Page 13 of Outlaw Ridge: Hayes

“We are,” Hayes verified. He was clearly concerned about a sniper, too, because he practically pressed himself against her back and fired glances all around.

Her father got the hint and ushered them inside.

Hayes did more of those glances, probably not taking in the décor but checking for any possible danger. There wasn’t any that she could see, but Jemma knew there were plenty of security cameras—which was how her father had known of their arrival. Plenty of protection, too. Her father would have at least one bodyguard nearby, and both the bodyguard and her dad would be armed.

“I need to speak to Cordelia,” Jemma said, skipping any possible chitchat.

Because she was watching her father’s face, she saw the subtle change in his expression. Just the slightest lift of his right eyebrow. “You think she had all those cops killed?” he came out and asked.

“Do you think she could have?” Jemma countered.

Her father smiled, patted her arm, and directed his comment to Hayes. “I swear, she was born a cop. She became a lawyer instead, but she soon found her way to a badge.”His smile vanished as quickly as it’d come. “Is my daughter in danger?” he asked.

Hayes didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I believe she is. That’s why we need to speak with your wife.”

Stefano sighed and motioned for them to follow him. As expected, they didn’t go toward the family living quarters which was basically the entire right wing of the house. Instead, they went to the left wing where business was conducted. An area that Jemma usually avoided because even as a child, she’d known what her father was doing was wrong.

“Do you suspect me of these murders?” her father asked as they walked. Their footsteps echoed on the slick marble floor.

Jemma had rolled and re-rolled this over in her mind. “No. You wouldn’t have allowed shots to be fired at me.”

He glanced at her, nodded, but then shifted his attention to Hayes. “For what it’s worth, my business is legitimate now.”

Jemma knew that was true. If it hadn’t been, then she would have been building a case against her father. Yes, she loved him, but that didn’t mean she would turn a blind eye to his wrongdoings.

“And my daughter is right,” her father continued. “I wouldn’t have put her in harm’s way, and I intend to have a word with whoever tried to kill her.”

Jemma groaned. Oh, heck. Not this. He was in the overly protective father mode. “You’re legitimate,” she reminded him. “Keep it that way, and let the cops deal with the killer.”

Her father made a sound that could been either an agreement or a flat-out refusal. Impossible to tell which. He shot Jemma another glance before he stopped outside one of the doors. He knocked once and opened it without waiting for an invitation for them to enter.

Cordelia was at her desk, talking on the phone in whispered tones, but she quickly ended the conversation when she spotted hervisitors.

And Jemma watched the show begin.

Cordelia stood, showing off her lipstick-red, body-hugging dress that fit her to perfection. The perfection applied to every strand of her blonde hair, too. Heck, to all of her.

Her stepmother plastered on a smile. “Stefano,” she said, going to her husband. She kissed him lightly on the cheek. “You should have told me Jemma would be coming by.”

“Jemma and Deputy Brodie need to ask you about those dead cops,” her father said, now pinning his attention to Cordelia. Both his voice and his eyes were flat.

The show continued with the woman’s smile fading, a soft sigh rushing from her mouth, and her expression morphed into concern. Well, morphing as much as it could, considering Cordelia was wearing her usual substantial amount of makeup.

No mafia-cowboy persona for her.

More like the former beauty queen and socialite that she’d once been. She was doing a stellar job of hanging onto her youth, too, and she looked nowhere near her fifty-six years.

“Why would you believe I knew anything about the murdered police officers?” Cordelia asked. Butter stood no chance of melting in that cool mouth.

“Because you’ve filed multiple complaints against Sheriff Bonetti and me for harassment,” Jemma volunteered, “and you’ve made it crystal clear that you hate my guts.”

That shot thecoolto hell and back, and this time, Cordelia’s eyes narrowed to slits. Finally, they were seeing the real Cordelia. “Because you have harassed me. I didn’t have anything to do with your mother’s death. Or those cops’ murders.”

“So says you,” Jemma grumbled. “I’m going to Mirandize you and ask you some questions.” She launched right into that, while Cordelia launched right into an outraged tirade.

“I told you she was harassing me,” Cordelia snapped, turning to her husband for support.

Stefano certainly didn’t leap to her defense. “Someone tried to kill Jemma,” was all he said.

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