Page 23 of Justified Fear

After exchanging numbers, Riki went back into the house.They said nothing before getting into his SUV.As they headed back down to Honolulu, Ryan thought over the breakfast and everything that had happened, as well as everything the family had revealed.

“You’re right.There’s something off.At least, the boss won’t be suspicious of your interest.”

He glanced over at Kap.“Excuse me?”

He snorted.“Listen, I get it.Just be careful.That woman was at a major crime scene here in Hawai’i.She’s the daughter of a wealthy man.”

“Nothing compared to her mother.”

“Come again?”

“Her mother is the CEO of Murray Industries.I remember now that the two of them met in college.”

“Murray Industries, which owns a cattle ranch in Texas?”

“And a ton of oil speculation stuff.Yeah.They are loaded.”

“I bet Charity knows already, but if not, it is going to throw this whole investigation another curveball.”

“I still sayyou need to come back to Texas with us,” Riki said when he joined his wife and daughter in the kitchen.

Monica was smart enough not to say anything.She had always stayed out of this argument, but he knew which side she was on.

“Dad, it is not happening.This is my home.”

“You’re not safe here.”

“Yeah?Am I safe anywhere?According to you, New York was unsafe.”

“It was.Look what you brought home.”

“Are you kidding me right now?You want to bring up Chad?”

He did not.He hated even thinking about the asshole who broke his little girl’s heart.

“There is only one place where I was definitely put at risk.”

“You were just at a crime scene.”

“I wasn’t the target, but can we say that about Texas?”

His heart froze.“We’re not even sure what that was about.”

Her eyes turned into angry slits.“I know.I know someone grabbed me.I might have only been fourteen at the time, but I wasn’t a kid.I understood what had happened.You just have never dealt with it.”

One thing about his baby girl: she didn’t pull her punches.

“I need some air, and don’t follow me.”

She strode out of the house, the screen door slamming behind her.

He didn’t follow her but looked out from the window.As he told those two agents, he knew he was overbearing—especially where his daughter was concerned.He had his reasons.

“You can’t protect her from life, Riki.”

He glanced over his shoulder at the love of his life.From the moment she had knocked him off his motorcycle, he had been in love.Just one look into those golden eyes and he had been a goner.The same eyes his daughter had.

“I know.”