Page 158 of State of the Union (First Family 3)

“What can you do? People suck. That’s never going to change.”

“Would you agree to provide a sample of your DNA so we can eliminate you as a suspect in Ling Woo’s murder?” Gonzo asked as he placed an autopsy photo of Ling on the table.

Shane recoiled from the visual. “What the fuck? Her murder? I didn’t murder anyone!”

“Then you won’t mind submitting a DNA sample, then, right?”

He stared at the photo for a long time without blinking. “I’d like to call a lawyer.”

“Damn it,” Sam whispered.

“Who would you like us to call?” Gonzo asked.

“Roland Dunning. He’s a family friend.”

“That’s Conklin’s lawyer,” Sam said with disgust. “Figures he’s a family friend of the Ramseys.”

“We’ll call him,” Gonzo said.

He and Jeannie got up and left the room.

“And now we wait,” Sam said as frustration pulsed through her.

Chapter Thirty

Cameron Green had used the unexpected day off to think rather than sleep. Though he was as exhausted as he could recall being in years, the adrenaline buzzing through his system had made sleep impossible. During the long day of introspection, he’d come to a difficult and painful conclusion.

He needed to take a step back from the new relationship with Gigi.

Although the thought of that made him ache like he never had, this latest incident with Jaycee had proven she wasn’t done with him. He wanted to believe she’d be so frightened from being arrested a second time and charged with felonies that she’d leave him alone, but he’d thought the first night in jail would’ve been enough to get that point across. That she’d thrown a brick through his window, knowing two cops were inside, proved she was seriously unhinged.

He had no way to compel her to get the help she desperately needed and couldn’t risk Gigi being hurt by her.

His whole body ached at the thought of not being with Gigi. He’d never been in love like he was with her. When he recalled the other women he’d thought he “loved,” whatever that had been, it hadn’t been love. This… With Gigi… This was love. He had to keep her safe from whatever Jaycee did next.

That brick had come too freaking close. He felt sick when he recalled the sound of the window smashing, the brick that’d landed only feet from them, as well as the glass that had covered them. What if the brick had hit her? The possibility of her being hurt because of him was unimaginable, especially after what her ex had done to her. She was just getting back to normal after that incident. He couldn’t let anything else happen to her.

He absently scratched Jeffrey behind the ears as he reveled in the sweet memories of making love to her. Nothing had been like it was with her, even if it had been interrupted in the worst possible way. It’d been almost spiritual, a homecoming of sorts, a certainty that he was exactly where he belonged with the person he was born to love.

His eyes filled with tears as the reality of having to give up Gigi to keep her safe settled on him like the heaviest weight he’d ever carried.

The ringing doorbell startled him.

Jeffrey leaped off the sofa, barking.

Cameron got up, went to the door, looked through the peephole and saw Gigi on his porch. That was all it took to raise his spirits considerably, until he remembered his plan to take a step back. His heart shattered, but it had to be done.

After unlocking the dead bolt and opening the door, Cameron stepped aside to let her in. He looked around the parking lot before closing and locking the door again. He’d put a sheet of plywood over the broken window until he could get it replaced.

“I heard you got sent home,” Gigi said.

“Yeah.”

“Are you okay?”

“Just great. You?”

“I was worried when you didn’t respond to any of my texts or calls.”