But they might have shared what they’d witnessed with someone they trusted . . . who could have passed the information on to the wrong people.

With his goal in sight, taking that gamble had been unacceptable—as Razor knew.

He pushed through the door, raised a hand in greeting to the familiar crew, but continued without stopping to chat. In his present mood, small talk would require too much effort.

Besides, he had an important meeting this afternoon, and that’s where his energy had to be directed. Not toward socializing—or rehashing a regrettable October night.

Odd how guilt over two innocent lives could take such a toll, considering the business that was providing him with the funds to live in comfort for the rest of his days.

Then again . . . in light of his history . . . maybe it wasn’t that odd after all.

“He has to leave, Margarita. The risk is too high if he stays.” As he delivered the ultimatum to his wife, putting as much bravado as possible into his inflection, Eduardo Garcia curled his fingers into a tight ball and pressed the phone harder against his ear.

Please let her see the light.

“But how can we send him away? Where will he go? He is my only brother, Eduardo—and he needs us.”

Her tear-laced entreaty jabbed at his gut.

Except Miguel Hernandez didn’t need them. He just needed a place to crash. A safe base where he could come and go as he pleased that didn’t cost him a dime.

Shoulders slumping, Eduardo leaned against a tree in the woods that rimmed the sweeping Ivy Hill lawn, the grass now dried and brown from the winter chill.

Causing Margarita grief was dangerous. After two miscarriages, she could still lose this baby at six months—and stress didn’t improve the odds of a full-term pregnancy.

Yet giving in—and getting in any deeper with her brother—could bring ruin on them all.

“Margarita, we have to think of ourselves too.” A pleading note entered his voice—but if begging was what it took to win her support, so be it. “You know how important the income and health benefits from my job are. Our future is at stake here. If your brother gets in trouble with the law, there will be guilt by association. I could be back doing seasonal work without benefits . . . or worse.”

“I know. But couldn’t we give him one more chance?”

“We’ve done that already.”

“He promised last night he’d clean up his act.”

Another lie.

Miguel knew how to charm his sister into acquiescence—but he was more talk than action when it came to honoring his word.

Eduardo hardened his tone. “He has given us no reason to believe that.”

“Please, Eduardo.”

The front door opened, and the new Spanish teacher emerged.