“It is a leap, but it’s a possibility we should consider. The bald guy could have nothing to do with LJM. Brewer was a piece of work. It makes sense that he had enemies. It could be completely unrelated. All we know is that LJM got his house.”

Her frown deepened. “But why does LJM want the Brewer house? And won’t they have to ID themselves if they want to take possession of it?”

“Not necessarily. They could use a third party to close the deal and throw Brewer’s wife and the boys out.”

“If they were still in the house,” Dani said fiercely. “Which they are not and, if I have anything to say about it, never will be again.”

Diesel stared at her for a long, long moment, his heart beating double time. What might his life have been like if he’d had a Dani Novak in his corner when he’d been a terrified little boy?

“Thank you,” he whispered, his throat gone rough. “Thank you for protecting these kids and all the others who come through your home.”

She swallowed hard, her eyes becoming bright with tears. “You, too,” she whispered back. “You are protecting these kids. You brought Michael and Joshua to me. You’ve protected children every time the Ledger runs a story on a pedophile who’s been caught or exposed. You don’t think I know who’s responsible for those investigations? Who’s hacked into computer systems to get evidence or to find these bastards’ other crimes that put them in jail and away from innocents? I’m not stupid, nor unaware.” Her hand slid over his forearm in almost a caress before gripping him tight. “You do this. You protect the children, too. So thank you.”

Diesel closed his laptop, his own eyes stinging. “I . . .” He cleared his throat and started again. “I can’t look at this screen anymore tonight. I need to sleep.”

Immediately releasing him, she moved to stand, but he gently grabbed her hand. “I’ll do a walk-around first. I won’t be able to sleep until I know you’re secure.”

“All right. I’ll get you a blanket and a pillow. Can you sleep on this sofa? Deacon has before, but you’re . . .” She trailed off, eyeing him up and down in a way that could only be called appreciative. In a way that heated his blood yet again. “You’re taller than he is.”

That hadn’t been what she’d been about to say, but he didn’t challenge her. “I’ll be fine. I’ve slept on a lot worse.”

“But I don’t want you to be uncomfortable here,” she murmured. “I don’t have any spare beds now, or I’d—”