She went to him and let him wrap his strong arms around her, surrounding her with the unconditional love he’d given her long before he’d made the huge mistake of marrying her mother. “Love you, Charlie bear,” she whispered, using her childhood nickname for him. She was so damned grateful to be able to hug him any time she wanted or needed to.

“Love you, too, Stephie Lou.”

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Charlie walked Stephanie out to her car and gave her another hug before he sent her on her way with a wave. He was so damned proud of her. She’d been a bright, happy, joyful kid growing up in the midst of a nightmare with an abusive, neglectful, drug-addicted mother. After her mother had accused him of kidnapping and abusing her, they’d walked together through the fires of hell and made it through to the other side, somehow still whole and healthy despite their ordeal.

He hadn’t thought about Renee in a long time. In fact, he went out of his way to never think about the day he’d walked in on her beating the hell out of the girl he’d come to love as a daughter. He’d done what anyone would do in that situation—he’d gotten Stephanie out of there and had paid for that decision with fourteen years of his life behind bars. Seeing her now, grown up, beautiful, glowing with happiness and in love with a great guy, Charlie knew he’d do it all over again if he had to. She was worth every minute he’d spent locked up.

As he was about to resume his yard work, another car pulled into the driveway, this one a low-slung black Porsche that made Charlie want to drool with envy every time he laid eyes on it. He’d always appreciated cars, and Dan Torrington’s car was one of his favorites. It suited the LA lawyer to a T.

Charlie had learned the hard way to be wary and cautious around lawyers, who were often out to protect their own interests over those of their clients. Dan was a notable exception. Charlie owed him everything. With one phone call from the notoriously successful attorney, Charlie had suddenly been granted the hearing he’d been denied for years, at which Dan had successfully argued for his release.

“Hey, Charlie,” Dan said when he unfolded himself from the car. He’d once told Charlie the car had originally belonged to his brother Dylan, who’d been killed in Afghanistan. Charlie had seen the depths of Dan’s grief and the pain of his loss that day when he talked about his only brother.

Charlie shook the hand he offered. “Counselor. What brings you out this way?”

“A rather intriguing phone call from a friend of mine in the state attorney general’s office.”

“On a Sunday? You all never take a day off, huh?”