Page 30 of Defending You

“He seemed like a nice guy. Really attentive. Delaney’s sensitive, always has been, and he was good with her.”

“But?”

“You heard about what happened at the Ballentine estate?”

“A little. There was a smuggling ring—connected to the murders?”

“My sister, Brooklyn, got wrapped up in all that. If not for Forbes, she might’ve been killed.”

Asher nodded. “Okay.”

“Turns out, Owen was working for the smugglers. He told the police he’d started because he wanted to make enough money to buy Delaney a ring. She was devastated. She’s the sort who always thinks the best of everybody. It would never occur to her that anyone she cares about could do anything bad. When she found out what Owen had done, it was like something snapped. She just took off. She’s always been a bit of a homebody, the onewho checks on the rest of us to make sure we’re okay. It’s so out of character for her to leave, to worry all of us.”

“No idea where she is?”

“None. She checks in with Mom, but she doesn’t want us to come after her. We’re all trying to give her space.”

“You’re worried about her.” No question in his statement, as if there were no doubt.

“She’s not exactly worldly, my little sister. And she has a habit of trusting the wrong people.” Though Delaney had sworn she’d never trust anyone, ever again.

“If Owen is bad, then how can I ever believe anyone is good?”

Not that Cici didn’t understand her sister’s fear. Owen had seemed like the nicest guy. Delaney hadn’t been the only one shocked to learn he was involved with smugglers and murderers.

In Owen’s defense—not that she’d make it for him—he hadn’t known the people he worked for had been guilty of murder. He’d just been paid to offload goods. He hadn’t known what was inside the crates, hadn’t understood the depths his employers would sink to in order to remain out of jail.

He could claim innocence all he wanted, but he’d been instrumental in helping hisemployerstrack down Brooklynn and Forbes.

He’d fired a shot that had hit Forbes in the shoulder. After the fact, he claimed he wasn’t aiming to kill, but Cici didn’t care about his excuses. Owen could’ve killed Forbes. He could’ve killed Brooklynn. All in the pursuit of trying to be something he wasn’t.

As if Delaney had cared a whit how much money was in his bank account or the size of a ring he might’ve bought her.

“What’s Delaney doing?” Asher asked. “Is she working, or…?” He let the question trail, but she heard what he hadn’t said.Or living off Daddy’s money.

“I don’t know. I doubt Mom and Dad are funding her life. I know they’ve never offered to fund mine. Delaney has worked since college—she worked as a nanny—and she’s pretty thrifty. She might have enough to live on. Or maybe she got a job somewhere.” Cici hated that Delaney wouldn’t just come home and be with the people who loved her. Did she really think they judged her for not seeing Owen’s faults? Nobody else had seen them. People as kind and good as Delaney didn’t see evil in others. It was one of her best qualities.

Best qualities, like shiny quarters, always had a flip side. Confidence could quickly become arrogance. Kindness could turn into gullibility. Empathy could become charm or even manipulation.

Cici thought of the man sitting next to her. Asher was competent and quick thinking, no doubt. Also, stubborn and controlling.

That was his flip side.

It was so easy to peg others. What would her family say about her? What would Asher say?

“Is that why you were crying?” he asked.

“I told you, I have?—”

“Allergies. Yeah. I get them, too, but they don’t bring me to tears.” She didn’t respond, and after a minute, he said, “You don’t owe me an explanation. For the record, if I hurt your feelings, I’m sorry.”

“For the record, I’m not that fragile.”

“Aren’t you, though?” The words were muttered under his breath.

Whatever. Who cared what he thought?

She did, more than she should, certainly more than she let on.