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Marley’s adamant defense gave Justin a feeling of relief that shouldn’t matter as much as it did.
“How do you know?” Nate asked Marley.
Her gaze shifted to meet Justin’s. He got another jolt when he saw an absolute conviction in her eyes that matched her voice. “Because I know.”
Then it dawned on him that she didn’t jump to Jordan’s defense and he got pissed off all over again. “Jordan didn’t do it either.” Her gaze wavered and he saw her doubt. “That’s something I know.”
“He doesn’t like Nate. That was more than clear last night.”
Justin’s hands clenched on the rail. Anger vibrated his body. “He didn’t do it.”
They stared at each other across the bed. Then he saw something flash in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. When she would’ve averted her gaze again, Justin forced her to hold his.
“What? You might as well say it.”
She hesitated, then lifted her chin. “You all look remarkably like Dale.”
Justin shoved up straight. “So that’s how it’s going to be. Let’s just accuse my whole damn family while we’re at it. Hell, my sister Cassie has blonde hair, maybe she did it.”
“All I’m saying is that—”
“You’re saying that my father—” He pointed a finger at Nate as he glared at her. “—his father, tried to kill him.”
“I’m saying that Nate’s not sure who was there, and Dale can’t be ruled out,” Marley insisted. “For God’s sake, Justin, he gave Nate fifteen thousand dollars to keep his mouth shut about being his son. What kind of a person does that?”
“A cowardly bastard. But it doesn’t mean he’s capable of murder.”
But as the seconds ticked by, he began to think of the things he’d learned about his father in the past few weeks. Turned out his father was capable of a lot more than he’d ever thought possible.
He paced to the window, only to swing back around as a question occurred to him. Leaning against the sill, he crossed his arms over his chest. “Let’s just say for one crazy, completely impossible second that Jordan or my father was there. Why?” He gestured with one hand as he watched Nate. “Why would either of them do this to you?”
Nate held his gaze for a moment, then dropped his eyes. “Because of what happened with Karl.”
Marley’s sharp intake of breath drew Justin’s attention in time to see panic cross her face. She stared at Nate, who glanced from her, back to Justin.
“But she told you he was still alive when I left that day…didn’t you?” Nate looked back at his sister.
Justin pushed away from the window and strode back to the bed. Marley shook her head, raising a hand to press against her forehead. He stared hard at her as the pieces began to fall into place. The expression of misery on her face made him sick. “She didn’t tell me a damn thing.”
“But…” Nate’s gaze swung back to Marley, his face ashen. “You said they knew.”
Marley shook her head with anguished resignation. “They knew about you being their half-brother. That’s why they were here last night.”
“What happened with my grandfather?” Justin demanded. Marley met his look without flinching, but didn’t say a word. It was Nate who spoke, explaining what had happened that afternoon.
“Son-of-a-bitch,” Justin ground out. “You’ve got some nerve accusing my brother and father of coming after you after what you’ve done.”
Nate tried to sit up, but slumped back down with a gasp. “Marley said he had a heart condition…that the paper said—”
Justin focused back on her. “You say a lot these days, just not what counts. Where’s that honesty you’re so proud of?”
That struck a nerv
e. But despite the guilt in her expression, she retorted, “Karl Hunter was no saint—what with his secrets and threats. He knew about Nate all along but never said a single word.”
“That’s not the issue here,” Justin argued. “A lie of omission is still a lie.”
“Don’t you dare judge me, Justin Blackman.”
