That night, she slept fitfully as the stress of the week followed her into disturbing dreams that included Gigi, Cameron, Jaycee, Riggs Lawton, Nick’s mother, Avery, Angela and Spencer. She awoke feeling as if she hadn’t slept at all, which was the last thing she needed with so much to contend with before the wake. That would require all her fortitude on its own.

Her neck hurt like hell, but she wasn’t telling anyone that. She had no time for doctors with a shortened workday before the wake.

“I thought we might leave here together at three thirty,” Nick said as he pulled on a gray V-neck sweater over a dress shirt.

Sam was still trying to get her eyes to stay open, and he was ready for world domination. “Sure, that’s fine. I’ll try to be home by three. What’s the plan for the twins while we’re at the wake?”

“Shelby will go first and then come here so Celia can attend the wake.”

“Thanks for thinking ahead about that.” She flattened her hands on his chest. “What’s on the docket for you this morning?”

“Security briefing followed by a couple of interviews on the Sunday shows touting my domestic agenda.”

“I wish I could see you.”

“You can watch online after.” He kissed her forehead and then her lips. “I’ll see you for breakfast after your shower?”

“I’ll be there.”

Sam dragged herself into the shower and stood under the water for much longer than she should have, nearly falling back to sleep at one point. She was stepping out when Nick appeared with a towel, which she’d forgotten, and a cup of coffee.

“Bless you, my love.”

“I’m worried about you, Samantha.”

Surprised to hear that, she glanced up to find him studying her in that all-knowing way of his. “Why?”

“You’re convinced that you’re the only one who can get justice for Angela and Spence, and you’re running yourself ragged—while grief-stricken for your sister and her family and still recovering from a major injury.”

“I’m not sure what else I’m supposed to do but try to catch the person who did this to them. It’s already been a week, and we’re no closer than we were when it first happened.”

“You are closer. You know much more than you did a week ago, and it doesn’t have to be you who catches these people, Sam.”

“I need to be doing this. I know everyone must think I’ve got some sort of savior complex, but that’s not it. This is the one thing in this whole world I’m really good at, and my sister needs me to give this everything I’ve got. I know it doesn’t matter to her right now that we find the person who did this to them, but someday it’ll matter to her—and to her kids—that we got justice for him and them.”

“It will matter, but you can’t sacrifice yourself in the process. You were tossing and turning all night.”

“Sorry if I kept you awake.”