He knew that Kat was dying to give Jennie all the details of how he’d gone in search of her when she’d left. And though he could only hope that Kat hadn’t taken it upon herself to do it for him, there was a good possibility she’d done exactly that. When one of her siblings was threatened, she acted like a mother bear protecting her cub. He loved her even more for her fierce defense of them, but she needed to learn restraint.

  Cole’s phone rang and drew Ethan’s attention.

  “It’s Patrick,” he said and answered. “I’m having dinner with the family. I’ll put you on speaker so you can update all of us at once.” Cole pressed his speaker button and laid the phone in the middle of the table. “Go ahead, Patrick.”

  “Hey, y’all,” Patrick said and the family said their hellos.

  “I have some news on Caldera. He’s still a no-show at work, and I haven’t been able to locate him, but I did talk with his neighbor. She told me he came to the U.S. after his little sister died in Mexico. Now here’s the interesting part. Photos of Hope arranged for the sister to get antibiotics through a local clinic.”

  “She was one of our clients?” Jennie asked.

  “According to the neighbor.”

  “How did she die?”

  “When the family went to pick up the drugs, the clinic claimed the antibiotics had been stolen and she never got her medicine. Caldera says he investigated, and according to him, the drugs were sold in a black-market transaction.”

  All eyes turned on Jennie.

  “I wish I could say it’s likely he’s wrong, but it’s not uncommon in Mexico for something like this to happen.”

  She sounded so sad.

  “Whenever we get a report of issues with medicine from clients, our first step is to make sure they receive a replacement. Then we ask for a police investigation. Unfortunately, many officers are on the take as well, so the investigations rarely do any good.”

  “You’d have records if this happened?” Kat asked.

  “If his sister was a Photos of Hope client, we’d definitely have a record of working with her. But I wouldn’t hold out hope that the family contacted us when the drugs went missing. If they had, we’d have made sure she got the medicine and maybe she’d be alive today.”

  “If my sister was dying and couldn’t get her medicine,” Kat said, “I’d get on the phone to Photos of Hope and ask for help.”

  “Sometimes the families do call, but oftentimes they’re just so resigned to the corrupt system that they do nothing.” Jennie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ll follow up to see if his family reported the problem.”

  “Is it possible they did call and someone in your charity dropped the ball?” Patrick asked.

  “I hope not, but anything’s possible.”

  “Regardless of what actually happened,” Ethan said, “it sounds like Caldera is blaming Photos of Hope, and he could be looking for a way to avenge his sister’s death.”

  “That’s my take on it,” Patrick replied.

  “I think you should put a priority on following up on this.” Nods around the table confirmed Ethan’s opinion. “We’re all in agreement here, Patrick. Keep after this lead.”

  Cole disconnected the call. “So, what do you think?”

  “My heart breaks that another child died.” Jennie paused. “But I have to admit to feeling relieved that this may not be about Sotos. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that I caught him in a picture.”

  “Don’t get too excited, Jen,” Ethan cautioned. “I’m still liking Sotos for all of this. With everything that’s happened, it would take a good-size operation to pull this off.”

  “But if Caldera’s a gang member, he’d have his fellow members as a resource.” Hope continued to hang in her words.

  “I hate to say this, but too many things have happened that don’t fit the way a gang member would act on his own.” Kat sounded apologetic. “He wouldn’t have stopped at ransacking your house or shooting Ashley. He’d have taken valuables for the cash they’d bring. It’s a bad sign that nothing was touched.”

  “Kat’s right,” Ethan said. “Someone has to be calling the shots. Someone with enough power to make them leave behind a room full of expensive cameras. And our fake detectives were clearly not gang members. The more time I’ve had to think about how they acted, the more I’m convinced they were real cops. I doubt they work for the local police but Sotos probably has them on the payroll elsewhere.”

  Cole raised a brow, questioning Ethan.

  “I’m not trying to make excuses for what I did, but these guys knew enough to ask for my carry permit. Not something most civilians would think to do. And those fake IDs were flawless.”

  Ethan’s phone rang.

  “Derrick,” he said, after looking at caller ID. “What’s up, bro?”

  “My Portland police connection called. The men had cleared out by the time they arrived at the warehouse. Techs are processing the scene now.”

  Ethan’s heart sank at the news. “Maybe we’ll get a break and they’ll lift a few viable prints.”

  “Even if they do, I’m sure these guys have gone so far underground, we’ll never find them.”

  Good point, but not one Ethan wanted to focus on. “Keep me informed if you hear anything else.” He disconnected.

  “What’s going on?” Jennie’s voice held a nervous tremor.

  “The suspects fled the warehouse before the cops arrived,” he said and waited for her response.

  She didn’t say anything but got up and left the room.

  Not good, but expected. He didn’t think twice, but followed her and found her pacing in the living room.

  “This is never going to end, is it?” She stopped and looked at him.

  He had to give her an honest answer, but he didn’t have to be blunt. “I don’t know.”

