"I spent my life raising Jimmy. He's my blood. I gave him everything."

Ruth waved the gun in front of her, focusing the barrel on everything but me until, with a momentary jerk, she seemed to remember I was in the room and took aim.

I grabbed the edge of the couch, eyeing how far the door was. Too far. She could definitely get a shot off if I made a run for it.

"You had to take control. If Jimmy couldn't make good choices, you'd make them for him." I spun my narrative to her side.

Her eyes lit up, her messy hair cascading around her distorted expression. "Exactly! A mother knows best. If Jalinda refused to have children, how would our family name continue?"

"Jalinda was being selfish," I supplied.

"The world needs more Jones. I bought the box of candy. Stores these days put out Valentine's Day supplies so early."

"Genius really." It never hurt to tell the crazy person how smart they were.

She grinned but didn't take her aim from my chest. "I know. The rest was easy. Grind up some coconut, bake it in, and then ask Danny to pop it in the post office for me. There's nothing to link me to the crime."

"The police aren't great here,"-sorry, Anderson-"but they'll figure it out, eventually."

Ruth laughed and her hands shook with one finger on the trigger. "Even if they do, it's all circumstantial evidence."

"There's me."

The left side of her lips tipped into an evil grin. "Not for long."

The timer on my phone rang, and a blast filled the room as she shot, echoing in the corners and ringing in my ears. I fell to the floor.

Ruth screamed as the front door of her home blasted open, wood splintering and the handle hit the wall with enough force to leave a hole.

Two men I'd never been happier to see ran into the room with guns drawn. Ruth dropped hers and raised her hands in the air.

I didn't move, wanting to make sure I wasn't gushing blood from anywhere important. Two deep breaths in and nothing screamed in agony. I waited while Anderson withdrew his cuffs and wrapped Ruth's hands behind her back.

Everything seemed okay.

Pain?

Only where my shoulder hit the floor.

Blood?

I ran my hands over my arms, chest, and stomach. Nothing came back red.

I stood, using the couch for leverage and acting like everything was fine. The boys didn't need to know a bullet whizzing past my head shook me up. I brushed off my jeans and strolled over to the two plain-dressed officers.

"Another job well done," I said, patting Anderson on the back.

He stared at me, but I couldn't decide if he wanted to congratulate me or kill me. The vein in the middle of his forehead beat out a hard to read rhythm.

Jalinda Jones' murder was definitely a case for the scrapbook.

I went to walk into the hallway and get the hell out of the house where I was almost shot, but Anderson grabbed on to my arm. "When a suspect pulls a gun, you yell gun."

Why would I do that? My forehead crinkled. "That would have blown my cover."

She'd never have finished her confession if I'd let Anderson know she had a gun. A good PI never blew her cover. Not until she finished the job.

Anderson's vein throb increased. He should get that looked at. "Outside, Vonnie."

I huffed. That's where I'd planned on going. He never asked me what I wanted to do. I considered turning around for good measure-but listened. I needed some fresh air. "Make sure the papers know I blew the case wide open and solved the murder."

He rubbed his head in frustration as I walked through the busted-out doorway. Wood littered the floor by the door and the entire contraption hung crookedly on its hinges.

My word.

Did they use a bomb to blow their way into Ruth's house? I wide-eyed the damage as I walked by and whistled.

The crisp morning air outside Ruth's home held a chill, but the sun beat through the clouds and warmed my face. Everything seemed a little brighter than it had yesterday.

Five big black Escalades squealed their tires around the turn at the end of the block and slammed to a stop on the street in front of the home. A flood of black polo-clad men clamored their way from the vehicles and filed up the front steps past me.

"You're late, boys." I patted Sloan as he ran past me into the Jones' residence. Ridge's security crew didn't get to crack this one.

That glory came to me.

Ridge Jefferson, husband to my coworker Tabitha and leader of Pelican Bay Security and his merry team of former SEALs, stood on the edge of the sidewalk with his arms crossed. We made eye contact, and he jerked his head.

It felt like he was trying to speak to me, but I wasn't fluent in "tough guy," so I had to make an educated guess that meant he wanted to chat.

"You didn't call me," he said, staring at the home rather than me as I stood next to him.

Oops.

Tabitha and Anessa said I should call Ridge, but I was a glory-whore and wanted this one for myself. My first big case. A murder. Solved by Vines Investigations.

