Love Inspired Suspense October 2015 #1 by Lenora Worth, Hope White, Diane Burke Page A

an Alvanetti is a rare thing.”
    â€œShe might not trust me now,” Blain admitted. “I didn’t tell her that I’m your son.”
    â€œI kind of gathered that,” Sam said. “She’ll get past that because she knows you’re on her side.”
    Blain understood but he didn’t think Rikki would appreciate him trying to get past her to her mother. “So I get to Sonia through Rikki?”
    â€œYep.” His dad gave him a crystal-eyed stare. “You’ll figure it out.”
    A dozen mixed emotions whirled through Blain’s system. “Why are you changing your tune?”
    Sam shot him a long stare and then waved his hand in the air. “Like you said, this whole county has changed over the last few years. You need to understand, the Alvanetti family has changed, too. A new guard has taken over and I’ve got a feeling what I saw in my day is tame compared to what could be going on now.”
    Blain wanted to ask his father what exactly he was trying to say but decided he’d had enough shocks for one day. This conversation was the first decent one he’d had with his father in a long time. And yet, he didn’t have a clue what was being said.
    â€œHey, Dad,” he called after his father. “What made
you
change?”
    Sam stopped, one hand on the glass doors to the parking lot. “Watching you today.”
    Then he turned and stomped out the door.
    * * *
    â€œI’ve got to start back over from square one.”
    Blain sat back in his chair and stared out at the water. It was raining and cold but he sat with Alec and Preacher out on the screened porch of the camp house they all owned together. An electric heater buzzed nearby and the pizza boxes were now almost empty.
    Alec Caldwell gave Blain a blank stare. “Sounds as if you got more information from your old man than you did from this suspect.”
    â€œYep.” Without giving away any details, Blain had told his friends what was common knowledge since it had been blasted all over the airwaves. He’d also told them about the sudden change in his father. “I can’t decide where my dad fits in.”
    Rory Sanderson stood up, his hands in the deep pockets of his fleece jacket. “Your dad’s getting on in years, Blain. Maybe he’s trying to make amends before it’s too late.”
    â€œI wish he’d just level with me,” Blain said. “I don’t need amends right now. I need cold, hard facts.”
    Rory shot Alec a glance. “He’s a lawman like you. Maybe he can’t divulge everything he’s seen or heard.”
    â€œHe could be trying to warn you and protect you,” Alec offered. “Sure he’s stubborn and hard-edged but he loves you. I’d think there was a lot he shielded you and your mother from when he was in charge.”
    Alec had never known his own dad and because his mother, Vivian, had mourned her military husband’s death, she’d been emotionally distant toward Alec. Blain needed to take that into consideration.
    â€œI guess so. I mean, in spite of our differences he’s never once condemned me for anything I’ve done. Criticized my methods but he never told me I shouldn’t do something. He didn’t try to talk me out of joining the marines and he didn’t even blink when I came home and joined the police force.”
    â€œAnd so he’s not saying anything to condemn you now, either,” Rory added. He sat back down. “I’ll be praying for both of your tonight, that’s for sure.”
    Blain lifted his soft drink in a salute. “Without ceasing.”
    â€œAnd what about Rikki?” Alec asked.
    Blain wasn’t sure how to respond. She was not taking his calls. “I don’t know. I have to find out who’s behind this before she gets killed. That’s my job.”
    â€œWe don’t want her to get killed,” Alec said. “I