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For all her jokes and bitching, she loves me and knows I’m dying inside.
“The prints, though?”
How can I do this? I’m forced to decide between some justice for these victims and going after the man I love.
“We got one of them—Derek Baucom.” Penny keeps me focused. “He must’ve realized he left that vial behind and knows we’re after him. He’s in the breeze, but we’ll catch him.”
The prints from that vial scored the evidence we needed. That’s one down—two more to go. Because TJ was in that room with Sarah, too, I know it without evidence. He and Gentry get away with it… but not for long.
“Check every single rental Gentry owns.” I’m desperate to catch them. “Derek’s truck hasn’t been seen crossing the bridge. He’s on this island somewhere.”
“Jameson’s on it. Gentry’s fighting the search warrants, but he doesn’t own every judge. We got this.” Penny squeezes my hand. “Now get the fuck out of here.”
Jameson glances up from his desk. He hasn’t said much but knows what’s going on.
I let Redix Dean into my life again. I believed in our love. I had such hope…
And he left me.
Again.
But “I told you so” isn’t on Jameson’s face. No, he hates this for me.
Something’s wrong, and everyone can read my anguish.
My mama and dad too. It’s like they did an intervention on me last night, shocking the shit out of me by knocking on my door together.
“Sometimes you walk away,” Dad said, “because that’s what’s best if you really love someone.”
He had me wrapped in his arms, standing in my kitchen, and I felt twelve again, crying like when he and Mama divorced, and he tried explaining why.
“And sometimes you fight for love,” Mama said. “Sometimes it never dies.” She took my hand and Dad’s. “Like maybe we should have. So many precious years we’ve lost apart.”
Their legacy is mine—a decision I have to make.
Fight for love or let Redix go?
A memory slams my heart. At his place in Malibu, we were making pizzas from scratch… and a huge mess as Redix swiped pizza sauce down my nose. “That’s for later.”
I flicked flour at him. “That’s gonna start a food fight.”
“That’s what I’m bettin’ on.” He pressed me against the kitchen countertop, beaming at me with that devilish smile that lights up my world. “I love it when you fight.”
I rested my hand on his thudding heartbeat. “Why?”
He pressed his hand over mine. “Because you look so beautiful when you do.” His lips drew nearer to mine. “And because you always win. I’m counting on it.”
That kiss turned into a pizza burning and him buried inside me. My legs wrapped around his waist while my hands grabbed his back with tears in my eyes because I couldn’t hold him close enough.
I’ll never let him go.
“I love you.” I peck Penny’s cheek and jump up from my desk, duty belt still on, before grabbing my bag from my chair. “Hold the fort down.” And I’m out the door.
Atlanta is four hours away, and those miles between us?
Nothing will stand in my way.
“Hello?”
