Free Guilty as Sin by Jami Alden Page A

sister and not told her to leave the party alone. It’s not her job to protect her. It’s mine, one I failed when I didn’t stop her from sneaking out because I was too fucked up to hear her.”
    Kate crossed to him and put a consoling hand on his arm, her expression measurably more relaxed at Jackson’s reply. “It’s not your fault either,” she said. “If someone is determined to take a child, they’ll find a way. You can’t let guilt drain you when you need all of your energy focused on finding her.”
    He didn’t look convinced. He scanned the room, his gaze catching on the tables where the phone boys were busy connecting half a dozen or so phones.
    His brow furrowed. “That’s a lot of phones.”
    “I expect to field a hundred or so calls within the first hour after we announce the hotline number,” Kate said briskly as she placed the metal folding chairs around the tables. “Especially once we announce a reward for information.”
    “Reward?” Jackson said.
    Kate stopped her flurry of activity. “Did we not discuss the reward? I’m sorry, I thought we went over that—”
    He shook his head. “It’s highly possible we did. Everything’s been a blur. How much do you think we’ll need?”
    Kate’s gaze flicked uncomfortably to Tommy’s. Finding nothing there to calm her, she swallowed hard and looked back at Jackson. “It fully depends on your resources. I’m not sure I’m comfortable giving you a price outright—”
    “Give him a ballpark, Kate,” Tommy snapped.
    “If they’re able, families usually offer at least twenty thousand.”
    Jackson swore. “Normally that wouldn’t be an issue, but between Suzanne’s treatments and start-up costs for the business, I’ve eaten through our cash buffer. The money is there, but it could take awhile to—”
    “I’m happy to offer up whatever you need,” a masculine voice boomed from the doorway. Though Tommy hadn’t heard the voice in years, a reptilian part of his brain recognized it and was immediately repulsed. The muscles in his shoulders immediately bunched.
    “John,” he said before he’d even turned around.
    “Tommy Ibarra,” John said. “I’m surprised you recognized me, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other.”
    I never forget a douchebag.
Like it or not, Burkhart’s voice was forever etched in his memory banks.
    Tommy remained silent as John offered his hand to Jackson, who, despite the animosity Tommy didn’t bother to hide, shook his hand and introduced himself.
    “And Kate,” John said, a big grin spreading across his face as he opened his arms wide.
    It took all of Tommy’s restraint not to insert himself between them as Kate stepped readily into his embrace. A sour feeling twisted his gut as he compared her warm hug for John with his own reception.
    It wasn’t jealousy, he told himself harshly. Besides, what else did you expect from Kate? Under what circumstances would she possibly have been happy to see him, after what they’d been through?
    And the feeling, he reminded himself, was absolutely mutual.
    Still, as Burkhart released her, it was all Tommy could do not to plant his fist right in the middle of his smug face.
    “I was at Tim Greaves’s office going over some paperwork for a property rental and he mentioned he’d set you uphere to coordinate the volunteer effort. I thought I’d come by and see what I can do to help.”
    “I was wondering if you’d be in town,” Kate said, sounding way too delighted for Tommy’s taste. “I didn’t get a chance to email you before I flew out.”
    “And it’s not as though you were coming out here to catch up with old friends,” Tommy bit out, irrationally angered by the fact that Kate and Burkhart had apparently kept in touch all these years while he himself had been left to dangle, waiting for a response that never came.
    “You said you wanted to help,” Tommy said, angling his chin at him. “If you two are finished with your little reunion,