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Lane’s head whipped toward Oliver.“No one hurts my sister.”
“She’s got bruises on her from the attack last night.”He hated those bruises.“But don’t worry, I plan to stay close to her.”
Lane didn’t lunge at him even though the words had been a taunt.Instead, he gave a jerky nod.“You had freaking better.”
Oliver blinked, deliberately.“I thought you didn’t want me—”
“I don’t want you breaking her heart again.Lark deserves some happiness.She shouldn’t be used and discarded by some jerk who just wants to lock me away.”
“Lark thinks you’re innocent.”
“Because I am.”Simple.“I didn’t hurt those women.I wouldn’t have.”His jaw tightened.“He killed my mother.I was holding her when she died.You think…you think I wouldeverhurt a woman?Ever?”
Oliver didn’t respond.
“Lark was taken to the hospital after my dad’s shooting.I confessed.”A nod.“Nothing was going to hurt Lark again.I swore to it.”
So you took the fall.You wanted to protect her.Hell, your father’s actions…
They’d made Lane hyper protective of his sister.Of all women?Of anyone who he thought was weak?Oliver’s mind churned with possibilities as he realigned his—
“Hey, asshole!”
Oliver frowned.He blinked and realized Lane was glaring at him.
“You got more questions or you just looking to piss away more of my time and stare off into space?”
He had a million questions, especially since Lane was finally talking to him.“Your lawyer isn’t going to like that you’re suddenly so eager to chat with me.”
“If my sister is in trouble, I don’t care what my lawyer likes or doesn’t like.I’ll tell you anything you want to hear.”He exhaled.“It’s…Lark can’t wind up like those others.Shecan’t.Not cold and dead and clutching those flowers.”A shudder worked over him.
The reaction seemed real.But Oliver had met plenty of monsters who were good at faking their emotions.“You ever notice anyone who had too much of an interest in your sister?”
“Yeah, I’m staring at the bastard.”Lane sent him a cold smile.
Right.“Anyoneotherthan me?”
“Lark doesn’t give most guys the time of day.She doesn’t get close to people.Doesn’t trust easily.”
Wonderful.Keep making me feel like even more of a jackass.“So there was no one who stood out for you?”
“Lots of guys want to date my sister.None of them seemed like crazy killers.Like I said, she didn’t get close to them.The only guy she ever really talked to me about was your sorry ass.Otherwise, she would date a man for a few nights, then move on.She never trusted anyone but me, you see.I got the same damn problem.The only one I can count on is my sister.As far as the rest of the world is concerned?If you trust too much, you set yourself up for one colossal nightmare just waiting to happen.”
Because the people you trusted—the people you loved—would turn on you.
Lark isn’t going to take me back.That certainty seeped through him.She wasn’t going to give him a second chance.He’d been hoping but…
“Why don’t you just ask my sister about her exes?”Lane smiled, and the big bruise near his eye crinkled.“Gonna interview them all?I’m sure that will be fun for you.”
No, it would not be.Fucking bastards.“When you were in foster care, did anyone ever show too much attention to Lark?”
That question wiped the smile off Lane’s face.
Someone had.Oliver knew he’d hit paydirt.“Who?”he demanded.
“Years ago…second home we were in…no, third.”Lane’s voice roughened with anger.“The Montgomery family.Nice enough husband and wife.They had a teenage son who stared at Lark—too much.”A hard shake of his head.“At school, he was always two steps behind her.He tried to peek at Lark in the shower once.I had to teach him some manners.Would have thought he learned…he didn’t.A few days later, her scream woke me up.He’d snuck in her room and was watching her sleep or some weird shit like that.”
Oliver realized his hands had fisted.
