Trust by Design (Colorado Trust 2)

“We have Mr. Brady’s home security footage,” Officer Nilsen informed him. “My partner spotted your name on the complaint, and with you listed as a witness in Ms. Allen’s case, we figured it didn’t hurt to come check it out. Right now is your chance to tell us your side of the story.”

Dean’s gaze shifted to a point on the wall behind them all. “If you have it on tape, what else is there to say?”

“There’s a lot to say,” Gina protested. His eyes met hers again.

“It’s not my place,” he argued quietly.

“Are you kidding me?”

Officer Nilsen spoke up. “Mr. Brady’s statement alleges you attacked him because you’re resentful that his business is doing better than yours.”

Dean gave a short bark of laughter.

Outrage stiffened Gina’s whole damn body and she turned to the female officer. “You noticed my face, I know you did.” She pulled up the sleeve on one arm of her shirt, then the other, revealing the black and blue handprints marking her skin. “See these? All of it was done by my ex-boyfriend, Jackson Brady.”

Her blue eyes flicked toward Dean, then back to Gina. “Did you file a report?”

Her stomach dropped like a lead balloon as she shook her head. “There were no witnesses, it would’ve been my word against his.”

“And what makes you think we’d have taken his word over yours?”

She gave a small shrug, anger depleted as fast as it’d come. “I don’t know.”

Truthfully, she’d worried that having dated him for two years would destroy any chance of them believing her. He would have no problem claiming she was out for revenge if it would throw suspicion off himself. But thinking the reasons and admitting them out loud were two different things.

Officer Nilsen motioned with her head toward the other room. “Can you and I talk in private?”

Gina slid off the chair. She cast a glance at Dean, but he could’ve been made of stone for all the emotion he showed. She didn’t understand why he wasn’t defending himself.

In the other room, the policewoman led her out of earshot, then asked in a low voice, “Is there anything you want to tell me that you were afraid to say in front of him? Because you don’t have to stay here. We can protect you.”

Him, meaning Dean.

She started to say no, then glanced back toward the kitchen. The police presence made her realize she should’ve reported Jackson’s attack right away. Now Dean was in the middle, and she wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. Talking just as low, she explained to Officer Nilsen exactly what happened Friday night, including the part where Jackson had tried to force himself on her.

“I swear, Dean did not do this.” Making sure to hold the woman’s gaze without wavering, she stressed he was not the one who’d hurt her. “Him going to see Jackson was his way of defending me.”

Nilsen jotted some notes before they returned to the kitchen. Officer Mueller sipped from a mug of coffee, but Dean’s cup sat untouched beside him. Gina went to stand at the counter with him, close enough that her shoulder brushed his arm. She felt his muscles tense, but he didn’t move away and she was thankful for the comforting warmth of his skin against hers.

The two officers conferred a moment, then the blond man took a big gulp of coffee before setting his mug down. “I believe we’re done here for now.”

Dean pushed away from the counter to see them out. Mueller was still talking, so she trailed after them to hear what he said.

“Off the record, my partner and I both agree it seems Brady got what he deserved. We watched the tape, and anyone can see he clearly provoked you. We have to file an unbiased report for the district attorney to review, but I’d say it’s unlikely she’ll be interested in prosecuting this case. That’s not a guarantee, though, so you’ll still want to contact your lawyer, just in case.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“Last word of caution?” Mueller handed over a card at the door. “Stay away from the guy. But if you do have any more issues, call us instead of taking matters into your own hands.”

Dean slipped the card into his back pocket as they left. When he turned around and saw Gina standing in the kitchen entrance, he came to an abrupt halt.

“Why didn’t you defend yourself?”

That got him moving again. Right past her to get his cup of coffee. The air came alive around her when he brushed by. When she followed and pushed for an answer, he slammed the mug onto the counter so hard she was surprised it didn’t shatter.

“Because I don’t know what he all did, okay?”

That was the last retort she’d expected.