He was grinning. “Like hell.”
She reached for Nate. “Let me take him, then. I don’t want you to be in pain.”
He made no move to give him back. Instead, he cradled his son gently. “No. Please, let me. I’ve never felt better.” He shifted to give Cameron room to sit down on the bed.
She hesitated, then sat.
“This is what it feels like to be a family,” he said, quietly, while watching Nate’s face. “I don’t ever remember us all being together before my dad brought me to the States.”
She thought about Rosa and Mama and about Ballestrini and Lavick. Tears fell down her cheeks. So much had happened, and it was all so raw. It felt like an open wound. It hurt to think about it, to let it out into the air. At moments, even breathing hurt. “I don’t know, Diego. I’m not sure I can.”
He didn’t look at her. “I understand.”
She watched him—his tears, his gentle gaze on Nate. She hurt. Either way, she would hurt. How could she live without him? Again. And yet, how could she let go of all the pain? “Maybe.” The word fell from her lips.
His eyes went wide. “Maybe?”
Her heart pounded. “Maybe.”
He exhaled in a long breath of relief and smiled. “Maybe is a place to start.”
“I think so,” she agreed.
Nate cooed at them.
“You really think he looks like me?” Diego said.
“Absolutely.”
“Damn, I’m cute,” he said, grinning.
Cameron laughed, and so did he. She settled into the bed, and they watched Nate smiling at them. This was what family felt like, Cameron thought. Painful and imperfect, but all the pieces were there. Maybe it would be enough.
It was definitely a place to start.
Author's Note
The first person I would like to thank is you—the reader. Thank you for reading this book and for following the Rookie Club stories. While we’re at it, thank you for every book you’ve ever read. It is the greatest gift you can give an author like me. Without you, there would be no books, and what a terrible world that would be.
If you have enjoyed this book, please consider taking a moment to leave a review on Amazon or elsewhere. Reviews and recommendations are vital to authors. Every good review and every recommendation for one of my books helps me stay hunkered and warm in my basement, doing what I love best—writing dark, chilling stories.
If you haven’t already claimed your free short story, you can do that here. To learn more about the Rookie Club or my writing, please visit me at www.daniellegirard.com.
Please click here to download Grave Danger, book 4 in the Rookie Club Series.
Acknowledgments
As always, I am indebted to so many generous people who took the time to keep this book on track. I hope I have done them justice. Any errors are wholly mine.
The San Francisco Police Department has continued to be incredibly generous. Thank you to Lieutenant Richard Corriea of the sexual assault division for access to the department and to Inspector Dan Everson, now of the homicide division, who took me through a day in the life of a sex crimes inspector. I am especially grateful to Sex Crimes Inspector Dolly Casazza who has answered every question and then some as The Rookie Club came to being. For DNA information, I would like to thank police inspector and DNA expert Pam Hofsass. For coroner information, I am indebted to Andrea Wagner of the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office. I appreciate the help of Anthony Toby O’Geen, Ph.D., Soil Resource Specialist in Cooperative Extension from the Department of Land, Air & Water Resources at UC Davis.
In addition to wonderful professional resources, I am also very fortunate to have an amazing cast of friends who were involved in The Rookie Club. I am extremely grateful to Tony Kelly, who spent many lunch hours walking the streets of San Francisco, talking about being the child of immigrant parents and trying to make sense of the violence in the world.
Thank you to Dr. Rachel Lewis for the mock-ups of medical diagnoses for my victims, to Brian Grossenbacher of Grossenbacher Guides for fishing terminology, to David Wanderer of Ridgeline Computer Solutions for endless technical support, and to Dr. Tracey Hessel for setting me straight on San Rafael geography. Thank you to Inglath, Monica, Lisa H., Lisa B., and Jean for reading and commenting on all stages of the manuscript and for the moral support only other authors know how to provide.
I’m also deeply indebted to the editorial staff at New American Library. To Claire Zion and Kara Welsh for making this happen and especially to my brilliant editor, Kara Cesare, for the incredible time and energy she has invested.
Lastly, I want to thank friends and family who know when to tiptoe around me and when to drag me out into daylight. Especially Marcie, Ixtla, Albee, Tiffany, and Dani. And to Leigh Anne, for Tuesday lunches.
Finally, my sincerest gratitude and affection go to my husband without whom any achievement would be diminished… and especially for this latest chapter. It’s one worth writing.
About the Author
Danielle Girard is the USA TODAY bestselling author of Chasing Darkness, The Rookie Club series, and the Dr. Schwartzman Series—Exhume, Excise, Expose, and Expire, featuring San Francisco medical examiner Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman. Danielle’s books have won the Barry Award and the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, and two of her titles have been optioned for movies.
A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina. She, her husband, and their two children split their time between San Francisco and the Northern Rockies. Visit her at www.daniellegirard.com.
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