be.”
Chapter 7
“Lexie, Anthony was my friend. He was on my special forces team for eight years. He was one of the finest soldiers I’ve had the privilege to work with and one of the most honorable men I’ve known. We were together in more godforsaken places in the world than should exist. Of all the men I commanded over the years, your brother was the most admirable. If I had to choose anyone to have my back, no matter where or why, it would be Anthony Beloi.”
Lexie was startled. Jake’s expression was intense. He was sincere, clearly moved by his relationship with Anthony. But she felt betrayed, angry that he had kept his relationship with Anthony from her. She was just beginning to trust Jake. Frankly, she liked him. It hurt that he had tricked her into having dinner with him. He hadn’t even told her he knew Anthony. Before she could wrestle with her chaotic emotions, Jake continued.
“When I learned about Anthony’s death, I insisted on leading the investigation. I will not stop until we find his killer.”
His eyes were hard, fierce.
Lexie looked down at her hands, not wanting to meet his eyes. She didn’t want him to see her confusion.
“There’s something else, Lexie, that you should know, if you don’t already. You were the most important person in Anthony’s life. Whenever we got into deep conversations about what mattered to us, you were first on his list. You were the reason he left the army, why he came to Yuma, so he could be closer to you.”
Lexie felt her chest constrict. She couldn’t stop the words. She’d been thinking them too long to hide them.
Her voice was ragged, as tightly strung as her nerves. “Are you saying it’s my fault? That he wouldn’t be dead if it weren’t for me?”
Jake shook his head and took hold of her hands. She tried to pull away, but his grip was firm.
“You know that’s not what I meant. And you know it’s not true. Anthony’s chosen profession was as dangerous as any in the world. He could have been killed in any one of the missions we were on together. Hell, from the things he told me, his entire life was one near escape from death after another.”
Lexie was startled. Her face felt hot. She thought she might throw up.
“Did…did he tell you about me? All the bad…things…”
Jake broke in, “He told me how he spent years looking for you and how his life changed when he found you.”
Choking back her anger, Lexie gave in to her sense of betrayal. She didn’t want Jake to know everything about her. She’d spent ten years closing doors to a past she never wanted to revisit. And now this unsettling man she thought she could trust was just one more well-meaning official who thought he could save the poor little abused girl. She didn’t want saving, and she didn’t want Jake. She just wanted to leave. But he was leaning toward her, his forearms on his knees, holding her hands. He pinned that hard blue gaze on her and wouldn’t let her go.
“Lexie, you need to understand. I promised myself I won’t leave this place until I find Anthony’s murderer. And I won’t. But there is something even more important to me. And that is you, Lexie. It’s dangerous out there. Once the killer or killers realize that you are Anthony’s sister, you will become a target. No matter how street smart you are. If we’re right about where this investigation is leading, it’s a hell of lot bigger than one young woman can sort out. Anthony would be furious if he knew you were out on the streets alone seeking his killer. If Anthony was alive, your safety would be his number one priority. Now it is mine. You were his responsibility and now you are mine.”
Lexie jerked her hands free and pushed her chair away from him. She was shaking so hard that she was surprised she could stand, but her fury fortified her. She made a wide circle around him, putting the table between them, and headed for the door.
Steadying herself, her hands on the back
Chapter 7
“Lexie, Anthony was my friend. He was on my special forces team for eight years. He was one of the finest soldiers I’ve had the privilege to work with and one of the most honorable men I’ve known. We were together in more godforsaken places in the world than should exist. Of all the men I commanded over the years, your brother was the most admirable. If I had to choose anyone to have my back, no matter where or why, it would be Anthony Beloi.”
Lexie was startled. Jake’s expression was intense. He was sincere, clearly moved by his relationship with Anthony. But she felt betrayed, angry that he had kept his relationship with Anthony from her. She was just beginning to trust Jake. Frankly, she liked him. It hurt that he had tricked her into having dinner with him. He hadn’t even told her he knew Anthony. Before she could wrestle with her chaotic emotions, Jake continued.
“When I learned about Anthony’s death, I insisted on leading the investigation. I will not stop until we find his killer.”
His eyes were hard, fierce.
Lexie looked down at her hands, not wanting to meet his eyes. She didn’t want him to see her confusion.
“There’s something else, Lexie, that you should know, if you don’t already. You were the most important person in Anthony’s life. Whenever we got into deep conversations about what mattered to us, you were first on his list. You were the reason he left the army, why he came to Yuma, so he could be closer to you.”
Lexie felt her chest constrict. She couldn’t stop the words. She’d been thinking them too long to hide them.
Her voice was ragged, as tightly strung as her nerves. “Are you saying it’s my fault? That he wouldn’t be dead if it weren’t for me?”
Jake shook his head and took hold of her hands. She tried to pull away, but his grip was firm.
“You know that’s not what I meant. And you know it’s not true. Anthony’s chosen profession was as dangerous as any in the world. He could have been killed in any one of the missions we were on together. Hell, from the things he told me, his entire life was one near escape from death after another.”
Lexie was startled. Her face felt hot. She thought she might throw up.
“Did…did he tell you about me? All the bad…things…”
Jake broke in, “He told me how he spent years looking for you and how his life changed when he found you.”
Choking back her anger, Lexie gave in to her sense of betrayal. She didn’t want Jake to know everything about her. She’d spent ten years closing doors to a past she never wanted to revisit. And now this unsettling man she thought she could trust was just one more well-meaning official who thought he could save the poor little abused girl. She didn’t want saving, and she didn’t want Jake. She just wanted to leave. But he was leaning toward her, his forearms on his knees, holding her hands. He pinned that hard blue gaze on her and wouldn’t let her go.
“Lexie, you need to understand. I promised myself I won’t leave this place until I find Anthony’s murderer. And I won’t. But there is something even more important to me. And that is you, Lexie. It’s dangerous out there. Once the killer or killers realize that you are Anthony’s sister, you will become a target. No matter how street smart you are. If we’re right about where this investigation is leading, it’s a hell of lot bigger than one young woman can sort out. Anthony would be furious if he knew you were out on the streets alone seeking his killer. If Anthony was alive, your safety would be his number one priority. Now it is mine. You were his responsibility and now you are mine.”
Lexie jerked her hands free and pushed her chair away from him. She was shaking so hard that she was surprised she could stand, but her fury fortified her. She made a wide circle around him, putting the table between them, and headed for the door.
Steadying herself, her hands on the back
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