Rip could have come. That wild boy that her father saved all those years ago was no different from the young man standing in front of her.
"Take my offer, let me help you," she whispered to Dustin, whose face had grown solemn as Spencer continued to stare at him with such softness in her eyes. Something he had never been given, never seen before.
Malcolm shifted across from Spencer, his movements almost in slow motion as he pulled a pistol from the back of his belt. Spencer turned, shooting him straight on, the bullet landing directly where she promised it would end.
"No deal then," she whispered as the gun now spun to Dustin. "And the time for your offer just ran out."
The sirens began to ring outside, Dustin falling to his knees as the deputies swarmed the house. His eyes never left Spencer, even as the cops pulled him off the ground and to the awaiting car outside. He watched Spencer hand over her weapon, but the words she spoke made no sound. The only words running through his mind...
Too late.
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The sun was peeking over Yellowstone as the trucks pulled up the drive. Spencer had been acquitted for Malcolm's murder, self defense the very obvious answer. What had surprised everyone though, was that it had been Malcolm who had shot Teal, Dustin had been unable to follow through. Or so Jackson said.
Spencer laughed as Beth pulled her into a tight hug, squeezing her older sister carefully as she held onto her. She looked up to see tears in her father's eyes, and she smiled brightly at him.
"How ya doin' old man?" Spencer laughed as she walked up to him, tears and laughter falling from her father as well.
"It's good to have you home Tiny," John spoke, pulling Spencer into his side. "I think there's someone who's more excited to see you though."
Spencer looked at him with questions in her eyes, but a yell from across the ranch caught everyone's attention instead.
"Auntie Spence!" Tate yelled as he ran from his mother, sprinting to Spencer as fast as he could. Spencer smiled, squatting down to let the young boy run into her arms. "Did I do good Auntie Spence?"
Spencer's smile grew wider as she nodded, pushing Tate's hair from his face. "You did everything exactly like I told you to Tater Tot. You were an excellent agent for me."
Tate smiled up at Spencer, his floppy grin making Spencer laugh. And for the first moment in a very long while, she felt peace.
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It was later on that evening, after the celebration of Spencer being home finally dwindled down, that Spencer and Rip found themselves alone at last.
"I have something to show you," Rip said as he sat across from Spencer on the porch rockers. "Unless you want to get some sleep, it can wait until the morning."
Spencer hummed but shook her head. "Show me."
Rip pulled her to her feet, smiling at the ring that was once again glistening on her hand. He led her down the path toward the cabin, unable to suppress the smile growing on his face as they grew closer and closer.
"Now I know it's not the main house," he started as he walked up the steps, pulling the key from his pocket to unlock the door. "But I figured it's a start."
Spencer gasped as the door unlocked, tears of joy pooling in her eyes. "Is this-?"
"Ours."
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author's note. hi! i'm sorry i've been so spotty with updates, i'm currently finishing up grad school so it's been a little crazy to say the least. i appreciate every single one of you for being on this journey and loving this story with me though:)
that being said, i would love some feedback for y'all!
how are we feeling about Spencer's story so far? is there anything you kinda wished you saw and haven't seen yet? (i can't guarantee what would be included but since we're finishing the season it would be a great time to start to incorporate something new)
also... would you want me to continue the story in this book OR start a new one? i had always been planning to break this up into two stories but if we're vibing with one longer book i'm game!
love you all so so much thank you for your support because it really has helped me push through writing this book and school all at once:)