Page 105 of A Tempting Seduction

“Lance is dead, Candice. Someone murdered him, and I'm pretty sure we all know who gave the order.”

“That’s not true,” Candice gasped. “Horace would never hurt anyone. He's not capable of violence.”

Ruby stared at her sister like she'd grown a second head. “Horace is evil, Candice. Dad would never have gotten caught up in this mess if it weren't for Diane and Horace manipulating him.”

Before Candice could respond, there was a knock on the door. Isaacson entered with two other agents.

“Carla, we need to speak with you. We found some things in the safety deposit box that require clarification.”

Carla's face went white. “I don't know anything about Horace's operation.”

The way she said it made it obvious she was lying.

Candice looked between her sister and the FBI agents, realization dawning on her face. “Carla, please tell me you weren't involved in this. Please tell me it's not true.”

Carla's composure finally cracked. “Don't pretend to be all squeaky clean, Candice. This was your idea from the beginning. You wanted Diane to marry Dad. You wanted everything Horace could give us. You wanted to marry the country club law partner. You knew they would eat Dad alive.”

“Carla, it’s time to leave.” Carla followed the two agents out the door.

Ruby stared at Candice in shock. “Is that true? Did you conspire with Diane?”

“I introduced them,” Candice said defensively. “I thought they would be good for each other. Dad was lonely, and Diane seemed nice. That's all.”

“Wait a minute. I remember now. You worked on someone's campaign in college,” Ruby said, her voice getting harder. “Whose campaign was it, Candice?”

Candice looked trapped. “I was helping Dad. He always thought too small. Horace was going places. He knew how to get things done. He wasn't afraid of making the hard decisions.”

“What kind of hard decisions?” Ruby squinted at her oldest sister.

Candice looked from Ruby, to me, then to Isaacson. She sat up pencil straight in her chair. “I'm not saying another word without a lawyer.”

There was another knock on the door. Isaacson opened it and spoke quietly with someone in the hallway before turning back to Candice.

“Mrs. Jenkins, my team has some questions for you now, too. Would you come with us?”

“I told you. I’m not saying anything without my lawyer.”

Candice was escorted out, leaving Ruby and me alone in the conference room. The moment the door closed, Ruby collapsed into my arms. I expected her to cry, but she didn’t. She just continued to take in great big gulps of air, and shudder.

“Ruby?” Nothing. “Sweetheart?”

“I don't have any family left,” she said between broken breaths. “They're all gone. Every one of them.”

I held her tight, feeling her pain like a physical ache in my chest. “That's not true.”

“Yes, it is. My dad is dead. And Carla and Candice…” She looked up at me, with wide dry eyes. “They might as well be dead.” Her fists tightened in my dress shirt. “How could they, Ford? How could they?”

“I can’t answer that, Ruby.” I cupped the back of her head and kissed her forehead. “But please know, you have me.”

She pulled back to look at me. This time there were tears in her eyes. “Really? Because I bet this wasn’t what you were expecting when you asked for my phone number that first day.”

“What are you talking about? I got to see Beverly Hills. I got to meet real live FBI agents. I got to fight bad-guys and maybe get a scar out of it. That’s just in three days. Incredible, Ruby. I don’t know anybody else who could have provided this much adventure in this short of time. Plus, let’s not forget our hotel dinner where you sat across from me wearing⁠—”

She slapped her hand over my mouth so hard I thought I might actually cut my lip with my teeth.

“Shhh!” she hissed. “They’re listening.”

I gently pulled her hand away from my mouth and kissed her palm. “And you blush so beautifully. You’re perfect for me, Ruby Banks Miller, and I’m never going to let you go.”