Because, God, I’d argue 99% of people who’d been through what she had—and by the way, I still hadn’t heard half of it—would focus on themselves. Their lives. She’d earned that right to be selfish. But instead, she gave. Even when she had nothing to give, she found a way.
What a beautiful soul.
“I help them get on their feet, give them resources, like counseling, but mostly, I just want them to have one person in this world who loves them unconditionally.” She was drying the same fork for the fourth time, lost in her explanation. “Someone who will be there for the rest of their lives. When they feel like talking, I listen. When they’re quiet, I let them be quiet. I just want them to feel safe. And to know that they matter to someone.”
I reached over and gently took the fork from her hands. “They’re lucky to have you.” The same way I was starting to feel lucky to have found her.
Her cheeks flushed pink, and once again, her demeanor completely transformed—her light receding behind a wall of apprehension. “If something happens to me, if I’m in prison, who will take care of them?”
The vulnerability in her voice nearly undid me. Here this woman was, facing the possibility of life in prison, and instead of focusing on what that would mean for her, the hell she’d live, possibly forever, all she cared about was making sure these kids were okay. I wanted to tell her that if the worst happened, I’d make sure they were taken care of. That I’d take care of anything she needed me to.
“Then we can’t let that happen,” I declared, draining the sink and drying my hands on a kitchen towel.
She swallowed hard.
“I need you to tell me everything, Faith. I know it’s going to be hard, but you need to start with your time in the foster system and tell me what you know about the dead man.”
“The victim,” she corrected quietly.
“That term is to be determined.” I stepped closer, close enough that I had to resist the urge to cup her face in my hands again.
This woman wasn’t some cold-blooded murderer. When she’d stumbled into the mansion, how could I have wondered that for a moment? Shame on me for even thinking it.
“I wouldn’t even know where to begin,” Faith whispered.
“We’ll figure it out together.” The promise felt like so much more than just lawyer to client. It felt like a vow I intended to keep for the rest of my life.
A half hour later, after we’d said goodbye to the kids for the night, we drove in silence back to Faith’s house. I sensed she needed the quiet, that she was exhausted after everything she’d been through, and I needed to give her a reprieve before we started the harder part.
Problem was, I couldn’t give her more than the drive. We needed to dive in—now.
But when we rounded the corner and I pulled into the driveway the GPS had taken me to, I cursed at the unwelcome sight on her front lawn.
“Shit.”
17
FAITH
The moment I stepped out of Ryker’s car, I stopped breathing, but not from the cold air biting my skin. My small front porch was crowded with familiar faces—Scarlett’s blonde hair glowing amber under the porch’s light, Jace’s imposing figure leaning against my railing like he’d been carved there, Dakota’s nervous smile, Axel’s trademark smirk, and Tessa waving with mittened hands. Frosted breath hung in the air between us, little clouds that disappeared as quickly as they formed.
They were all here.
For me.
My throat closed so fast, I couldn’t swallow. The wind cut through my jacket, but I barely felt it. All I could feel was the weight of them standing there in the cold, waiting. For me. The person who’d spent years making sure no one got close enough to do exactly this.
“We need to get rid of everyone,” Ryker muttered behind me, his voice low and urgent.
“What?” I spun around. “No!”
“Faith.” He dropped his voice even lower. “I’m expecting the full autopsy report any day now. And my PI is tracking down surveillance footage near the woods. While we’re waiting for that,I need to know your full history with Daniel. Every interaction, every threat, every detail you can remember. Plus anything else in your past because the prosecutor will use anything against you. I can’t be blindsided.”
“Ryker.” I stepped closer. “For almost my entire life, all I’ve wanted is to matter. To have people who truly care about me. And now I do.” My hand found his arm, and I felt him stiffen beneath my touch. “Please. I know we need to get to work, but please let me have some time with them first.”
He scrubbed the side of his face with a tell I was beginning to recognize. The gesture he made when he wanted to say no, but couldn’t quite get there.
Realistically, I knew he wasn’t in charge of me. But Ryker was risking everything to help me, and steamrolling his judgment when so much was at stake felt wrong. Instead of arguing, I simply placed my hand over his and squeezed. He went utterly still, those piercing blue eyes snapping to mine.
