LITMIR.BIZ

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little sweetheart, Gina tiptoed out of the room. She approached the stairs and heard Kat greet the others.

      Gina tensed. Of all the siblings, Kat had been the most vocal in her condemnation when Gina had broken off with Derrick. A warm welcome was the last thing Gina expected. Kat had always been the defender of the family, watching to make sure no one messed with her siblings’ emotions.

      Gina steeled herself and marched down the stairs. Kat looked up, her eyes following Gina down the stairs. Gina forced herself to relax. She wouldn’t let Kat’s attitude deter her from offering a friendly greeting.

      “Thank you for coming, Kat.” Gina smiled and set the monitor on a table by the sofa.

      Kat nodded, but it was clipped. “Let’s get down to business. The sooner we figure out what’s happening, the sooner you can go back to your old life.” And get out of ours was the unspoken subtext.

      “So grab a seat, everyone, and we’ll get started,” Derrick said cheerfully, but the look he gave Kat didn’t reflect his tone.

      Gina expected coming back into the Justices’ lives would be fraught with turmoil. But actually experiencing it? That was more difficult than she’d thought. Maybe she really would be better off finding someone else to help her.

      When all of them had taken a seat, she ran her gaze over the group. “I’m guessing my past with Derrick is the reason you decided to stop by instead of simply taking the case. Maybe it would be better if I found someone else to investigate and protect us.”

      “No!” Derrick shouted.

      His family members stared openmouthed at him.

      “I mean, no,” he said calmly while peering at Gina. “We’re the best investigators you can find. Plus you’d lose valuable time by looking for someone else.” His eyes radiated passion and pride in his work.

      He really was the man she’d once fallen in love with. A man who put helping others ahead of his own personal strife. The kind of man who would put her first at all times. The kind she fell for and fell hard.

      But he’ll disappoint you again, she reminded herself. Just like Ben. Men always lead you on then disappoint.

      He came to his feet and surveyed his family, his focus lingering on Kat. “Anyone have a problem with taking this case, speak up now.”

      When no one said a word, Gina decided to acknowledge the elephant in the room. “I appreciate your help, especially with how I treated Derrick in college. I can only say I was young and thoughtless. I was trying to protect myself, but I could have—should have—found a way to do so without hurting him like that. If I could have a do-over, I would handle it much differently.”

      Everyone except Kat visibly relaxed a notch.

      Fussy baby sounds came over the monitor, and Gina said, “I hate to keep you here longer than necessary, but would you mind if I check on Sophia? After everything that’s happened in our lives lately, I’m a bit paranoid about her safety.”

      “Go ahead,” Ethan said. “If my wife and I’d been through what you’ve experienced, we’d do the same thing.”

      “Thank you.” She climbed the stairs and felt all eyes on her, but she resisted looking back. She didn’t need to hear their conversation to know what they were saying to Derrick. She hurt you, they’d say. Why are you so adamant about helping her? She doesn’t deserve it. Let her find someone else like she suggested.

      At least that’s what she’d be telling a sibling of hers in a similar situation. More than ever, she was thankful God provided people like the Justices with skills to protect her and find Jon’s killer. She could only hope they would be able to look beyond her faults and work together to keep her alive.

      * * *

      Derrick preempted his family’s questions by updating them on the case—including Mitch’s involvement. When he’d finished, he sat in his favorite leather chair, planted his hands on his knees and waited for the first comment.

      “With the investigation into her friend’s disappearance just beginning, you must have considered she could be the killer,” Kat said, sounding less than pleased.

      Before Derrick could answer, Cole’s focus zeroed in on him. “Do you think she’s telling the truth?”

      Though Derrick had waffled at first, he believed Gina’s story. He nodded.

      “I believe her, too,” Dani said. “And if we’re going to work with her, it’s time for us to leave the past behind.”

      Derrick eyed his twin. She’d changed since she was nearly murdered last year. This willingness to easily forget about someone who’d wronged him was proof of her new approach to life—to only stress over the important things.

      “Then that’s good enough for me.” Cole leaned back and propped a leg on his knee. “You can count on my support.”

      “Really?” Kat raised an eyebrow. “Just like that. Mr. Skeptical is taking her word for it?” She swung her gaze to Dani. “And you want to forget what she did to Derrick?”

      Cole shrugged. “What can I say? After meeting and marrying Alyssa, I’m a changed man.”

      “Love will do that for you.” Dani leaned her head on Luke’s shoulder, and he pulled her closer.

      Right. If only change could be that simple, Derrick would be married by now.

      Change wasn’t simple for Cole. The thought popped into Derrick’s head. Cole had tough issues—real issues from Afghanistan—to work out. If he freed himself from his problems, so can you.

      Doubt immediately set in. Cole knew his issues and could face them directly. Derrick wasn’t even sure why he couldn’t commit to a long-term relationship or where he’d start to fix it.

      Gina came down the stairs, her focus zooming in on him. She was seeking comfort again, and his passion for helping the underdog screamed out for him to take her hand and offer it.

      A boneheaded move.

      He shifted his focus back to the case. “I brought everyone up to speed. We’re ready to make a game plan to find Jon’s killer and protect you.”

      Kat’s eyes lasered in on Gina as she took a seat. “Don’t think because we’re taking your case that we’ve forgotten how much you hurt Derrick.”

      “Kat fails to remember we’re all grown-ups,” Derrick said, hoping to take the added stress out of the room. “She still thinks she needs to protect all of us.”

      Kat crossed her arms. “Someone in the family has to do it.”

      “Since you’re appointing yourself as our guardian,” Dani said with a smirk, “maybe you should partner with Derrick on Gina’s protective detail.”

      “Be glad to,” Kat answered, clearly surprising Dani.

      “Protective detail?” Gina’s hand flew to her chest.

      Derrick nodded. “One of us will be with you 24/7 until this is resolved.”

      “It will mostly be Derrick, but we’ll all help,” Dani added.

      “Oh,” Gina said, and quickly looked away.

      Great. Gina’s unwillingness to look him in the eye said she didn’t want him around. That was bad enough, but he didn’t want the sibling most likely to antagonize Gina working the investigation with him, either. He had enough drama with Gina. He didn’t need Kat’s, as well.

      “I’ll expect your full focus, and you’ll have to back-burner all of your other cases,” he warned.

      “Ethan can reschedule the important things. Right?” She pressed her lips together and watched Ethan.

      He nodded. “If that’s what you want.”

      “It’s

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