Skye held her close. She wanted to cry, but there weren’t any tears. Just guilt. Somehow this was her fault. If she hadn’t fought with Izzy over something totally ridiculous, none of this would have happened.

The familiar hospital smells reminded her of Ray’s last days, and standing there was too much like the endless waiting she’d endured.

“She can’t die,” Skye breathed. Not Izzy. Not like this.

Rapid footsteps made her look up. Dana hurried toward them.

“How is she?” she demanded. “What are they doing?”

Both Lexi and Skye looked at her. “We don’t know,” Lexi said. “The doctors aren’t-”

“Fine. I’ll get information. You two sit down. What about Jed. Has anyone told him?”

“I left a message on his cell and with his assistant,” Skye said, feeling stunned by everything. She couldn’t think. Too much had happened too fast. She couldn’t catch her breath. “I’ll keep calling.”

Dana led them to chairs. “Sit,” she instructed. “I’ll be right back.”

Skye and Lexi sank down, then Skye sprang up and started to pace. “We have to do something. It’s Izzy.”

“I know.” Lexi’s eyes filled with tears. “What if she…”

“No!” Skye said. “She’ll be fine. She’s our sister and she’ll be fine.” If she wasn’t, Skye would take out Garth. She didn’t know when or how, but she would leave him broken and bleeding on the side of the road. Nobody messed with her sister.

Dana returned a few minutes later. “She’s still in surgery. They should be finished within the hour. Her vitals are strong and she doesn’t appear to have any internal injuries. There are a few burns from the explosion. We’ll know more when they’re done.”

Lexi stared at her. “How did you get them to talk to you?”

Dana pointed to herself. “The uniform helps.”

Skye hadn’t even noticed Dana was dressed for work.

“Whatever it takes,” Lexi murmured.

“Is Cruz coming?” Dana asked.

Lexi nodded.

“Good. We’re going to check to see if he’s here,” Dana said. “Lexi, sit here and rest. We’ll be right back.”

Skye glanced back at her sister as they made their way down the hallway. “Do you think she’s all right, with the baby and all? This is a shock and that can’t be good.”

“Lexi is strong. Once Cruz gets here, he’ll fuss and that will help. How are you holding up?”

“I’m not. This is my fault.”

Dana rolled her eyes. “Don’t be an idiot. Garth paid some asshole to blow up an oil rig. Nothing about that is your fault.”

“We fought.”

“And if you hadn’t fought Garth wouldn’t have made this happen?”

Skye rubbed her temples. “Oh, sure. Use logic. That’s fair. Okay. Technically, this isn’t my fault, but I feel guilty. How’s that?”

“Better.” Dana glanced around, as if making sure they were alone. “Do you have the name and number of the computer guy? The one who could get into Garth’s system?”

“Sure. Leonard. I have his number at work. Why?”

“As soon as Cruz gets here to take care of Lexi, I want you to give me the number.” Dana’s eyes blazed with fury. “No one hurts one of my friends and gets away with it. Garth crossed the line with this and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn’t hurt you guys again.”

Skye felt weary. “Dana, no. You’re a deputy. You can’t break the law.”

“Why not?”

“Because you have more to lose.”

“Izzy is like a sister to me. I could have lost her today. It doesn’t get worse than that. Give me the number. If anyone asks, tell them I thought he was hot and wanted to ask him out.”

Skye hugged her friend. Dana held on tight.

“We’ll get through this,” Skye murmured. “I swear we will.”

“I know. And when Izzy’s all better, we’ll make Garth sorry he was ever born.”

“I can’t wait.”

“I swear to you, Skye, I will personally arrest Garth Duncan and throw his ass in jail.”

“I believe you.”

IT WAS NEARLY TWO in the morning when Skye left the hospital. She drove to the Cassidy Ranch to collect Erin. Earlier, she’d spoken briefly with her daughter, who was concerned about her aunt but also having lots of fun with Fidela, Arturo and Mitch.

She parked in front of the house. The porch light was on, as was a lamp in the front room. The door opened before she’d made it to the porch.

Mitch stood there, looking strong and capable. She’d been unable to cry at the hospital but the second she saw him, she felt the tears on her cheeks. She flew across the grass and launched herself at him.

He caught her and held on as if he would never let go.

“He could have killed her,” she said with a sob. “She might be dead now.”

Mitch kissed her forehead. When she straightened, he pushed the hair from her face and wiped her cheeks.

“But he didn’t,” he said. “She’s okay, right?”

Skye gulped then nodded, feeling better in his arms. Knowing Mitch was with her meant she didn’t have to be strong all on her own. She could lean on him a little. “It could be a lot worse. She has a lot of bruises, a few burns. Nothing’s broken. But…” She stared at him. “She might be blind.”

Mitch swore. “Are they sure?”

“Not yet. They say she’s going to have to do some healing. In a few days we should know more. But the doctors made it clear it was a serious possibility.”

Mitch put his arm around her and led her inside. She collapsed on the sofa and covered her face. “This is Izzy. She’s so full of life. She loves adventure. She can’t be blind. How can she go cave diving if she’s blind? How can she swim with sharks and all that other stupid stuff she does?”

“You don’t know she’s blind yet,” Mitch said, settling next to her and putting his arm around her shoulders.

“I know, but what if she is? What if she’s never okay?”

He didn’t answer. The truth was if she was blind, Izzy would deal. She would figure it out, make a life for herself and move on. That’s what people did. Sure, a few got stuck in self-pity but eventually even that got boring. Not anything Skye needed to hear right now.

She leaned against him. “I have to be strong. I have to get it together. Izzy needs me. What have I got to cry about?”

“A lot and you don’t have to be strong tonight. I’ll handle things.”

“Erin will want to know Izzy’s okay.”

