Page 121 of Capture My Heart

The nurse scolded her with a shake of her finger before she slipped from the room.

″Okay, you got me all alone. What’s up?′ Amy watched as Paulie hovered a few feet inside the door.

″I’m sorry.” She fidgeted with her keys. “I knew Stephen had issues, but I had no clue…”

″What? That he was selling drugs or a killer?”

She sighed. “I suspected the drugs, but Papa kept me out of it. One time I questioned Papa and he slapped me. I never brought it up again.”

Quinten Gardiner never laid a hand on his daughter that Amy knew of. And from the look on her old friend’s face, that was the first time.

She looked up from the keys in her hand. “As for Stephen… You know. I couldn’t admit it to myself.”

″Family.”

″Yeah, family.” She shrugged. “But I can’t anymore. I’ve given your BCA agent full access to our books and computers. Including Stephen’s phone.”

″Paulie—′

″No.” She raised a hand to stop Amy. “I will probably go to jail. I didn’t actively take part in the drug business, but I’m not stupid. Looking the other way didn’t make it right.”

She moved to the edge of the bed. “I was so mad at you for so many years, but it was me I should have been mad at. I’m so sorry for what my family did to your brother… and father.”

Tears shined in her eyes.

Amy held out her hand.

Paulie stared at it, blinking away tears. She shook her head. “Don’t forgive me too soon.”

″One of us has to.” Amy waited hand outstretched.

″Scream at me. Throw something. I need you to not be okay with this.”

″Oh, trust me. I’m not okay. I’m pissed at you, and I loathed your brother.”

″Didn’t we all?” She snorted.

Amy cracked a smile. “But from what Stephen said he… before. Your father and you didn’t know about his plan to have my father killed.”

Tears streaked down Paulie’s cheek. She wiped them away with her shirt collar.

″So, don’t think this one moment of maturity means I absolve you of your sins. Hell, I’m not a priest. I’m sure I’ll need therapy for years. But you can at least let me be the grownup and take my hand.”

Paulie’s fingers shook as they slipped into Amy’s. “I know a good therapist. I’ll even pay for it.”

″Damn straight you will.” Amy sniffed back a tear. “It’s the least you can do. You still owe me for the freshman formal.”

″Oh geez, are you still holding a grudge? I swear I didn’t know it would go viral.”

The door opened and Trey stuck his head in.

Amy motioned him in. “It’s about time. I’m dying over here.”

Paulie stepped back.

Trey rolled his eyes and handed her the soda bottle. “We’ve had enough of that this week.”

″Well, I better go.”