Page 42 of Alien Mine

Right. Marty had always been a snoopy gossip. Didn’t it just figure he’d keep a police scanner on all the time? “Let me guess. It’s ruining his reputation around town.”

“Got it in one,” Yasmin murmured. “Vice presidents at leading financial institutions have to maintain their image. He demanded his ring back.”

Rachel sat back, appalled. “What?”

“He broke off the engagement. Said he couldn’t afford to be tainted by gossip right now. I guess he really wants that promotion he’s up for.”

“Why that no account son of a—”

“Rachel!”

“Well, he is.” Rachel slumped against the sofa’s back and draped her hand over Yasmin’s icy cold one. “I’m sorry, sister. This is my fault.”

Yasmin sucked in a sharp breath and let it out on a tirade. “This is not your fault, Rachel. It’s my brother’s fault.He’sthe one who fell in with that gang.He’sthe one who murdered that poor, innocent man and got thrown in jail.He’sthe reason MiguelRamirez is bothering us.”

Rachel’s gaze sharpened on her friend. “What do you mean,us?”

“You and the girls,” Yasmin said evenly.

“What’s happened?”

“Nothing.”

Rachel leveled a knowing look on Yasmin. “By nothing you meansomething, don’t you?”

“Just a little suspicious behavior from folks walking by the shop.” Yasmin shrugged an elegant shoulder, then let it drop. “Nothing to worry over.”

“That’s what I thought when those kids showed up at the lake.”

“I’ll call the police if it gets worse.”

“You do it or I will.” Rachel squeezed Yasmin’s hand. “I’m going to talk to Juan during the next visitation at the prison.”

Yasmin glanced beyond Rachel to the hallway and the bedroom where Kelly and Tiny were fast asleep, then lowered her voice. “You’re terminating his parental rights.”

“I think I have to. If I don’t…”

“It’s ok, Rach. You don’t have to explain again.” Yasmin flipped her hand over in Rachel’s and gripped it tightly. “Sisters always, right? No matter what.”

“No matter what,” Rachel agreed, and settled down next to her closest friend to plan what they were going to do with their man-free afternoon.

Fate’s truck rumbled out of Yasmin’s driveway onto Warwoman Road. Dyuvad resisted the urge to glance over his shoulder and make sure Yasmin’s front door was firmly shut, exactly the way he’d left it. Rachel knew the risks. She wouldn’t jeopardize the girls’ safety by attempting to leave before Yasmin arrived home from work.

Fate shifted gears, then grinned at Dyuvad. “You got it bad, ol’ son.”

“Concern for a friend does not mean I have it bad.”

“So she’s just a friend, huh? Reckon you won’t mind if I introduce her to a guy I know.” Fate rested one work-roughened hand on the gear shifter, his tone as casual as his posture. “Single fellow by the name of Hank Shortner. Hit it big in tech something or other. I can never keep it straight what.”

Dyuvad turned slowly in the seat, unease a heavy lump in his gut. “You will tell this Hank Shortner to mind his own beeswax.”

Fate snorted out a laugh. “You been hanging around Rachel too long.”

“She’s my landlady.” Dyuvad forced his stiff muscles to relax and glanced out the window, attempting a casual he didn’t feel. “And I like being with her.”

“Yup, it’s bad all right.”

“She’s a good woman.”

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