LITMIR.BIZ

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made a disgusted sound. “She’s hurting. And it angers her if anyone even suggests Derek might not have been perfect. But I can’t sit by and watch her persecute an innocent woman.”

      Dane thought his sister was pretty damn special at that moment, and more than ever, he regretted the amount of time he’d let pass without seeing his family.

      “How long are you willing to help out?”

      Until I see things settled, he thought, but he only shrugged. “I don’t know. We’ll see. Right now, I have every agent in my own business maxed out, working on two or more cases at a time. And running between offices isn’t getting any easier.” Especially while trying to uncover a murderer.

      He looked up at that moment to see Raymond watching him while his mother chatted in Raymond’s ear, no doubt regaling him with stories of old acquaintances, money and power. It was all his mother knew, all she cared about, and Raymond, with his desire to ingratiate himself, provided the perfect audience. Dane nodded then looked away. “Do you love him?”

      Celia laughed. “You say that as if such a thing is unimaginable.”

      “I just want you to be happy.”

      “I’d be happy if you stayed on.” She quickly raised her hands. “But I understand why you can’t. Dane, why were you asking questions about Angel Morris?”

      She effectively sidetracked him and he rubbed his chin, wondering what to tell her. Finally he said, “I suppose it just surprises me what Derek did. I don’t like to think him capable of such things. Can you even begin to imagine what Angel Morris must have felt like?”

      Celia leaned into him, their shoulders touching. “If it’s any consolation, I think he regretted it. He was very distracted those last few weeks. And unhappy. He told me once that Angel would never forgive him, and that he didn’t blame her. It was almost like he’d had to hurt her, though I never understood why. I planned to ask him, to understand, but then he died.”

      Dane didn’t understand either, but he felt better for having talked with his sister. His mother he simply hoped to avoid so she couldn’t try to nail him down on his intentions. He didn’t want anyone to know his plans until he’d figured everything out. At this point, he wasn’t certain who to trust, so he trusted no one.

      Not even Angel. The more he learned, the more reason he had to wonder why she’d ever contacted Derek again in the first place. She had to hate him for all he’d done to her. But, his thinking continued, Derek had also given her Grayson, and the baby appeared to be the most important thing in her life. Maybe for that reason alone, she’d been able to give up on some of her anger and resentment. Maybe she’d come to the very reasonable conclusion that Grayson deserved a father and all that Derek could provide. It could be only misplaced pride that still made her insist she wanted nothing from him. Heaven knew, he’d had a hard enough time making her accept the essentials: food and diapers and damn shampoo. She also had plenty of reason to hang on to that pride, given the way she’d been treated.

      As Raymond and Mrs. Carter joined them, Raymond smoothly slipped his arm around Celia and gave her an affectionate peck on the cheek. Watching them, Dane pondered the idea of starting over. Ever since Anna had abandoned him, allowing his mother to buy her off, he’d avoided relationships. He hadn’t met a woman he’d wanted to see more than twice.

      Anna hadn’t trusted him, had believed his mother’s tales over the truths he’d given her. He’d never admit it to anyone, but Anna’s actions had proved his mother right; she wasn’t the woman for him. He expected, needed, a woman to give him everything, not merely her trust, but her unwavering loyalty. Her soul. Anna hadn’t been able to do that, and while he still regretted the loss, it was more the manipulation that he resented. He’d long since gotten over his first love. It had been a lesson to be learned, and he’d learned it well.

      This time, he could think more clearly. He’d make certain the same didn’t happen with Angel. He’d reason with his brains, not his heart, and sooner or later, he’d win her over. His ruthlessness was an inherent part of his nature. After all, much as he might dislike it on occasion, he was still a Carter.

      Angel didn’t stand a chance.

      “I DON’T LIKE IT. I think you should tell Derek.”

      Angel was so sick of hearing Mick’s refrain. He and Derek got along wonderfully, but then who wouldn’t get along with him? Derek was generous and thoughtful and attentive and protective. He’d shown up every day for the past week, helping with everything from bathing the baby to shopping and housework. Twice he had brought over dinner, then cleaned up the mess so Angel could get caught up on her typing. He’d tried to give her money, but after she’d told him exactly what she thought of that idea, he hadn’t mentioned it again.

      Instead, he asked questions, hundreds and hundreds of questions. Sometimes it made her nervous, though she couldn’t say why. He just seemed so…different.

      “The job he got me is awesome.”

      She smiled at Mick’s enthusiasm. He’d been with her since six o’clock while they went over his homework. Now it was nine and he’d done little else but talk about Derek in between lessons in calculus and conjugating Spanish verbs. “So you like it?”

      “Are you kidding? What’s not to like? It’s a private investigations office and the people there are so laid-back and friendly. It’s like a big family.”

      Angel’s heart twisted. Mick had never had much family to brag about. His mother was more absent than not, and even when she was around, she didn’t demonstrate any maternal instincts. Mick had pretty much raised himself, and Angel knew what a lonely existence that could be.

      “They’ve been telling me some of the cases they’ve dealt with. Incredible stuff, like shoot-outs and drug busts and all kinds of stuff. This one guy, Alec Sharpe, he’s actually sort of scary, but don’t tell Derek I said so.”

      Angel smiled in amazement. If the man spooked Mick, who wasn’t afraid of anyone as far as she could tell, he must be one frightening character. She pretended to lock her lips with an imaginary key. “Not a word, I promise.”

      “The guy has the darkest eyes and he’s real quiet and when he talks, even if it’s just to ask for coffee, everyone around him shuts up and listens. I think he’s sort of a boss or something.”

      Angel gathered up pencils and pens and put the calculator away. “What do you do there?”

      Mick made a face. “All kinds of stuff, from cleaning and running out for doughnuts to making coffee and putting files away. But they’re all real nice about it. They don’t act like I’m getting paid, but more like I’m doing them a huge favor and they really appreciate it. And Alec gave me this really cool car to drive. It has the best stereo.”

      Angel knew Mick would be paid more working there than he had made doing both jobs before. And it had been agreed he wouldn’t work past six o’clock on school days, and only until the afternoon on the weekends. She was so incredibly grateful to Derek, seeing the change in Mick. He was more like the average kid now, happy and proud. And he adored Derek.

      Of course, Mick didn’t know everything that had happened between Angel and Derek in the past. And she’d never tell. Derek was doing his best to prove the past really was over; not for the world would she take away Mick’s present happiness.

      “Why do you still dislike him so much, Angel?”

      “Mick…”

      “He could help,” Mick said, anxious to convince her. “The phone calls were bad enough, but now the letter—”

      She rubbed her head. “I know. The letter proves whoever it is knows where to find me. I’ve been thinking about this a lot.” She hesitated, almost afraid to voice her suspicions out loud. “It’s possible Derek is the one behind all this.”

      He stared at her hard, then got to his feet and paced away. “You don’t

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