Fourteen

RULE WAS NO LONGER surprised to find Vixen still where he left her in the kitchen, but with her eyes squeezed shut. If someone had told him he would find comfort in seeing someone pray, he would have simply dismissed the words as a joke.

But everything was different now, and instead, he found himself thinking...

Maybe...

Maybe one day he and Riley would feel just as close to God as Vixen did.

Vixen opened her eyes as soon as she heard his footsteps, and her gaze flew to the gash on his head as he slid onto the bar stool next to hers.

"Does it hurt?"

Her concern gave him comfort even as guilt stung his conscience. "I'm sorry, Vixen."

She looked at him in confusion. "You're the one who got hurt because of me."

"But we both know the person who wanted to hurt you—-"

Vixen looked at him in dismay. "Oh, Rule. Not you, too."

His lips tightened. "I know you want to think good of everyone—-"

"It's not just that. As long as we don't have enough proof—-"

"I just got off the phone with Detective Sterne. The housekeeper at the Lighthouse said she saw Beatriz leave in a hurry. Flight is indicative of guilt—-"

"Indicative is the operative word, Rule," she countered softly. "It suggests, but it doesn't guarantee."

"Even Riley thinks the same thing," he said heavily.

"I know. And that's why we have to work harder at convincing her not to assume anything. Because that's the only thing we have now. Assumptions."

Rule drew a deep breath. His old self wanted to insist Vixen was being na?ve, but because something in him had changed...

"You're right," he heard himself say. "I'm sorry. And I'll make it clear tomorrow to Riley not to assume anything either."

"Thank you."

Rule shook his head. "I should be the one to say that." He gently reached forward to tuck loose strands of her hair behind her ear. "Are you really alright?"

"I wasn't at first," she admitted. "But I know I'm not alone in this. I have Him, always. And..."

Rule frowned at the way her voice trailed off. "What is it?"

"I'm just glad He gave me you, too."