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don’t know
about?”
    His only chance of getting out of this was telling his father the
truth, no matter how much it might cost him. “We slept together, okay?”
    “I can’t say I’m surprised.”
    Mike’s head shot up and he scowled at his father. “What’re you
talkin’ about?”
    “I always knew there was somethin’ between you two. Ever since…” He
paused, as though he was trying to recall the exact time the shift occurred.
“It was Brianna’s birthday party, wasn’t it? You two left together that night,
and things have been weird between you ever since.” Josh slammed his palm down
on his big mahogany desk. “Damn, I should’ve known.”
    “Look, I don’t wanna talk about my sex life with you. Let’s just
say, I think it’s pretty obvious that I’m not the right man for this job.”
    “Really? Luc and I happen to think you’re the only man for the job.”
He sighed. “Listen. The cops have been on this case for weeks, and they’re not gettin’
anywhere. They just don’t have the manpower to put someone on it twenty-four
seven, and that’s what we need.”
    “Doesn’t she have another tour comin’ up soon?” Mike tried to turn
off the TV or radio whenever he saw or heard a tidbit about Tori, but he never
quite managed to hit the button before the story aired. 
    “Yeah, the Down and Dirty tour. It’s gonna be crazy. Ty, Nikki,
Trey, and Tori. Sixty dates in twelve weeks. Every damn city is sellin’ out
minutes after the tickets go on sale.”
    Mike wasn’t surprised. Four of country music’s heavy hitters on one
bill. It was bound to be the hottest ticket in any town. “You’re not suggestin’
I hit the road with Tori?” He’d never survive eighty-four nights breathing the
same air as that woman.
    “That’s exactly what I need you to do.”
    “No! Hell, no!”
    “Look, I don’t know what went down between you two that night, but
you must have liked her enough to take her to bed.”
    What he felt for Tori went beyond like and therein lay his problem.
“How am I supposed to remain impartial, Dad? I slept with the girl, and now
you’re askin’ me to investigate every other guy she’s ever slept with? It’s
crazy.”
    “You tellin’ me you still feel somethin’ for her?”
    “Yeah… contempt.” Mike didn’t expect his old man to buy his lie, but
it still felt good to say it.
    Josh pointed at his son. “Listen to me and listen good. I love that
girl like she was my own daughter. It kills me to know there’s somebody out to
get her and I can’t do a damn thing about it.”
    Mike felt guilty for putting his personal feelings above Tori’s
safety. He was a cop first and foremost and he’d taken an oath to serve and
protect the citizens of this city, even those who’d stomped all over his heart
with her designer stilettos.  “When you say out to get her… What are we talkin’
about here?”
    “He seems like a sexual sadist. He sends her these really graphic
letters about what he wants to do to her, and he’s mentioned a…” Josh cleared
his throat, “a tattoo she has.”
    “She doesn’t have a tattoo.”
    Josh cleared his throat, looking decidedly uncomfortable. “I guess
she does now.”
    That meant she’d slept with this dirtbag in the two years since she’d
made love to him. That should narrow it down… some. “Does she know you’re
askin’ me to consult on this case?”
    “No, Luc’s gonna tell her tonight.”
    “I can tell you right now, she’s not gonna like it any more than I
do.”
    “Son, she’s scared, really scared. Once she’s had a chance to think
about it, she’ll realize there’s no one better qualified than you to take on
this case.”
    “Man, this is a mess.” Mike ran his hands over his cropped black
hair.
    “Does that mean you’ll do it?”
    “I’ll have to talk to Derek about gettin’ the time off.”
    Josh pushed a contract across the desk. “It’s a done deal. I’ve
already got Derek’s permission.”