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“I wonder why that is” She laughed

“I don’t think he wants you near a man so like himself,” Mike speculated

That seereat deal She tipped her head back and laughed a little wildly “Don’t flatter yourself,” she said “It has nothing to do with your great success oh”

“You’re no baby,” he said, pulling her closer “And I think you’re having toohierous temper?”

Unhter “Not toward me,” she whispered

“There’s a devil in you,” he said, and looked death in the face by kissing her neck

“There’s a fool in you,” she said, tilting her head just slightly to give him more of her neck

In years gone by he would have found a way to get her alone, seduced her, made love to her in ways she’d dreas Even if he could spirit her away from her brother’s protective stare, he wouldn’t be able to perforain”

“Oh, I doubt he’d actually shoot you But I haven’t been to a good old-fashioned wedding brawl in ages”

When they’d said goodbye he had hugged her briefly, her sweet scent like a cinch around his ainst his, his ar her close A bit estive one, which she returned He assus up a little bit, but it hts in a disturbing way that suggested if he were capable of giving her love, she would capture his heart and mind in that powerful way that wipes all other women out of the past He really didn’t have that to offer any about her, wanting her

He could not bear to think about all thatbroken and violated in a hospital His heart was in pieces, aching for her Dying to know that she was going to be all right

He put the SUV into Drive, looked over his shoulder and got back on the freeway He gunned the engine and veered across two lanes of fast- traffic to make the exit to Sacramento

When Mike got to the county hospital a couple of hours later, he called Sae to say he’d arrived and wanted to knohere they were A prosecutor, the victieneral population—she would undoubtedly have security

Sa his hand “Mike Good of you to come I know Jack will appreciate it”

“I was on my way south and was al I can”

Sam turned and headed for the elevators “Unfortunately, I’ht Physically I have no idea what a wo like this…”

“Tell me what you know so far,” Mike said “Did she know her attacker?”

“Oh, yes Remember that terrible trial she had about the same time Jack’s son was born? The serial rapist? The media circus? It was him She identified him for police”

Mike stopped walking and frowned “She’s sure?” he asked That was such a sick, bold otten a free pass Brie had lost that trial and it was a hard loss, especially co on the heels of her divorce It was as if the sky was falling on her Also, it wasn’t so men like that did Typically, they bolted Got away froo after them, as Brie had

“She’s sure,” Sam said

Mike couldn’t help but wonder—was she hit in the head? Hallucinating? In and out of reality because of the trauma? “Her injuries?” he asked

“Her face is battered, there are two broken ribs and the usual…” He paused “The usual injuries incurred during a rape You know”

“I know,” he said Tearing, bleeding, bruising “Has she been seen by a rape specialist and police?”

“Yes, but she wants Mel Understandably”

“Of course,” Mike said Jack’s wife, Mel, was the nurse practitioner and in River and had had years of experience in a huge LA trauma center She was an expert in battery and sexual assault and if she could be the le “I heard fro They should be here in two or three hours, depending on how fast they got out of town”