A marked cop car for the city of Pelican Bay whipped into Mrs. Jones' driveway. That accounted for just about everyone.

"At least you beat him," I said, pointing to the late officer.

It only deepened Ridge's scowl. Man could not take a joke.

I shoved my hands in my jacket pockets. "Sorry, next time I'll call you."

I supposed it wouldn't hurt to have a big former SEAL to help sometimes. They probably made good backup. Hopefully, once he saw how awesome I was doing, he'd regret to not being my mentor.

"You better," he growled. Ridge patted me on the back with a show of force and I tipped forward before righting myself and beefing it on the sidewalk. "But good job, Vonnie."

My cheeks turned a shade of pink. I blamed it on the chilly wind. It felt good to get recognition from Ridge. Especially after his whole "cut the shit" conversation earlier in the week. It made the whole thing real.

I solved the case. A murder.

He started toward the front door but paused and handed me a sealed envelope.

I cut my index finger on the edge, trying to open it. Great. I survived a possible bullet wound, but give myself a paper cut. Seemed legit.

Inside, the envelope was green. Lots and lots of green hundred-dollar bills. I wasn't a woman to pass up money, but I had questions.

"What's this for?" I folded up the envelope and shoved it in my back pocket just in case he realized his mistake and wanted it back.

Ridge winked like he knew why I did it, but I was super sly, so it was probably something else. "Consider it a tip for your lead on the guns the other day. I figured it might help you keep the lights on for a while longer."

Was he giving me "permission" to become the best private investigator in all of Maine?

I stared at him, waiting for him to speak more, but he didn't. "I never actually called in the gun tip."

There hadn't been time while Broadrick and I were running for our lives.

Ridge laughed. "Yeah, funny about that. In the future, make sure you keep me on speed dial and there might be more pay days."

It was a bribe then.

I didn't know how I felt about that, but I figured I'd consider the emotions more while I spent the first few hundred. For science.

"Vonnie Valentina Vines!" Broadrick's voice boomed out on the quiet street.

Three people from a neighboring house took up residence on their porch waiting to see the action, but otherwise no one had gathered. That wouldn't last long once word got out.

Ridge chuckled as he watched Broadrick storm toward us. He patted me on the shoulder, this time with less force. "Good luck."

Ridge left me on the sidewalk, passing by Mrs. Jones and Anderson as he led her out and into the squad car his late deputy had driven.

Broadrick charged right up to me, unconcerned with everyone else. I'd never seen him so pissed off. His forehead vein throbbed the same way Anderson's had. His gaze roamed over me like he expected a gaping wound.

I stepped back and put up a hand between us. "Listen."

He shook his head and then smashed his body against mine, trapping my hand against his chest. His firm lips met mine and our teeth clashed with the force of his kiss. I tipped my head to the side and parted my lips, giving him immediate access, which he wasted no time taking.

Broadrick's tongue swept into my mouth, and my toes curled. He possessed me when we were together this way. His kisses were soul shattering. We had issues, but, none of them mattered when he had his lips on me.

Could I forgive him for lying to me?

Yes.

Nothing felt truly right unless we were together. He was the ying to my yang. We needed each other.

Someone across the road clapped, and we broke apart, the magic of the moment stolen. I was still catching my breath when he started in on me.

"I cannot believe you, Vonnie. Do you want to be shot? How could you be so dumb? To go into that house alone? I'll kill Anderson." His fingertips bit into my side as he held me tight. "I'm never letting you do anything like that again. Never."

Apparently, the kiss had not been as comforting to Broadrick and he still had some things to get off his chest. The stars in my eyes puffed away with his attitude.

I pushed him away. "Don't tell me what to do."

Broadrick MacGregor wasn't the boss of me. No one bossed me around except me, and I barely listened to myself half the time.

"If you're going to keep doing stupid things, I damn will tell you what to do."

My mouth fell open. He didn't?

He did.

I stomped a foot. "You are not my mother!" I didn't listen to her either.

He shook his head at me like somehow he thought I was the problem. "Vonnie?"

"Yeah." I popped a hand on my hip.

Broadrick gave me his annoying grin. "Shut up."

Oh, now he was in for it. I prepared to give him a telling off like he'd never heard. No one told me to shut up, but then he followed up on his demand with action. His lips met mine, and I shut up, but only because I loved the way his minty breath mingled with mine.

I'd argue later. Right then, I wanted him to remind me I survived.