Hawk kissed her, resting his lips against hers for a long moment, pouring his love into her. “So fucking strong and fierce. Go get your answers. I’ll be waiting right here for you.”
Chapter Nineteen
Lucky walked into the sheriff’s office and stared at the man who’d known her since she was little. She’d been in his house a thousand times, walking in without even a knock. She slept over countless times over the years. She’d eaten at his table. Hugged him on his birthday and Christmas and at his wife’s funeral.
She knew him.
He knew her.
But there was a line between them. A lot known but unspoken.
They didn’t discuss the abuse her father inflicted on her. They didn’t talk about Desiree’s erratic behavior.
They kept their secrets. The silences between them spoke volumes.
He knew more than he’d ever say.
She knew he’d turned a blind eye to what had been happening to her because he loved his daughter.
He’d do anything for Desiree and let Lucky suffer.
Jealousy rose up.
Why didn’t she have that with her father?
Why did Desiree get all that love and devotion?
She stared into his gray eyes, so filled with everything unsaid and the apology he’d never offer.
Desiree was so lucky to have someone in her corner, willing to overlook the bad and always trying to find the good in her. He’d never let her fall.
Lucky had never had someone like that in her life.
Her brother might have grown up to be that person for her.
She’d never know. He didn’t get the chance to grow up at all.
Someone took him from her.
Was it at Neil’s hand? Or Desiree’s?
Did they do it together?
She didn’t know which one was worse. The lying, cheating, drug dealing boyfriend, or the best friend, who wasn’t really a friend at all?
Tears threatened but she choked them back as the stare-off continued.
She broke the unbearable silence. “Did Neil kill my family?”
Bob looked like he aged ten years in the time it took for his shoulders to sag, his face to turn weary, and his eyes to fill with resignation. He hung his head and finally answered. “I don’t know.”
She challenged him. “His prints were on the knife.”
“Yes.” That wasn’t enough to convince him, which meant there was something that didn’t add up about the case for him either.
She went at him from another direction. “I hid what was happening at home for a long time.”
His exhausted eyes met hers. “I didn’t know it was happening until you were in high school.” Shame hunched his shoulders even more. He couldn’t even look at her.
