Looking him straight in the face was the hardest thing she’d ever done.From start to finish, she was ashamed of the way she’d behaved, but she didn’t know how to say it without admitting she’d been in the wrong.
“What do you want?”he asked.
“If you don’t want to be by yourself, I know Casey would want you to stay here in the main house.You could have her room.”
“I don’t think so, but thanks.”He turned away.
“Ryder, wait, please!”
He took a deep breath and turned around again.“Yeah?”“I’m sorry.”
He didn’t respond.
“I have never regretted anything as much as I have regretted the stunt I pulled with you.All I can say is, I have envied Casey her place in this family all of her life, and it’s not even her fault.She was born a Ruban.Our mother became one by marriage.Miles and I have been on the outside looking in ever since the day Mother said, ‘I do.”’Her chin quivered as she continued.“However, not even in my ugliest moment have I ever wished Casey to come to harm.I ask your forgiveness, and when Casey comes home, I will ask hers, too.”
Ryder knew truth when he heard it, and in his opinion, it was probably the first time in her life that Erica Dunn had been completely honest, with herself, and with someone else.And because she was Casey’s sister, he held out his hand.
“Truce.”
She smiled.“Truce.”And she accepted the offer of friendship.
“Sure I can’t change your mind?”
He shook his head and then hurried out the door.Erica watched as he ran up the stairs to the apartment, and although she couldn’t hear it, imagined the thud as he slammed the door shut behind him.
Ryder grabbed the phone as soon as he came in the door, then sat down with it in his lap.Within seconds, he was punching in numbers, then waiting as it began to ring.Four rings later, the answering machine kicked on.
He closed his eyes as he listened to the message.It had been so long—too long since he’d heard the sound of his brother’s voice.
“This is Justice Air and The Justice Way.State your name, your business, and if you want a call back, leave your number.Wait for the beep.”
It didn’t register to be surprised that Roman was now in charge of his business as well.Casey was foremost on his mind.
“Roman, it’s Ryder.For once, pick up the damned phone.”
A distinct click sounded in Ryder’s ear, and he closed his eyes with relief.
“It’s about damned time,” Roman growled.
“Give me grief later,” Ryder said.“Right now, I need you, brother, as I have never needed you before.”
Roman sat up.Ryder was thirty-three years old and to Roman’s knowledge, he had never asked a soul for help before in his life.“What’s wrong?”
“My wife has been kidnapped.I want her back, Roman.”His voice broke.“Dammit, I need her back.If anything happens to her, I won’t—”
“Where are you?”
“Ruban Crossing, Mississippi.”
“Hell, I knew that,” Roman muttered.“I mean physical directions to your home.”
Startled, it took Ryder a moment to reconnect his thoughts.Then he sighed.He should have known.After all, his brotherwasa private investigator.
“Got a pen and paper?”he asked.
“Does a bear—”
Ryder laughed aloud, drowning out the rest of Roman’s remark.It made him feel good, almost normal, to hear Roman’s ever present sarcasm.Some things never change.
