“She kept that hidden from you.”

“Can you imagine what my life would’ve been like if I’d married her?”

“No, I can’t, and I don’t want to imagine that.”

He shuddered. “Me either. I mean, I feel bad that she obviously had serious issues, but that doesn’t excuse what she did to you.”

“Or to you.”

“I’m far more concerned about you.”

“And I’m far more concerned about you.”

He smiled. “I’m so damned glad you survived, Gigi. One thing I can be certain of is that I never would’ve survived losing you. Not like that, anyway.”

“I’m here, and you’re stuck with me.”

“Never been so happy to be stuck with anyone.”

“Same goes, love.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Jeannie drove to the Patrick home in the department SUV that had been made available to her as deputy chief.

Deputy chief.

She still couldn’t wrap her head around the amazing turn of events that had led to a promotion she’d never seen coming. Jumping three ranks from detective to deputy chief was unheard of, which was why she’d sensed the unspoken pushback coming from many of her colleagues.

Half of her wanted to tell them to fuck off. The other half quaked inside at the realization that people deeply resented her for being promoted to the second-highest rank in the department, a heartbeat away from the top job. In reasoning with herself, she was quick to think that she’d earned the position through hard work and tenacity, especially after being kidnapped and raped on the job.

She’d come back from that—somehow—and had helped to bring down a massive human trafficking organization when she found missing District resident Carisma Deasly. That bust had gotten national coverage and elevated her standing within the department, which was one reason why the mayor had asked her to take the job.

Yes, Sam had turned it down—twice—before she pushed the mayor in Jeannie’s direction, and yes, the Black mayor had loved the idea of a Black woman in the role. Jeannie loved that, too, as she’d long wished for better representation and diversity in the department’s top ranks.

If only she could shake the feeling that her big promotion was more about her sex and her race than her work, no matter how big the Deasly bust had been or how hard she’d worked in her time on the job.

Ugh, she hated thinking that way. She was going to bust her ass and prove herself to every doubter, even if it took the rest of her career. She’d be the best deputy chief the MPD had ever had. As she had that thought, she issued a silent apology to Skip Holland, whom she’d admired and respected, but she was going to put even him to shame before she was done.

Fired up, she pulled into the driveway at the Patrick home, prepared to do battle on behalf of Detectives Dominguez and Green as well as the MPD. Badge in hand, she rang the bell and peeked through the glass next to the door.