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Much to the detective’s surprise, I led the way and fetched a scalding hot coffee. I hummed happily as I noticed two men approach. One was Jacon, and the other one was called Gauntlet.
“This is an official interview,” Ramirez scolded them, and they shrugged.
“If Lynda’s got nothing to hide, then she won’t mind us listening in,” Gauntlet retorted, and this time, I shrugged.
Ramirez rolled his eyes before beginning his questioning.
“Yes, I had been watching Daryl. He’s become increasingly unstable these last two years. I’d seen bruises on Jemma and tried to get her help. When father sent Daryl here to reclaim Jacon, I made my move and got Jemma and the kids somewhere safe. Not even Dad will find them. The divorce is to be handled through lawyers, and Daryl won’t learn her address,” I said in reply to a question.
“You helped Jemma escape?” Jacon asked.
“How many times do you expect me to stand still and watch abuse happen under my nose? No. Enough was enough. Daryl was losing control every day that passed, and I witnessed the madness in his eyes. He’d have seriously harmed her, and I didn’t want to see that happen. Jemma’s a nice woman. And could do much better than that whacked, spoilt, insane asshole,” I replied calmly.
“But you sided with your family when Klutz was arrested. Why help him now?” Ramirez asked.
“Did not side with them.”
“That’s a lie!” Jacon exploded.
“If I might finish, baby brother?” Jacon subsided, and I continued, “I didn’t side with them. I was blackmailed into doing so. One set of our grandparents was dead, but the others were very much alive. Our father owns their house and threatened to evict them if I didn’t back down and support him. There was no choice because my money was paying off student loans still, and I rented a small apartment. Gramps and Granny deserved to live their final years peacefully, so I obeyed father.”
Jacon leapt to his feet and began pacing. I could see what he was thinking. Our father’s manipulations knew no boundaries.
“And I’ve evidence on all of them. The file is yours,” I mumbled, and Jacon spun on me, his eyes widening.
“Enough to take them down and ensure Dad spends his life behind bars.”
“Jesus, what the fuck do you have on them?” Ramirez asked.
“That’s for Jacon to decide. Jacon earned this the hard way. I monitored you. Wherever you ended up, I was silently at your side. As you travelled the country, I was with you. Just not in person. Jacon, I didn’t abandon you willingly, and I never would. Gramps passed six months ago, and that’s when I started making plans. Granny had died two months before him. But I had to get Jemma to safety before Daryl killed or hurt her badly. You may blame me for not coming to you when Gramps died, but I couldn’t allow an innocent woman to suffer. Jemma’s not like the rest of the vipers,” I explained.
“I’ll have everything you’ve said investigated, Lynda. Maybe we can talk then,” Jacon replied and strolled away.
Resigned, I sighed.
“I did what I thought was right and did my best. Why is that never good enough?” I asked Ramirez sadly.
Ramirez shook his head before asking me questions in a much gentler tone.
Aurora
I lay in bed, hot and snug. I had loads of blankets and a duvet on top that someone had run down and bought for me. Damn, I’d not expected to feel so warm again! My toes were still cold, my fingertips too, but the rest of me was toasty. Gauntlet jammed a woollen hat on my head, so all anybody could see were my eyes and nose, peering out of the covers. No doubt I looked ridiculous.
I’d complained my feet were freezing, so Gauntlet grabbed Jett to guard me and marched off to find me fluffy socks or a hot water bottle. Jett watched me carefully as I hid under the pile of blankets.
“Thank you,” Jett said quietly. That made me peek out.
“For what?”
“Loving Klutz, Aurora. Shit’s been hard on you both, and anyone else would have left. You stayed,” Jett elaborated.
“In that case, thank you, too. Because you and the others kept Klutz grounded until I found him. Klutz is the most amazing guy ever to have walked the earth. And I’ll never stop being amazed each day I can call him my husband!”
“You’re his Sin. I get that,” Jett mentioned, and a secret, warm smile crossed his lips. Oh man, when he smiled like that, he was off-the-charts hot. No wonder Sinclair was constantly pregnant.
“Jett, I love being his other half. Klutz is mine. We’re meant to be together,” I answered with a firm nod.
“Yes, you are,” Jett agreed.
