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Except for one.
The real reason Eli and Sienna broke up. He hadn’t wanted to discuss it, to explain how badly it hurt when she betrayed him. But given the way he was still reeling from that passionate kiss…
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s complicated.”
“We’ve got time. Start talking.”
Eli gave Ryker the quick details. The phone call from Dalton asking to be bailed out of jail and his decision not to. “Sienna tried to talk to me, but I shut her down. I was done helping Dalton, and honestly, jail was where he deserved to be after nearly killing that couple in the car accident.” Eli’s jaw clenched. “Unknown to me, the next morning Dalton called her and begged again to be taken to rehab. She made the unilateral decision to bail him out. I found out about it later that afternoon.”
Understanding flashed across Ryker’s face. “You felt betrayed.”
“Of course. Dalton was my brother. It was my decision, and she should’ve supported me in it.”
“What was Sienna’s explanation?”
Eli breathed out. “I never asked. I broke up with her and never looked back. Until she was arrested. I thought…” He rose from the chair, unable to sit still. “I’d get her out of trouble and haul tail back home. Except this case is more complex than I thought. Sienna’s life is being threatened.”
He hated thinking about the harrowing moments of the last few days. How close Sienna had come to dying. First, the fire at her house and now the speedboat. “When we jumped in the water and she didn’t resurface…” His chest tightened. “It was terrifying.”
Ryker’s expression was sympathetic. He’d had his own frightening experiences protecting a woman in danger. Hannah was now his wife, but before that, she’d nearly died at the hands of a killer. If anyone understood what Eli was going through, it was his best friend.
He sucked in a breath and admitted the rest. “After we got out of the water, when things were safe, I kissed her. Which was a huge mistake. I told Sienna as much.” He groaned and collapsed back into the chair. “She’s barely looked at me since then. This is a mess. How am I going to prove Sienna’s innocence, find Ruby, and stop a killer with all of this personal stuff getting in the way?”
Ryker was quiet for a long moment. “Here’s a revolutionary idea. Why don’t you clear the air with Sienna? Discuss what happened five years ago.”
Eli wasn’t sure he wanted to open that can of worms. “I don’t think that’s a great idea.”
“Well, avoiding the conversation isn’t working. It’s obvious the two of you have unresolved feelings for each other, and those emotions will continue to create a distraction until there’s some kind of understanding. My suggestion: if you want to solve this case, hear Sienna out. Give her a chance to explain her side of things.”
He tugged on his shirt. “What if that makes things worse?”
“Then you’ll deal with it.” Ryker lifted his coffee cup and grinned. “You can call and cry on my shoulder.”
“Ha ha.”
The smile dropped from Ryker’s lips. “In all seriousness, you should have given Sienna a chance to explain a long time ago. She wasn’t a woman you’d been on one or two dates with. She was your fiancée. Knowing her like I do, she probably has a good reason for bailing Dalton out against your wishes.”
Shame prickled Eli as his friend’s words sank into him. He’d been so consumed by his righteous anger, he’d refused to hear Sienna out. That wasn’t fair.
The door to the interrogation room opened and Chief Ramirez marched out. His expression was stormy. He barely glanced at Eli. Instead, he locked eyes with Ryker. “Ranger Montgomery. My office. Now.”
Ryker rose to his feet as Cole emerged. The younger lawman’s expression gave nothing away, but he dealt Eli a reassuring nod.
The men disappeared into the chief’s office. Through the glass wall, the chief began talking, his face red. Whatever he had to say, it wasn’t pleasant.
“He’s furious.” Sienna joined Eli. Someone—probably her attorney—had brought a dry change of clothes for her. The jeans hugged her curves and the long-sleeve T-shirt highlighted the natural rosiness in her cheeks. Curls, more defined by the salt water, waved around her heart-shaped face.
Without realizing it, Eli’s gaze dropped to her lips. The memory of their passionate kiss flashed in his mind before he could banish it.
Isabella Gomez joined them. Sienna’s defense attorney wore a dark red suit with a black blouse underneath. Her hair was tied into an intricate knot. Smart and ambitious, she defended her clients with every legal avenue available to her.
“The only person Chief Ramirez should be furious with is himself.” Isabella sniffed. “If he’d investigated Ruby's disappearance properly, this entire mess could’ve been avoided. Not to mention, Albert might still be alive.” Her gaze locked with Eli’s. “Ranger Donnelly was receptive to the concept that these cases—Ruby’s disappearance, Albert’s murder, and the attacks on Sienna—are connected. It seems Luis and Tony Greer haven’t been seen by their family in weeks. Houston Police Department issued a warrant for their arrests today in connection with a murder three weeks ago.”
Eli rocked back on his heels, his gaze shooting between Isabella and Sienna. “That doesn’t eliminate them as suspects in the attacks against Sienna, but it sure sounds like the Greer boys went underground weeks ago.”
“Agreed. I don’t think they’re behind this. Hopefully, the rangers will assist on this case so we can get some answers.” Isabella reached into her bag and pulled out a cell phone. She handed the device to Sienna. “Before I forget, here. I had my assistant pick up a new one for you since yours was waterlogged. It’s already programmed with your number.”
Sienna sighed with relief. “Thank you.”
