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A mirror image, only smaller.
His heart swelled and any doubts still plaguing him about the wisdom of what he was about to do melted away. Kara Brand would make Tyler happy. She would be the mother his son had never known, fill the terrible void in his young life. That was all that mattered. All that would ever matter.
There was a knock at the door. He knelt to tug Tyler’s tie straight for him. “Now run a comb through that hair, pal. I’ll go get the door.”
“Okay, Dad.”
Jim smiled at Tyler’s serious expression as he began taming his wavy hair and went to the front door. He turned the locks, opened the door, fully expecting to see his future brothers-in-law, who’d planned to meet him here so they could all head over to the church together.
But it wasn’t Wade or Caleb or Alex who stood there on the step. It was Angela. His blood chilled and his skin went cold. What the hell was she doing here today of all days?
“Hi, Jim.” Her eyes skimmed down him and her brows drew together. “Why all dressed up?”
“I’m not doing this with you, Ang. Not today.”
“Doing what with me? You don’t even know what I came for.”
“I don’tcarewhat you came for. You need to leave. Now.”
“No. I want to see Tyler. Is he here?” As she spoke, she leaned to one side, trying to get a look around him.
Jim stepped out onto the front step, pulling the door closed behind him. “You surrendered all your rights to Tyler. You’re under court order to stay away from him for his own protection, Angela. Beyond all that, you’re wanted by every cop in the state right now.”
“Wanted? Why would I be wanted? I haven’t done anything.”
“No?” He narrowed his eyes on her. “You’re running with a fugitive. That’s aiding and abetting, Ang. And don’t think you’re going to shirk your share of the blame for what your boyfriend did to Colby.”
She blinked rapidly. “Your... partner?’ Averting her head, she said, “Why, what happened to him?”
“Like you don’t know? Someone shoved his car off a cliff with him in it. It hit the bottom and burst into flames. That’s what happened to my partner.”
He watched her face go dead white, felt a little guilty for dumping it on her like that. Colby had insisted she’d had no idea what Vinnie’s plans were for him. But Jim hadn’t really believed that. As for letting her believe Colby was dead, well, he didn’t have a hell of a lot of choice in that. “You’ve got no business being here.”
“But—”
“No buts. Get out of here. Go back to Chicago before a cop comes along and slaps a pair of handcuffs on you.”
She sighed, lowering her head. “Walk me to the car and I’ll go.”
He frowned, not liking the suggestion. His police protection was only here by night. His instincts kicked in, and he scanned the area, the car that sat in the driveway—a late-model Ford, mid-size, dark blue, nothing fancy but out of her price range. He didn’t see anyone else around. “Where did you get the car, Ang?”
“Vinnie bought it for me. I drove it all the way here from Chicago just to talk to you. That’s all I want, Jim. Just to talk to you. Two minutes.”
“I thought all you wanted was to see Tyler.”
“I want that, too, but if you won’t let me... “ She sighed. “Jim, I have a chance to start my life over. And I’m trying hard to change, I swear I am.” She sniffled. “I tried to help your friend. I did. And I left Vinnie. I left him, Jim. You were right.”
He softened just a little. Hell, he’d loved this woman once. She was the first and last woman he’d ever loved. But God, he didn’t want her complicating his life just when things were going so well. Especially for Tyler. He took her arm and started walking her toward the car.
“I’m going to do this on my own, Jim. Get clean, get a job. You’ll see, I’ll make it work.” She sighed. “I don’t want to tell Ty who I am. I’m no mother, we both know that. I’d just like to see him, that’s all.”
He nodded slowly. “You get clean, Angela, you do the things you say you’re going to do, and I’ll make that happen. But you’ve gotta be clean, you understand? I don’t want him anywhere near you when you’re using. And I won’t have him within a mile of a man like Vinnie.”
She stared up at him. “You’ll really let me see him?”
He nodded. “I’m not made of stone. You show me you’ve really changed and I will.”
They were at the car now. She stood near the passenger door, her hand on the handle. “Thank you, Jim.”
