Page 104 of The Secrets She Keeps

Daniel wanted her safe and protected, and damn it, it hurt to see the bruises on her face, to see how she winced, just trying to hold her little girl.

Rafe had taken off after that.

“So why are they actuallyhere?” the teenager, Crispin, asked, coming in with another teenager who’d apparently just shown up. The one who had kicked Daniel before. He couldn’t help it—he pulled his legs back when that girl walked by this time. “Meg caught a ride from campus with someone she met there.”

“Who?” Heather’s brother-in-law asked, a dark expression on his face. Daniel studied him for a moment. He was almost as big as Miguel and about ten years older. He had shaggy blond hair with a small bit of gray at the temples. There were tattoos running up and down both arms and just visible in his collar.

The guy just felt menacing. His name wasNorm.

“Relax, Daddy. Bella’s dad works with Aunt Joy. We’re in the same math class, and it got out early. He’s the really hot surgeon dude who fixed Aunt Hope’s arm. He picked Bella up, and she told him I needed a ride to Hughes Heights and who I was. He said it was obvious I was related to Aunt Joy and Samia and he offered to drive me here on their way. No big deal.”

Norm went into a lecture about her calling when her plans changed. No matter what. Daniel studied him for a moment. Hewas a junior high school English teacher and married father of four.

Daniel had learned a long time ago not to judge a book by a cover, but this was a damned intimidating cover.

His wife was a cross between Heather and the teenagers who were staring at Daniel now and that wicked little woman-beast Cashlyn.

DNA was strong in the Coleson family. There was no denying that.

DNA.ColesonDNA. He was reminded too damned quickly of why they were really there. “We have some questions for Heather. And some of the rest of you, actually.”

“I must say, Commander, you have confused us,” Bonnie said quietly. She just sort of perched on the couch near Heather as if she was going to jump up and fuss over Heather at any moment. She reminded him of a fragile little bird, sometimes. All big dark eyes and hurt.

“Yeah, no kidding. Spill, McKellen. Spill. You have dragged this out long enough,” Hope told him from the couch next to Heather.

“Would it be possible to speak with just a few of you?” Daniel asked.

Heather snorted and smirked at him. He would freely admit it—the spirit in her eyes reassured him a little. “You haven’t figuredusout yet? It’s one Coleson, all Colesons, McKellen.”

She waved one hand.

Every Coleson in the room—with the exception of Zoey—said it in unison. “Una Coleson, Omnes Colesons.”

“It’s the family motto, man. Our creed. Words to live by, even.Una Coleson, Omnes Colesons—never leave a sister behind. Sister by blood, or a sister by choice.” Hope looked at him like he was a complete idiot. From where she sat nextto Heather. Miguel stood behind their couch, guarding like a gargoyle or something. “No matter what.”

“Okay, then,” Daniel didn’t know how to begin. He waited until all of the adult Colesons in the room sent the kids that were just coming in from everywhere into the kitchen with the teenager Maris.

Megan refused to leave, stating she was an adult now. She and some of the other women literally sank to the floor and just sat there—staring at Daniel. There were beautiful women, and a man named Norm, staring at him now.

Gunnar and Powell, Miguel, Zoey and Murdoch, Jarrod and Haldyn, all waited for Daniel to speak. Powell’s father and two brothers stood in the archway, silently listening. Daniel had tried to argue that it was an ongoing investigation and should only be discussed with those who were absolutely necessary.

Powell’s father had made it clear—he and his boys weren’t going anywhere. Daniel had lost when Murdoch, Miguel, and Gunnar had told him to just deal with it.

“We’ve identified the DNA on Heather’s sweatshirt and pants.”

“That’s what this is about?” Heather asked. “I assume you found something probative. Or you wouldn’t be visiting our Coleson Castle. Unless you just miss me around the TSP that much?”

“There are over two dozen distinct profiles on the sweatshirt,” Daniel said. “Ashlie identified the ones she could. We need help identifying the rest. Eliminating…some.”

“Whose?” Heather asked. “I’m going to assume mine was on there—big surprise.”

She had that look in her eyes he’d seen before. One that said she was getting curious. Wanting answers. And there was a fire and anger.

“Powell’s was found along on one side,” Gunnar said.

“Probably the left. We sat next to each other,” Powell said quietly. “I fell asleep for a bit, while Heather…watched them.”

Guarded. Heather had guarded. Daniel wasn’t stupid. Heather had had her arm around the smaller, younger woman. Protecting her.

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