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The room looked cold, felt cold, and yet they’d left her winter jacket on, so she was sweating. Probably more from fear of the unknown than being hot. Because she wasn’t hot.
All it had taken was one glacial look from Loyal, and she’d been frozen from the inside out. He would never forgive her for this. He would hate her for life, and now she would not only lose him, but Asher and the rest of the family.
Her family. She’d begun to consider all the Diamonds hers after years with Asher, and even more so as she and Loyal grew close—as she fell in love with him for real, not just because of some childhood vision.
But should she really be surprised that he’d turn on her? If her own mother, father, and grandparents couldn’t love her, why would she think anyone else would?
Another layer of ice encased her heart, and she was helpless to stop the hot tears that streaked down her cheeks.
Chapter 28
Loyal scrubbed his hands over his face, trying to make sense of everything as Mae, Honor, and Tessa talked over each other while discussing what they thought was going on and what they could do to help. Their voices kept derailing his thoughts, and finally he dropped his arms to his sides, fists clenched in frustration.
“I swear to God, you all need to just shut up so I can figure this out,” he ground out.
Silence fell as they turned wide eyes to him.
“This isn’t right. Something isn’t adding up.”
The moment the detective had taken Roxanna away in handcuffs, the moment he’d seen her being marched out of his life, Loyal knew she was innocent. He felt it deep in his soul that she was not the person the police thought she was. Shame mushroomed that he could’ve gone back to believing the worst about her even for a second.
But he didn’t have time for that. His feelings didn’t matter right now. He had to figure out what the fuck was up so he could help Roxanna.
“She didn’t do it.” Honor wore a ferocious frown as she glared at him as if daring him to argue.
“I know.”
“Yeah, you better know.” Her eyes widened for a brief moment, and she reached for her pocket. “I have to call Asher.”
“Do that.” He turned to the blond construction worker standing beside her. “Mae, I need you to call the law offices of Striker and Stowe. Tell them Loyal Diamond needs someone to meet me down at the police station ASAP. Tessa, you need to stay here and take care of whatever needs to be done for the shop when the police are finished.”
They were still in the back, and Loyal fought his impatience as he paced to the door. “Is it possible for me to look at something on the computer?” he asked.
The officer seated in the desk chair shook his head. “Sorry man, it’s evidence.”
“Can you at least look up a file for me?” He lifted his hands in supplication. “I won’t touch anything.”
The officer looked askance at the blond woman who’d seemed so excited about finding the client list. The blond gave a slight shoulder shrug and nod, but she walked over to watch exactly what Loyal wanted the other officer bring up on the computer.
He gave the sign-in information and navigated the guy into the accounting program.
“What are we looking at?” the blond asked as she leaned closer to view the screen.
“Bookings and corresponding payments for the first year Ms. Kent was in business here at Lift Your Spirit.”
“There are no payments for more than half of them.”
“Exactly.”
“Then she took cash.”
He shook his head. “Cash, check, or credit is clearly indicated. She has no reason to mark some and not others. She said she had the list to offer them comp readings. Why would she do that if she was one of the scammers?”
The blond woman glanced at him, her gaze narrowed with speculation. “Why are you advocating for her. Weren’t you one of the original complainants from six years ago?”
“Yes. But you guys have the wrong person. Roxanna wouldn’t scam people.”
The moment the words were out of his mouth, something in his brain clicked. Dread washed over him with sickening clarity, and he had to consciously fight to keep his expression impassive.
