Page 106 of Proof of Guilt

Ivy had indeed told Theo to leave, but she darn sure hadn’t agreed with her father. Sherman Beckett could be a hard man sometimes, and he hadn’t approved of Theo and his minor run-ins with the law. Ironically, her dad had thought Theo would get her pregnant and then run out on her. Strange how all of that had worked out. Strange, too, that Theo had become a lawman, the last thing her father or she would have expected him to become.

“Then you and your brothers actually considered me a suspect in your parents’ murders,” Theo added. Judging from his tone, that was still an extremely sore spot for him.

It was for her, too.

Because she hadn’t stuck up for Theo. That had obviously been the straw that had broken the camel’s back. As soon as Theo’s name had been cleared, he’d left Blue River.

Ivy was about to put an end to this conversation, or a temporary end at least, but she heard the footsteps in the hall. Both Theo and she pivoted in that direction, and she felt herself gear up for another fight. If a gunman had actually made it into the house, he wasn’t getting to Nathan.

“It’s me,” Jameson called out.

The relief came, but it didn’t completely wash away the adrenaline punch she’d gotten when she thought they could be near another attack. A moment later, the door opened, and her brother came in.

Jameson’s attention went to her first, and he no doubt saw her tense body. Perhaps saw a whole lot more than that, though, when his gaze shifted to Theo. Then to the bathroom door where he knew Jodi—and Nathan—were waiting. It didn’t take Jameson long to piece everything together, and he cursed under his breath.

“Just in case there’s a bug in the house, I’ll whisper,” Jameson said. “How much trouble is this situation with Nathan going to cause the two of you?” he asked. He didn’t specifically direct the question to either of them, and neither of them answered.

However, Theo did ask a question of his own, and it was indeed meant for Jameson because he was staring at her brother. “Did the gunman say anything about who sent him and why?” He, too, kept his voice at a whisper.

Ivy figured that he hadn’t, but Jameson nodded. He took a deep breath, and that’s when she knew this was not going to be good news.

“The gunman died right after the medics put him in the ambulance,” Jameson said.

Now Ivy wanted to curse. She didn’t. Over the years, motherhood had taught her to rein in the profanity, but still this was a situation that warranted some cursing.

“He didn’t know who hired him,” Jameson went on. “Or at least that’s what he said. According to him, it was all done through a third party. A San Antonio thug everyone just called Mack. I’ve never heard of him, and I know most of the CIs and other informants in the area. And yeah, I’ve already made a call about him.”

That didn’t sound ve

ry promising, especially since it wasn’t a name her brother knew, but Ivy got the sinking feeling that it wasn’t his not knowing Mack that’d put that troubled look on his face.

“The gunman said something else,” Jameson continued a moment later. “This Mack hired other men. At least three more.” He turned to his sister then. “And, Ivy, they have orders to use whatever means necessary to kill you.”

CHAPTER FIVE

“Ivy’s the target?” Theo immediately asked Jameson. He figured it was a question that Ivy wanted answered, as well.

Jameson lifted his shoulder. “That’s what the guy said.” Like the rest of them, he continued to keep his voice at a whisper. “That doesn’t mesh with what the CI told you, though, does it?”

Theo had to shake his head. “But maybe the person behind this changed his mind and decided to go after one of us at a time. He or she might think Ivy would be the easiest to pick off.”

Ivy made a soft gasping sound, and Theo wished he hadn’t voiced that aloud. Still, it was true. Since they didn’t know the person’s identity or motive, anything was possible.

“Are you okay?” Jameson asked his sister. He gave her arm a soft pat.

She shook her head as if pulling herself out of a trance. “Yes.” Ivy fluttered her fingers toward the bathroom. “I just need to check on Nathan.”

“Give yourself a couple of minutes,” Jameson advised her. “You’re as pale as paper right now, and Nathan will pick up on that.”

The kid probably would. Then again, Nathan and Jodi both had to be on edge waiting for news.

“Are you okay?” Jameson repeated. Not directed at Ivy this time, but at Theo.

Theo lied with a nod. He was far from okay. His mind was whirling. Hell. He’d thought this would be a quick in-and-out trip back to the Beckett ranch, but there was no way that was possible now.

He had a son.

And if that wasn’t enough to get him to stay, someone wanted Ivy dead. Of course, the gunman could have been lying when he’d said that Ivy was the target of would-be assassins, but the attack had been real. Bullets had actually been shot into the house, and even if she was the sole target, that didn’t mean others couldn’t have been caught in cross fire. Nathan and anyone else could have been killed.

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