“Don’t worry about Frank. It’s already in motion. He won’t get away this time.” His voice was level.
Nina set down her fork.
“What do you mean?”
He took a sip of his now-cold coffee.
“Nolan’s organizing everything. There’s a plan. Give it a few days—and you’ll know.” He looked her straight in the eyes.“He won’t slip through our fingers again.”
Nina clasped her hands under the table.
“Really?” she whispered.
Jasper smirked faintly.
“Even if someone tries to shut down the courthouse again. This time it won’t work.”
He sounded so certain.
For the first time in a long while, she felt it too: maybe everything really was coming to an end.
And maybe, finally, she would be able to live.
Normally.
Without fear.
CHAPTER 49
The house was silent when Jasper walked in. He tossed his keys onto the shelf, crouched to loosen his laces, and then flipped the light switch.
The sudden brightness cut across his eyes and he saw his daughter immediately.
Lynn sat curled up tightly on the couch, knees pulled to her chest. She looked at him with a gaze that was angry, defiant, and guilty all at once. Like a cornered animal.
Jasper exhaled.
She’d come back.
“You said I had to be home in thirty minutes,” she snapped.“And you’re the one who didn’t show up.”
He stayed silent. Took off his jacket, draped it over the back of a chair, walked into the kitchen, and switched on the coffee maker.
Silence rang between them. He felt her sharp, hurt stare. And something inside him tightened into a suffocating knot.
He wanted to yell. To demand what the hell she was thinking. How she could possibly get involved with Nolan. But the words wouldn’t come. He couldn’t risk losing her—not after everything.
“I went to see Nina,” he finally said, watching the coffee drip.
Lynn twitched slightly but said nothing.
“She…” He inhaled slowly.“She’d like to get to know you better.”
He didn’t know why he said it. Maybe he was trying to bridge the gaping distance between them with anything he could.
Lynn didn’t react. She only hugged her knees tighter.
Jasper placed her cup on the coffee table and sat down opposite her.
