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“She tried to hurt you.” His hands gripped my hips. “Again. In the cruelest way possible. The little girl whose hair I braided turned into the kind of woman who sleeps with a married man and then torments their ex-wife because she somehow thinks she’s the wronged party.”
“Then be sad for that, but don’t be mad on my behalf. I’m okay because you made sure I would be.”
25
JULIAN
The woman Ellie had tried to destroy was sitting here, telling me she was okay because I had made sure of it. I didn’t know what to do with that kind of grace. A recurring theme in my life with Celia.
I had spent a decade not wanting anything serious because of how selfish Courtney had been, but my pain was worth it because I’d come out the other side with this incredible woman at my side.
“Thank you.”
She kissed me, then pulled back as if to check that I was still with her.
“I’m okay, baby.”
She stroked her finger over the crease in my brow. “Maybe not yet, but you will be.”
I set her on the cushion beside me and stood so I could pace.
“The video is a crime. It’s not one with mandatory reporting for my license. So the choice is yours.” Her hand stayed on my thigh, and she looked so steady that I confessed, “Even if it were required, I would only call it in if you wanted me to. And be honest. I’m not going to be mad at you either way.”
She sighed. “Go ahead.”
I had contacts in the LAPD, so I knew exactly who to call. One of the detectives had done a great job and was discreet while handling a corporate leak for one of the studios.
He answered on the second ring. “Walker.”
“Good afternoon, detective. This is Julian Hayes. I have evidence on a revenge porn, cyber harassment case.”
“One of your clients?”
“No.” I met Celia’s gaze. “The woman I intend to marry someday.”
Her eyes widened, and Megan did a little cheer in the kitchen doorway. Describing Celia that way accomplished two things. My name would be attached to hers, and that carried a certain amount of power in legal circles. And it made clear to Celia that I wasn’t going anywhere without her.
“Damn, someone dug themselves a hole that’ll land them in prison.”
That was putting things mildly, considering the situation. “My daughter is the suspect.”
I gave him a rundown on everything my tech guy found as well as Ellie’s potential motives.
“She’s at her mother’s address?”
“Yes.” I rattled off the street number and name.
“We’ll be there within the hour.”
I hung up and told Celia what Walker had said. Then I grabbed my keys and added,
“I want to be there when they take Ellie.”
“I’m coming too,” she insisted.
“Make that three,” Megan called, rushing outside with us.
It took us an hour to drive to Beverly Hills. When we pulled onto Courtney’s street, two unmarked cars were already at the curb. I parked a house down and cut the engine.
