Camille shot her a sly smile. “I learned from the best.”

“That’s where Remi hid her liquor minis when she was a high school senior,” Chief Ford explained to Brick.

Remi gasped. “You knew?”

“Of course I knew. You didn’t ever wonder why they were always so watered down? Or why your cheap-ass whiskey tasted like hot peppers?”

“You diabolical woman.” Remi shook her head in admiration.

“One day you, too, will ruin your own child’s liquor stash,” the chief promised her.

Remi’s gaze landed on Brick and held for a beat. Her cheeks flushed, and she broke eye contact first.

He wondered what the look meant. Was it something she’d consider? A family? With him? Not so long ago, Brick had assumed he’d live out his days as a bachelor. But that was before Remi warmed his bed. There could be a family filling this house. Little devious redheads running up the stairs. A quiet boy on their heels trying to run herd on his sisters.

The images sprang to life so vividly, he could almost hear the ruckus. There was much he had to discuss with Remi.

Special Agent Brice returned to the room, her lips pursed in a grim line. “Senator Vorhees’s plane was met by local law enforcement on the tarmac in Cancun. He was not aboard.”

Brick saw Remi take Camille’s hand under the table. “Then where is he?” she asked.

“We’re following up several leads,” Brice said evasively.

“So you don’t know,” Brick announced, filling in the blanks.

The front door opened, and White stuck his head in. “You got a second?”

Both agents retired to the front porch.

William excused himself to get everyone a round of waters.

Remi wasted no time in running to the window and trying to listen.

“Remington, come away from there,” Chief Ford said on a yawn.

Brick stole a seat at the table and pulled Remi into his lap. He breathed in the scent of her hair, letting the warmth of her soft body thaw the iciness that had lodged in his gut.

“I don’t like them leaving us out of their stupid plans when Camille is the one in danger.”

“You’re in this too, missy,” her mother reminded her.

“At this point, we all are,” Camille spoke up. “William saved me. Remi defied him. Brick provoked him. I left him. He’ll come after us and anyone who gets in his way.”

Her lower lip trembled, and Brick was struck by just how alone she looked.

“I’m sorry for bringing this to your doorstep,” Camille said to Darlene, who was guzzling coffee. “I never meant for anyone else to get hurt.”

Remi squirmed in his arms, but Brick held on tight. She turned to him, and whatever she saw in his eyes was enough to make her wrap her arms around his neck and hang on.

“I’m sorry no one did anything a long time ago. You didn’t deserve any of this,” Darlene said. “No one’s in danger because of you. It’s because of him. So don’t try to take responsibility for his sins. They’re his. Not yours.”