  “Once the show opens and I don’t display the picture, they could back off.”

  “Maybe, but as long as they know you have the potential of showing it, then you’re in danger.”

  “So let’s just give them the negatives and CD.”

  “They won’t believe you’ve given them everything. Not after the way you’ve evaded them so far.”

  “So you’re saying Sotos will be after me for the rest of my life.”

  Her dejected tone hit him hard. He had to shove his hands in his pockets not to reach out and comfort her. “No, Jen, I didn’t say that. We’ll come up with a way to make it end.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like once we have more than circumstantial evidence to prove he’s behind this, we’ll call in the DEA to find a way to bring down Sotos.”

  “Is that even possible?”

  “It’s possible.”

  “Your tone tells me it’s not likely though, right?” She stared at him.

  He didn’t want to continue down a road that wouldn’t help them and would only cloud the need to stay focused and vigilant now. “You know what? Speculating about this isn’t doing you any good.”

  Her eyes narrowed and tears formed in the bottomless depths.

  “Don’t cry, Jen,” he said softly.

  “I don’t want to cry.” She looked up at the ceiling. “I thought after all I’ve seen in life that I could handle anything. But I was wrong. So wrong.” Her shoulders started to shake.

  He couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. He moved closer and brought her chin up with a gentle hand. She avoided his gaze.

  “Look at me, honey.”

  She did, lifting scared and fragile eyes to his.

  “You’re not alone in this. I’m with you until it’s resolved.” He smoothed the hair from her face. “Do you hear me? You’re not alone.”

  Her tears intensified, big plump ones sliding down her cheeks and over the darkening bruise.

  Not the response he expected. “Aw, man. What’d I say?”

  “I’ve been alone virtually all my life, Ethan.” She paused and drew in a breath, her tears slowing. “I don’t really know how to believe you’ll be around when it counts.”

  He drew her into his arms. “Do you feel my arms around you?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Whenever you doubt that I’ll be there, remember this and know I’m here for as long as you need me.”

  She leaned back and looked deep into his eyes. Her eyes melted into warm chocolate, filled with trust and affection, if he read them right. His heart took a tumble, and his pulse eased into high gear. He’d proven that he’d be by her side no matter what, and he should back away. Get out of this room. Go anywhere but deeper into her eyes.

  She reached up and trailed a finger along the side of his face, and he caved. He lowered his head and let his lips claim hers. Warm and soft. He felt as if he’d come home for the first time in years. A home that he had no right to claim. The feeling was so unexpected his heart lost track of its beat.

  He stifled a wave of emotions and moved back. Setting her away, he took time to catch his breath. Her eyes held confusion, maybe regret and distrust. He should never have kissed her. Everything he’d accomplished in his promise to be there for her had been undone with one simple kiss.

  Cole poked his head in the room and nodded at Ethan. “You have a minute or am I interrupting?”

  “I was just leaving,” Jennie said and fled toward the dining room.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Just peachy,” Ethan answered. “What’d you need?”

  “Dani called. She tailed the assistant to a dealer. It appears the dealer is Linda’s boyfriend. Dani thinks he could be the guy who paid Linda to leak the news to the press. She wants us to have a little chat with him.”

  Good. After the way things went with Jennie, Ethan could stand to interrogate a suspect. “I’ll tell Kat we’re leaving.”

  “Already did.” Cole turned toward the door.

  Ethan followed him and caught a glance of Jennie clearing the dining table and talking with Kat. She didn’t look up. Maybe she was avoiding him or maybe she just didn’t see him. Either way, he’d spend a sleepless night wondering if his kiss had caused irreversible damage between them.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  In the kitchen with the early-morning sun shining brightly through the window, Jennie finished her call to the Photos of Hope office as she heard the front door open.

  “Kat,” Ethan called out.

  “In the office,” Kat yelled back.

  He’d arrived right on time to take Jennie to the photo shoot. She was looking forward to losing herself in her work and taking her mind off everything that had been happening, but she wasn’t looking forward to spending time in close quarters with Ethan.

  Even ten hours later, she could still feel his kiss. The warmth of his lips. The strength in his hold. The affection she thought he was transmitting. She could also feel the sting of his rejection. He’d promised to be there for her, and then like a slap in the face, he’d pulled away without an explanation. Still, she was going to get into his truck, make the ten-minute trip to the photo shoot and pretend nothing had happened between them.

  She went to Kat’s office to return her cell phone. She gave a brief nod to Ethan, who perched on the corner of his sister’s desk, looking refreshed and too appealing. His hair was still damp above the collar of a crisp blue shirt and he was clean shaven. She wanted to let her eyes linger, but she concentrated on handing the phone to Kat instead.

  “Find anything out about Caldera’s sister?” Kat asked.

  “She was definitely a client of Photos of Hope and she was supposed to get a prescription, but there’s no record of a follow-up call from the family.”

  “That’s good, then. Your charity isn’t to blame.”

  “Either way, a child died.”

