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“Of course.” Something in his tone obviously broke through the happy bubble because her expression slowly fell, her brows knitting together with worry. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong, per se. I just need to show you something. In my office.”
“Dean, you’re starting to freak me out.”
Because there was nothing he could say just then to ease her worries, he settled for taking her hand and guiding her down the short hallway to his office. Settling in his chair, he pulled her down onto his lap as he unlocked the computer and pulled up the photo he’d spent the last week staring at on a daily basis.
At her distressed whimper, he tightened his hold on her. “Shh, baby. It’s okay.”
“Why do you have a picture of my mother on your computer?” Twisting on his lap, her breaths grew shallow as panic filled her eyes. “Does she know where I am?”
“No, babygirl. She knows nothing about you. But I know everything about her. Where she lives, her new family, her new job. I know every step of her daily routine, because I’ve had a man on her for the past week, learning everything there is to know about her.”
“Why? Why would you do that? I don’t want to know any of that. I don’t want anything to do with her.”
“I know. The man I’ve had following her isn’t just an investigator. Once I give him the go ahead, you’ll never have to worry about her again. One call from me, and she’ll never be able to hurt anyone ever again.”
“I-I don’t understand.”
Apparently, he was going to have to be more straightforward. “Do you want her dead, baby? Just say the word, and I’ll make it happen.”
Part of him had expected her to faint or go into hysterics. But if anything, his words seemed to calm the panic attack that had been on the verge of taking over. “You’d kill her? For me?”
“Technically, I’d pay someone to do it. But yes. Knowing what she did to you, to your brother… if it will give you even a little bit of peace to know she’s dead, I’ll happily make that call. But it’s your decision, babygirl.”
“I love you.” Placing her hands on either side of his face, she leaned in and brushed her lips over his. The sweetness of the kiss was so at odds with the conversation they’d been having, it made his head swim.
“I’m not really sure how to feel about you telling me you love me for the first time while we’re discussing murder, babygirl.”
“Well, too bad, because I love you. I love you for wanting to protect me from her. I love you for letting me choose, instead of making the decision for me. I love you because you’re the first person in my life who hasn’t treated me like I’m too weak or too broken to know what I want.”
“What do you want?”
“I want her to suffer for what she did to me and to Kev. But even more than that, I just want to fucking forget that bitch ever existed. As far as I’m concerned, Kev and I were hatched in a cabbage patch somewhere.”
“She has a new family. Stepchildren.” Perhaps it wasn’t fair to put that extra burden on her, but he wanted her to have all the details before she made her final decision.
“Oh.” Nibbling her bottom lip, she glanced back at the screen. “Your friend… how good of an investigator is he?”
“He’s better at surveillance. But I have some friends who are good at digging up dirt. What did you have in mind?”
“Whatever it takes to make sure she doesn’t get to do to those kids what she did to us. There have to be records, right? Kev’s death was ruled an accident, but…”
“If there’s anything there we can use, I know the people who can find it. You may have to give a statement. Face her in court, if it comes to that.”
“Whatever it takes.”
Pride welled in his chest at the fierceness in her tone. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but if it did, he had no doubt she would be able to stand against whatever the investigation threw her way.
“Okay. I’ll get on that in the morning.” Reaching around her, he hit send on the message that would call off his man. “Done. She gets to live, and in the morning, I’ll get to work on ruining her fucking life.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
Leaning in, she kissed him again, though there was nothing soft or sweet about it. “For loving me enough to even consider ending her. For giving me the opportunity to choose. For being the best Daddy I could have ever asked for.”
“You don’t have to thank me for any of that, babygirl, but especially not the last one.” Cupping her face in his hands, he swallowed hard against the sudden tightness in his throat. “You saved me, MaryAnn. And being your Daddy is an honor I never thought I’d have again. If anything, I owe you.”
