“How can you say that?” Cam’s eyes filled with tears as he returned to her. “You were assaulted and had to fight for your life, all because you’re with me.”

“You’re worth it,” Gigi said softly, as she looked up at him. “We’re worth it.”

Tears rolled down his face. “She hurt you.” He ran a gentle hand over one of the wounds on her face.

“She can never hurt us again.”

He reached for her, and she stepped into his arms.

Sam felt like she was intruding, so she gestured for the others to follow her downstairs to give them a minute alone. “Let’s call for Crime Scene detectives to do a full workup and relocate them to Cameron’s for the night,” Sam said to Dani.

“I’ll take care of that and then go with Deputy Chief McBride to notify Jaycee’s mother,” Dani said.

Sam sent Dr. Trulo a text directing him to Cameron’s place rather than Gigi’s. They’ll be there within the hour.

Got it, he replied.

Dani went back upstairs to help Gigi pack a bag.

Mrs. Dominguez came down the stairs, wiping away tears. “Is she in trouble, Lieutenant? Tell me the truth.”

“It appears to be a clear case of self-defense, but we’ll have to let the investigation play out.”

“That woman… She’d been tormenting my Gigi. She didn’t want Cameron to know, but Jaycee had left notes for her and said terrible, hateful things.”

Sam was shocked to hear that. “Did she keep them?”

“She has them all in case she needed them.”

Sam squeezed her arm. “Thank you for letting me know that.” She went back upstairs and gestured for Malone to come to her. “Her mom tells me that Gigi had been receiving hateful notes from Jaycee and kept them all.”

“Got it.”

“Also, Cam doesn’t know about the notes.”

“Right. Okay.” Malone went back into the bedroom.

Sam followed him.

“Gigi, could I have a moment, please?” he asked. “Alone?”

“Why alone?” Cameron asked.

“Give us one minute,” Malone said, ushering Gigi and Sam into the attached bathroom and closing the door.

“Your mother told us you’ve been receiving notes from Jaycee and Cameron doesn’t know that.”

“Yes.”

“We’re going to need you to turn them over to us as evidence.”

She went to a closet in the bathroom, opened the door and removed a plastic evidence bag containing pieces of paper.

“How long has this been going on?” Sam asked.

“Weeks. Since right after she slashed Cam’s tires.”

“Why didn’t you report it?”

“I figured she was in enough trouble with multiple charges pending. I was being careful, until I made one mistake and gave her the opportunity to get at me. That was my fault.”

“No, it wasn’t, Gigi,” Sam said. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I knew she was blaming me for ‘stealing’ Cam from her and all the troubles she’s had since he ended things. I shouldn’t have left my door unlocked for even a minute.”

“These will help,” Malone said. “It should be a slam-dunk case of self-defense.”