  “Caldera may still blame you for that,” Ethan added, “and be out for revenge.”

  “Did you learn anything last night to help confirm that?” Kat asked.

  “Maybe. Linda’s drug dealer is indeed her boyfriend. He claims he was paid to get Linda to call the newspaper. He didn’t know the man, but he has the same tattoo as Munoz and Caldera so I showed him Munoz’s picture. He says the payer wasn’t him.”

  “Do you believe him?”

  Ethan shrugged. “As much as one can believe a drug dealer. He’s meeting with a police sketch artist right now. We’ll see what they come up with.”

  “Sounds like another dead end.” Jennie hated how defeated she sounded.

  “Don’t give up, Jen,” Kat offered. “Investigations like these take time and we have your back.”

  Ethan looked at his watch. “We should get going.”

  Jennie nodded and went to get her things. Before last night’s kiss, Ethan would’ve been the one to try to cheer her up, but he hadn’t said a word. He was probably regretting kissing her and thought it best to keep things professional.

  Professional she could do. She met him at the door, and once in the truck, she forced her mind onto the upcoming job. They drove deeper into the West Hills, climbing higher into the area with spectacular views of the city and toward properties with much higher value than Kat’s already expensive home.

  Before long, Ethan slowed and pulled into the circular driveway of a large historic home. “You wait here. I’ll check things out and come back for you.”

  She wanted to tell him not to bother checking. If one of the cartel members lay in wait, they would surely spot him in this posh neighborhood. Bitsy Standiford’s house was likely the safest place for her right now.

  A housekeeper dressed in a simple gray uniform pulled open the rich mahogany door. Ethan engaged her in an animated conversation until a car pulled up behind her, and then he raced back toward the truck. He gestured at her to stay put.

  She swiveled and looked out the back window. A boxy purple Nissan came to a stop behind her. She let out a breath. Nothing to worry about. It was just Hank Frederic, the reporter assigned to this story.

  By the time she’d climbed out to introduce Hank to Ethan, he’d already drawn his gun and faced the car.

  “Relax,” Jennie yelled. “It’s just Hank. He’s the reporter.”

  “Get back in the car, Jen.” His words were more of a growl.

  “But it’s just Hank. You already ran a background check on him.”

  “He’s not alone and could be compromised.”

  She highly doubted that, but if she complied with his demands, this would end faster. She climbed in and left the door open a crack so she could hear.

  “Hands where I can see them,” Ethan yelled and slowly approached the passenger side of the car. “Step out of the vehicle nice and slow.”

  “Hey, man, I don’t have any cash, if that’s what you’re after.”

  Jennie couldn’t believe it. What was he doing here?

  She pushed open the door. “I know him, Ethan. His name is Wes Mahoney. He’s a reporter, too, and we used to work together.”

  She eased out of the car and gaped at Wes. He wore his usual ratty jeans and scuffed cowboy boots. He was long, lean and thinner than she remembered. He was still ruggedly handsome, but a long scar ran the length of his face from an almost deadly motorcycle accident that occurred when they were dating.

  She went toward him, but Ethan kept his gun and focus trained on Wes. “What’re you doing here?”

  “Relax, man. I’m just hoping to do a story on Jen.” He gave her a lazy, knowing smile. “Hey, babe. Good to see you.”

  She wasn’t his babe. They’d started dating soon after she’d broken up with Ethan. Their relationship hadn’t survived the brain damage resulting from Wes’s crash. He recovered physically, but the trauma changed him. He’d become a thrill-seeking adventurer, and he’d thought Jennie was too staid and uptight for him. They’d no longer had anything in common and had parted friends.

  Truth be told, she’d been relieved when they’d broken up. She’d liked Wes, but she finally realized she’d only started dating him to bury the pain of her relationship with Ethan. And after the accident and his refusal to do anything to rein in his new personality, they’d had no real future.

  Ethan lowered his gun and faced her. Consternation flashed briefly in his eyes before turning back to Wes and assessing him coldly. But Wes’s focus stayed on her and he didn’t seem to notice Ethan’s study.

  A tight smile was all she could manage for either man.

  Hank climbed out of the driver’s side. “Hey, if I thought you’d try to execute the man, I wouldn’t have brought him along.”

  “Why did you?” Jennie asked, all her distress over another surprise coloring her words.

  “Now, babe, don’t be so mad.” Wes came closer. “I went to the office to see you, and Hank offered to bring me here.”

  Ethan ignored Wes and glared at Hank. “Did you tell anyone else about this shoot or that you were meeting Jennie here?” he demanded.

  Hank looked so confused by Ethan’s over-the-top attitude that Jennie jumped in. “Someone’s harassing me, and Ethan wants to make sure no one knows I’m here.”

  “Sally knows, of course,” Hank said. “But other than that I haven’t talked with anyone else about it.”

  “Sally’s our editor,” Jennie clarified for Ethan who was already turning his focus to Wes.

  “Sorry to cause such a problem.” Wes slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a hug. “But it sure is good to see you.”