Delphine looked nervous, tense. But she kept her words casual. "Oh yes. Nothing too important. It's just best that I go check on something. I'll see you tomorrow." She nodded to both of them, raised her window, and drove off.
Nash raised his window and leaned back in his seat. "Huh. That was interesting. I'll bet what came up was her co-conspirator's disappearance."
"You think she's working with the guy we saw?"
"I do. Because of her lie about the fire." He started driving again. "I know there's a lot going on, but let me handle it—me and my team. You don't need to worry about Delphine, or any of it. You'll be safe at The Mandeville tonight."
His hands tensed on the steering wheel.
"What is it?"
He pursed his lips. "Do you still want to go to the party? I'll go regardless. But after today, if you're nervous about it, you don't have to go, Lena."
"No, no. I'm going. Am I nervous? Yes, I'm scared, Nash. But I want to go. I want to see Cassidy. I don't know what her plan is, but whatever she's thinking, I just want another chance to talk her into leaving."
"Okay," he said. "We'll keep to the plan, but you can always change your mind."
A softness in his tone almost made her want to back out—just to relieve the worry she was causing him. Almost. "Thanks. But I'm going."
He looked worried and proud of her at the same time. "Thought you'd say that. But I had to try."
He pulled up to the front of the house and parked.
"With no one here," he said, "we don't need to worry about putting on a big act. I'm going to disable the AC—in case Delphine comes back. When she comes to work in the morning and we're not here, we'll need a reason anyway. I'll disable it while you get your things together. We'll go to The Mandeville, and in a couple of hours you text Delphine and give her your spiel about how we had to leave the house to keep Nutmeg comfortable."
She rubbed Nutmeg behind his ears. "Okay, buddy, let's get packed up. We can go back to the fancy resort. You love that place anyway." Nutmeg licked her face, and she half suspected he understood exactly what she was saying.
They entered the house, and she shooed Nutmeg toward her bedroom.
Nash walked toward the staircase in the foyer. "The AC unit is in the attic. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"No rush," she said. "It'll take me a few minutes to pack up all of Nutmeg's things. He has more essentials than I do."
Nash looked down at Nutmeg. "Of course you do, Your Highness." He went up the stairs, and she walked into her bedroom.
She tossed her purse on the bed, and Nutmeg trotted to his upholstered doggy sofa, collapsing on his Nutmeg-sized furniture as if he needed to decompress after his salon appointment.
"I thought you'd be plenty relaxed after your massage, Nutmeg."
Motion from behind the open bedroom door snagged her peripheral vision and spiked her adrenaline. Her heart leapt into her throat. She took a step toward the opendoorway and sucked in a breath, intending to scream for Nash, when a hand clamped over her mouth.
Chapter 16
"We're just going to talk." The venom-infused voice slithered into her ear. "I need information, and you're going to give it to me. No need for anyone to get hurt. Is there?"
She froze. By now, Nash was probably in the attic. She was determined to scream at the first available opportunity, but she wasn't sure Nash would hear her.
Her captor stood behind her. His left arm, bulging and hairy, pinned her body to his while his beefy right hand remained locked on her mouth. His fingers smelled of cigarettes and whatever he had for lunch. Maybe fish? The combination made her want to retch.
With his hand still clamped over her mouth, the man pivoted and kicked the bedroom door shut. Now it would be even more difficult for Nash to hear her scream. She couldn't see his face well, but he was thickset, solid as abrick house, and he towered over her. She saw no wisdom in trying to fight.
Adrenaline surged through her whole body, her pulse roaring in her ears. It took several seconds before she realized Nutmeg was barking hysterically. The little dog's yips were ear-piercing in the room, but she doubted the staccato yelping would reach the attic.
God, send Nash soon. Please!
The burly intruder tightened his grip on her waist. "I'm going to take my hand off your mouth. No screaming. No moving. I don't want to have to hurt you. You understand?"
She nodded.
