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“No, just that the lead investigator had an announcement to make.”
“I wonder if this has to do with my dad.” Then she glanced at him. “Do you have any idea how weird it is to feel that word on my tongue?”
“You meandad?”
She nodded.
He reached for her hand. “If he’s as fierce as I think he is, he probably lit a fire under a whole bunch of people.”
“And we’re about to find out,” Amalie said. “There’s a man coming out of the building now.”
Sean upped the volume. When he finished, Sean turned off the television and then looked at her.
“It has begun,” he said. “Eventually, news outlets will come looking for you, too, once they learn of your existence.”
She shrugged. “I don’t have an issue with that, as long as no one is trying to end my life.”
“You’re one tough lady,” he said, then cupped the back of her head and kissed her. “Mom knows we’re coming. Are you okay to talk about some of this?”
She nodded. “No secrets from your mom, but I don’t want her ever put in the middle of this.”
“She won’t be. She’s tougher than you think.”
Amalie frowned. “Why must the world still shelter the vicious along with the good?”
“Preacher Farley would probably have an answer for that, but I don’t. So, are you ready to leave now?”
“Yes. Let me get my coat and purse.”
He helped her on with her coat, then hugged her. “We’ve got this. One day at a time, honey,” he said, and they left the house.
The day was cold but clear, but Amalie couldn’t quit thinking about how fast her world had turned upside down, and it scared her. She was wishing she’d let sleeping dogs lie and never started a search to find family.
As they were leaving town, she had a thought.
“Sean, remember there are three desks in the office. I only need one, and if you link up to my printer, you won’t have to bring your own. I’m sorry for the upheaval in your life, but selfishly glad to work beside you for a while.”
“Thanks, darlin’. That’s a good idea. I’m sorry for what’s happening to you, but getting to be in the same office is a plus, okay?”
“Yes, okay,” she said, then looked away.
Sean still had nightmares from the aftermath of the chopper crash, and after realizing Fiona Rangely was already stalking Amalie, he was terrified at what she might do. They were both so intent upon the situation and each other that they never noticed a dusty black Jeep a good distance behind them.
Wolf Outen’s men already had their backs.
Amalie was far too quiet on the drive up, and it had Sean worried. She was shutting down. Closing ranks. Probably what she’d done all her life to protect herself.
“You know I love you,” he said.
Tears welled immediately. “Yes, and I love you.”
“You feel like your legs have been cut out from under you, don’t you?” he said.
She shrugged. “Information overload. I thought I wanted to find out about my family, but it’s just an ugly story. I should have known. It’s why people like me wind up in foster care—because of ugly people.”
“No, honey. Your father was as cheated as you were. He lost the love of his life and missed twenty-seven years of your life because of lies. And someone wants him dead because he’s rich. What’s happening now is neither your fault, nor his. You are targets, but you’re not victims.”
The tone of her voice shifted, revealing the anger she was feeling.
