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“Oh, shut up and give me a damn hug.” Dorcas wrapped her arms around her sister, and for the first time in days, the tension in her gut finally loosened. Relief flooded her system as she closed her eyes, let out a shaky breath, and gave herself to the moment. “You changed your hair.”

“It’s part of my disguise. Like it?”

No, it looked horrible, but she wasn’t about to say that. Maybe she’d get used to it over time. “It looks nice.”

“Liar. I can tell you hate it.” Rita pulled back and peered over Dorcas’s shoulder. “You’re Nate, right?”

“The one and only.” He gave her a casual nod. “Let’s get out of here. Do you have transportation?”

“Yes, but it’s not nearby.”

“Then you’re riding with us.” After typing a text, he slung an arm over both women’s shoulders and guided them toward the lot where they’d parked his rental car. Nate slid behind the wheel, while both women got into the back.

“Should we wait for Pinto?” Dorcas asked when he put the car in gear.

He shook his head. “Hatch is taking point on the drive back.”

As soon as they were out of the lot, Dorcas twisted in her seat and gave Rita another long hug. Then she pinched her sister. Hard.

“Ow!” Rita twisted away as she batted at Dorcas’s hand. “What the hell was that for?”

“You scared the crap out of me. Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

Rita’s lips pursed. “I was fine, Mom.”

The sarcasm in her sister’s voice had Dorcas’s blood pressure skyrocketing. “How the hell was I supposed to know that? All I knew was that somebody tore your house apart, and you weren’t anywhere to be found. If you didn’t want me to worry, you should have answered your damn phone.”

“I’m sorry. I wanted—”

“I’m not finished,” Dorcas snapped, her temper barely in check. “Because of you, my apartment got trashed, I lost my job, Nate’s truck was vandalized, and somebody shot at us. Now I want a damn explanation.”

Rita’s eyes widened. “Somebody shot at you?”

“No, I made that up. What do you think?”

Rita’s face fell, as though this was the very first time she’d considered the possibility of her actions affecting her older sister. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think they’d go after you.”

“Who’s they?”

Rita hesitated. “It’s better if you don’t know.”

From the corner of her eye, Dorcas caught a glimpse of Nate’s reflection in the rearview mirror. The what-the-fuck look on his face matched the way she felt inside.

“Where are we going?” Rita asked when Nate took the ramp onto I-4.

Nate’s gaze flicked back to the mirror. “Orlando Police.”

“No! No police.”

“Why not?”

“Because.”

Dorcas scoffed. “We’re going to need more than that.”

Rita’s lips pressed into a thin, flat line. “These people are connected. They own the police.”

“What, are they the mafia or something?”