Her Secret Life

She’d taken a ride at others’ expense. But no more.

“I’m in love with him, Lace.”

“What? With Mike Valentine?”

Her sister couldn’t have sounded more shocked. Which she’d expected. She nodded anyway.

“Kace, come on. He’s nothing like the guys you’re attracted to. You go for magazine covers...” She broke off. Then said, “And dark hair.”

“I know.”

“And...and pretty boys. You’ve always had a thing for guys who aren’t as muscular...”

Until she’d seen a man with such gentle strength.

“It’s because of what happened,” Lacey said now. “You’re still dealing with all that and Mike seems safe to you, but you know that most men are. With all the guys you’ve ever dated, you’ve never had one get rough with you...”

She’d let very few men close enough to try. “You can trust me or not, Lace, but I am dead serious and completely certain on this one. I am in love with Mike Valentine.”

“And does he love you?”

“As a friend.” Because he was so much wiser than she was. He knew their limitations. Had known all along.

Lacey studied her for a second. “Wait. You said you’re pressing charges against two guys. There were three. You can’t mean that you aren’t going to identify the third because he’s Mike’s brother.”

“I’m not pressing charges against him. That’s correct.”

“But you recognized him.”

She didn’t say a word. Wasn’t going to risk her sister doing something crazy like calling one of her contacts and giving some kind of official testimony in court.

Lacey jumped up so fast, she bumped against Kacey’s knee hard enough to hurt. “This is crazy!” she said. “Did he put you up to this?” She shook her head. “No, he wouldn’t do that. What are you thinking? Of course you’re going to identify him.”

“I can’t.”

“I’m calling Mom and Dad.” It was the bottom-line threat they’d been using since they were old enough to know it worked. Every single time.

“Go ahead,” Kacey said now, handing her sister her phone.

Staring at the phone, and then at Kacey, Lacey sat again. Took Kacey’s hand. “Kace, listen to me, sweetie.” With her free hand, she brushed the hair back from Kacey’s face. “You aren’t thinking straight. You’re letting this thing you think is love cloud your brain. Trust me on this. You have to press charges.” She recognized Lacey’s tone. It was one she used most often at work.

It used to work on Kacey, too.

But not this time.

“You can’t let a criminal get away just because you love his brother. What if he goes out and hurts some other woman?”

She hadn’t specifically thought about that. She could read some relief on Lacey’s features when her sister saw that the comment gave Kacey pause. And then she shook her head.

“He’s not going to,” she said. And she knew, without a doubt, that she was right. She couldn’t explain it, even to herself, but she knew. Willie had been telling the truth. He’d been as horrified by what had happened as she’d been.

“What did Mike say? I’m assuming he knows you know?”

She nodded. “He told me to get out. He wanted me to press charges.” That was what her sister had really been asking.

“See, it’s what you need to do.”

She shook her head. Told her sister the things Willie had said. And she told Lacey how Michael’s jaw had been destroyed. About the ten years of loving and believing and having faith in his brother when no one else did.