Not in a million years, I thought. But I meant what I said. This woman was good at her job. She was also someone I’d rather have as an ally than an enemy. Or at least declare a neutral truce.
“Good luck with your show,” I said. “I’m just glad Tom Loomis’s killer will get the justice he deserves. That’s all I ever wanted.”
Her expression grew serious. “Me too. You may not believe that, but it’s true.”
I reached inside my back seat and came back with a business card. “I think I do believe it,” I said. “In a weird way, we’ve been on the same side this whole time.”
I handed her my card. She took it with a smile, then put her car in reverse and merged back into the street.
Chapter 37
I was numb.I got home right at sunset. I saw someone sitting out on the pontoon. Heaving a great sigh, I walked toward the dock.
“I don’t know if I can do this right now,” I said. My brother, Joe, turned and waved.
“Head in and take a shower,” Eric said as he came out of the house with two beers in hand. “I was just about to fill him in. You want me to ask him to leave?”
“He can do what he wants,” I said. “I just don’t have the energy for another round.”
“He’ll be kissing your feet, Cass,” Eric said.
“He’ll want an apology,” I said. “He wants to say I told you so.”
I kissed Eric and headed upstairs. Despite my empty stomach, I wasn’t sure I’d make it back down after I washed the day away.
I don’t know how long I was in there. The hot water sluicing down my back was a catharsis.
I was happy for Katy. But I was sad for her, too. She’d told me the truth. Maybe she still did love Tom. Maybe they would have worked it out. But I also knew she still loved my brother. As much as I used to care about her, theirs was a toxic relationship. Given the chance, they would destroy each other.
Joe was still out there when I got out of the shower and toweled off. I slipped into a comfortable tank top and shorts. The window was open. Sound carried on the lake. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. But I could hear every word Joe and Eric said.
“She wants me to apologize,” Joe said.
“Don’t you think you should?”
“Not for protecting Emma. She knows I’d do it again.”
“The thing is,” Eric said. “I respect that. I do. Because youareEmma’s protector. Until the day you die. I love that kid with all my heart, too. I’m glad she has you in the world. Because I know you’ll always make sure she’s safe.”
He was quiet for a moment. I couldn’t see my brother’s expression. He leaned away from Eric. “But …?”
“But,” Eric continued. “You need to know that I’m that person for your sister. I know you love her. I know you’d do anything for her. Hell, I know you’d killmeif I ever hurt her. I love her, Joe. It’s more than that though. You were willing to burn everything to the ground to do what you thought was right for Emma. As you should. I’ll do the same for Cass. What you did could have ruined her. I know you know that. I also know you were willing to have her pay that price because you thought it was for Emma.”
“Itwasfor Emma.”
“Let me finish,” Eric said. “I’m telling you that’s who Cass is to me. The person I’ll burn everything to the ground for. Everyone.Including you.”
God, I loved them both. Their thick-headed, stubborn alpha male selves who thought I was out here needing their protection when most of the time it was the other way around.
“Let’s hope you never need to,” Joe said. “Because I am sorry for what this almost did to Cass.”
“Good,” Eric said. “So tell her. Quit being so stubborn and tell your sister you were wrong even if you don’t believe it.”
I closed the bedroom window. Later. I knew Joe would probably spend the night. In the morning, I’d get up early and make them both breakfast. Things would be difficult between us for a while. Until they weren’t.
Because this was my family. We were the best parts of each other and sometimes the worst.
Slowly, I walked downstairs and out the double doors toward the lake. Eric and Joe were still deep in conversation at the end of the dock. When Joe saw me, he stiffened. Eric patted him on the shoulder. Joe and I walked toward each other. We met halfway just as I was about to step onto the dock.
