Not Without Her Family

“What?” She stopped and grabbed his arm. “Are you hurt? Did they do something to you?”

“Relax,” he said, peeling her fingers off him. “They didn’t break out the rubber hoses. I’m going to submit a DNA sample.”

“Voluntarily?”

His gaze flicked to the cop who now stood about thirty feet away next to a police cruiser. “Sort of.”

While she wasn’t sure it was in his best interest to submit a sample, she bit her tongue. “I’ll go with you.”

“No, thanks.”

Okay. He obviously still didn’t want her around. Too damn bad. “Look, I’m going to help you whether you like it or not.” He grimaced. “I don’t like it.”

“Tough. And what the hell are you thinking? Bad enough you’re going to give them DNA, but I can’t believe you gave them a statement without an attorney present.”

“I don’t need an attorney. I didn’t do it.”

“I know that,” she said, but nothing changed in his eyes or on his face. No visible relief at knowing she believed in him. “What about the local public defender?”

He walked away, his long strides forcing her to hurry to keep up. “They offered to call him in, but I refused.”

“Don’t worry. If they insist on continuing with this bogus investigation, we’ll hire the best defense attorney—”

“No.”

“What? Why not?”

He stopped and frowned down at her. “I don’t want or need your help. There’s no reason for you to get involved. Or to stick around.”

Kelsey slid a glance to the cop, not fooled by the way he stared straight ahead. She knew he was hanging on their every word.

She lowered her voice. “I’m not going to leave you.”

“It’s been a long time, Kelsey.” Dillon sent her a cool look. “I’m not the same person I was back then and I’m not your problem to worry about.”

“You’re my brother,” she said softly around the tears clogging her throat. “I love you.”

She read something in his eyes. Something that looked like regret. Or perhaps, sadness. Whatever it was, it told her Dillon wasn’t as unaffected by her words as he’d like her to believe.

“You shouldn’t,” he said simply, a breeze ruffling his hair. “You need to go back to your life and forget about me.”

He climbed in the back of the police car. The cop shut the door, got in the front and drove away.

Kelsey slowly made her way across the parking lot to her car. She climbed in, started it and pulled out into the street. She made it three blocks before she had to pull over. Gripping the steering wheel with shaking hands, she battled back her tears.

She wiped her eyes. She’d help prove Dillon’s innocence because, damn it, he was innocent.