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“Is... Is that why you killed him?”
She didn’t look away. “I killed him because he came after me with his fists. He came after me with his fists because I taunted him to stop him from beating on my sister.”
She’d used herself as bait. “You said he hit you.” And Gabe was glad he’d never meet the guy, because he’d want to hurt him for causing Molly and her family such pain.
“He did. And then he pulled a gun from underneath his shirt. Chelsea screamed. I just reacted.”
And, fortunately, Harper had been in her bedroom at the time. But she’d heard it. The poor baby had heard it all. Gabe wanted to say something. To comfort her as she had him, but he didn’t know what to say and didn’t think she was finished anyway.
She didn’t blink. “I don’t want to think that I planned it, but I knew he was carrying. He’d shot my father the night before. The cop took his service revolver after he killed my father with Dad’s own gun, but I knew he had others. They held him for questioning, but he was a cop with a sob story and friends in high places within the local police department. He lied about my father, said that Dad had molested Harper and that Dad had tried to kill him, so they said it was self-defense and let him go without charging him. And then he came straight home. To us.”
“Did you have a choice?”
“At that moment, I didn’t think about choices. He had a gun. He’d used a gun. He’d already given black eyes to both Chelsea and me. He was screaming that he was going to kill me because I’d clearly lied to his wife about his molesting their daughter.”
“But there was a video.”
“Which Chelsea hadn’t yet turned over to the police. She wanted to confront him first. I should have known that she’d do that, and maybe part of me did.”
“It doesn’t matter. He threatened you. You’re not to blame.”
“I also knew that if he did any time at all for raping his own daughter, it wouldn’t be enough, and then he’d be back. He’d try it again. If not to Harper, then to some other child. And Harper would be put through the additional trauma of a trial. So maybe I could have let him go. Maybe I could have let the justice system do its job. But at that moment, I just reacted.” She shrugged one shoulder. “It changed my life. People will always wonder if I really killed in self-defense or out of vengeance. I’d like for this not to change your life in the same way.”
“So, it’s okay for me to want them to die, but not okay for me to kill them.”
“Something like that. But if it comes to you or them, choose yourself. I’m sure as hell going to choose you. I will shoot them to save you. You need to be okay with that.”
“Oh, I am. Trust me. I am very okay with that.” Because he’d do the same for her. It was what partners did. And for the time being, she was his partner. But it was more than that. He felt a connection with Molly Sutton that he’d never felt with any woman ever before. He wanted her, it was true.
But he wanted this more. This support. This... intimacy.
Another thirty seconds ticked by as they stared at each other. Then she tilted her head. “Xavier said that your father left you information.”
“I know. I don’t know what he meant.”
“Then, as much as I like sitting on your lap and as much as I think you need this break, we should be getting back to the conference room. We have a lot of work to do.”
He didn’t want to leave the quiet and comfort of this room, but he knew she was right. Except... “You said I could kiss you when this was over.”
She smiled. “I did.”
“I wish this was over right now,” he whispered hoarsely. “You don’t even know.”
Her expression changed, softening before her eyes became abruptly turbulent. He could feel her indecision, but even more, he could feel her yearning. She wanted him, too. Wanted this.
Whatever this was. Whatever it might become.
For a long, long moment she said nothing at all as the air between them thickened with anticipation. And arousal. Then her eyes cleared, the calm resolution that he’d seen so many times already settling his heart.
Which then nearly knocked out of his chest when she cupped his cheek and pulled his head down, brushing her lips against his. It was sweet and chaste and over far too soon. Even still, he was breathing hard.
So was she.
“What was that for?” he asked, barely controlling himself from kissing her again.
“A promise.” She caressed his lips with her thumb. “So that you know you’re not alone. Not in searching for answers or in wishing for this.”
Chest tightening, he swallowed hard, the thank you stuck in his throat. But her smile said that she understood.