“It’s nearly three in the morning, Skye. She’s a kid. Let her sleep. You can pick her up in the morning. Or better yet, stay here.”

She sniffed. “Is she okay?”

“She was worried, but we kept her distracted. Fidela read to her until she fell asleep.”

“Think that would work for me?”

“We can try it if you want.”

“Thanks, but I need to get home.”

“No, you don’t.” He stood and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. You can sleep in the second guest room. That way you’ll be here when Erin wakes up. You’ll both feel better being in the same house.”

She hesitated, then nodded. He led her upstairs. He wanted to take her to his room, not to make love with her, but to hold her. He wanted to put his arms around her and physically keep her safe. But there was Erin to think about. If Skye’s daughter woke up before them, it would confuse her to find her mom in his bed. So he kept going to the end of the hall and pushed open the door.

She stepped inside, then turned back to him. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”

He kissed her forehead. “Try to sleep. If you need anything, I’m across the hall. The bathroom is through there.” He pointed to the door to the right.

“Okay, thanks.”

He pulled the door nearly closed, then went into his room. Once there, he crossed to the window and stared out at the night. Garth had to be stopped. This had gone too far. Without evidence, the police couldn’t make a move so it was up to him.

THE MAIN OFFICES for Cruz Control were done in red and black. All the artwork reflected the car theme and racing stripes led the way down the hall.

Mitch sat in Cruz’s office, where car parts battled for space with every car magazine known to man.

“The local police are reluctant to get involved,” Mitch told Cruz. “The explosion was in international waters and the oil rig is owned by a British company.”

“Are they still considering what happened at Skye’s party a prank?”

Mitch nodded. He’d spent a frustrating morning speaking with a detective who had been sympathetic but unhelpful. “Without definitive proof that Garth is determined to bring down the family, the events are all unrelated and seemingly random. Rumors aren’t against the law.”

“It’s more than rumors,” Cruz said, sounding angry. “What about doping Jed’s horses and the lawsuit against Lexi?”

“Wasn’t that dropped?”

“Yes, but that isn’t the point.”

“It is to them. Dana will do all she can, but we’re pretty much on our own.”

“You have a plan?” Cruz asked.

“Yes.”

“Then consider me your partner in crime,” Cruz said, his voice determined.

“Agreed.”

SKYE SAT in the chair by the bed and stroked her sister’s hand. Izzy lay on the hospital bed, her face nearly as white as the bandages around her eyes. There were angry red marks on her bare arms and bandages on her hands. One leg was propped up under the covers.

“That’s starting to get on my nerves,” Izzy said, pulling her hand free of Skye’s. “You’re patting me like a cat.”

“And yet you don’t purr,” Skye told her. “Were you sleeping? It’s hard to tell with the bandages.”

“My personal fashion statement. No, I’m not sleeping.” She grabbed Skye’s hand. “Just don’t do the petting thing, okay?”

“You’re so fussy. I’ll have you know I’m wildly busy. You should be grateful I’m taking time out of my schedule to be here at all.”

“Yeah, yeah. You were worried about me.”

“Only a little.” Skye did her best to keep her voice light. “How do you feel?”

“Like I got blown up and tossed in the Gulf. How do I look?”

“Battered and waifish. Do you need me to call a nurse?”

“Only if he’s male and cute.” She shifted and winced. “Otherwise, I’ll pass.” She gestured to the IV running into her other arm. “I have my own supply of drugs to dull everything. Life doesn’t get much better than that.”

Izzy had been sleeping steadily since her surgery two nights ago. When she woke up, she was coherent and as normal as could be expected under the circumstances. Every time she spoke and made a joke, Skye wanted to run into the hallway, telling the world her sister was going to be okay.

She managed to hold back, but just barely.

“You want to talk about what the doctor said?” Skye asked tentatively.

“No.”

“We have to at some point.”

“No, we don’t.”

“Izzy, you’re going to need the surgery.”

“Skye, I swear I can still kick you, so leave me alone.”

“For now.”

Izzy groaned. “I’m gritting my teeth. Do you see me gritting my teeth?” She drew back her lips. “Are you looking?”

“Very clenched.”

“Good. Talk about something else.”

They would have to talk about the surgery eventually, but the doctor had said there was time. Skye would listen to him, although what she really wanted was for Izzy to schedule it right away. To get it done with so she could be herself again.

“You were right about T.J.,” she said instead.

Izzy sighed. “Being right is one of my favorite things.”

“I know.”

Izzy turned toward her. “Right in what way? Did he hurt you? I swear if he hurt you…”

Skye squeezed her hand and fought tears. “Nothing that dramatic. Oh, Izzy, I’m sorry we’ve been fighting. I’ve felt awful about that.”

“I staged the explosion for just this reaction. I love it when a plan goes well.”

“It worked perfectly. I was so angry at you and I can’t even say why.”

“I wasn’t trying to hurt you or say you couldn’t get the guy. There was just something about him.”

“He was working for Garth.”

“What?” Izzy nearly rose into a sitting position before falling back onto the bed. “No way.”

“Oh, yeah. He was being paid and everything. I don’t know if it was to actually try to get me engaged or to play us against each other.”

“I’ll bet he was just supposed to make trouble.”

“And we played right into his hands,” Skye said with a sigh.

“You more so than me,” Izzy told her.

“As always, your support brings me such joy.”

Izzy smiled, then the smile faded. “Working for Garth. That asshole.”

“Tell me about it. Are you okay? Did you care about T.J.?”

“No. He was mildly interesting.” She squeezed Skye’s fingers. “I’m sorry I slept with him. I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

“You were a little.”

Izzy hesitated. “Maybe. You’re very sanctimonious sometimes with your perfect life.”

“My life isn’t perfect.”