“It’s still a theory,” Lacey said. “But it makes more sense than someone planting prints on a weapon. I’m not sure that can even be done.”

“It makes perfect sense. And if you’re right, someone’s been watching my every move for a while.” Prickles ran over my skin. Who the hell would violate my privacy like that?

Someone who hated my old man. Damn. Could be anyone.

“If it’s been six months since you handled them,” she said, “we know your father’s death was being planned at least six months ago and probably for longer. We need to find those guns.”

“I’m pretty sure one has already been found—the one used to off my father. We need to figure out how it got there and who fired it.”

She nodded. “We will.”

“Damn right we will. I’ll put the best in the business on it.”

“For once, I’m not going to object to you throwing money around,” she said, still not smiling, though.

I was the world’s biggest jerk. Lacey was scared. Freaked. She’d been cuffed and nearly arrested—would have been if I hadn’t pulled a gun on the dirty fucker. So what do I do? I tell her my deepest darkest secret to add to her fear.

“I’m sorry, Lace.”

“For what?”

“For…everything. All of this. Dragging you into it.”

“You didn’t drag me into anything.”

She didn’t sound convinced.

“I’m sorry anyway.”

“Look, I’m a big girl, okay? I could have said no to you. I could have…”

“Could have what?”

Nothing. Silence.

“Could have what, Lacey? Not fallen in love with me? Is that what you’re thinking?”

Again, silence.

“Fuck.” I rubbed my temple, my head beginning to ache.

“What’s done is done,” Lacey said.

“I wish I could change who I am,” I said. Then, “Fuck that. It’s a lie. I don’t wish I could change who I am. This is me. Everything in my past has made me what I am today.”

She seemed to soften then, as if my words had finally penetrated the hard shell she’d formed around her heart. She took my hand and entwined her fingers around mine.

“You’re right,” she said. “You are who you are, and I’ll never ask you to be anyone else. You’re the man I fell in love with. You, Rock.”

I pulled her to me, and this time she didn’t pull away. We stood together, embracing, our bodies melded together, her warmth seeping into me.

I’d put myself out there for this woman, told her things no one—save my mother—knew about me. She could have run away. Indeed maybe she should have, and for a few tense moments, I’d feared she would.

“I was afraid you’d leave me,” I said into her hair.