AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If you don’t like how I operate, let me know. I won’t abandon you, but I will make other arrangements to protect you. Are we clear?”
“Yes, Nick, we’re clear,” she murmured. “Sorry, and you’re right. I behaved badly.”
“I’m glad you see that.”
“I do. I have a tendency to react before thinking sometimes.”
“I noticed,” he said, raising his eyebrows. “Second, don’t try to manipulate me. Ever. It won’t work and it won’t end well. I know you have it in you, and this is fair warning.”
As a hot flush burned across her face, she wondered how he could possibly know her so well, so quickly.
“Last but not least, I’ll say it again. Trust me. If you disagree with what I’m doing you’re welcome to voice your opinion. I’ll listen, but the bottom line remains the same. You must trust me. Those are the rules. Will you follow them?”
“I will, I promise.”
Taking a deep breath and leaning over her, he traced his fingertip around her mouth. “You really are very beautiful,” he murmured solemnly, then sat up and rubbed his hand over his face.
“Nick? Are you okay?”
“I told you, I’m great, but I need to eat. I’m starving.”
“I am too, but I don’t think I can move,” she replied with a long sigh. “By the way, did you listen to Matteus and Tony?”
“I did. Do you want to hear it?”
“Definitely.”
“Rest for a minute. I’m going to put some clothes on and check to see if anything new has been recorded. Join me when you’re ready.”
“I will. I just need five minutes.”
* * *
Slipping from the bed and pulling on his trunks, Nick walked back to his room and was about to dress when his phone rang. As he picked it up he saw it was Brad calling, and noticed Cindy had left a voicemail.
“Hi, Brad, what’s the scoop on the worker bees?” he asked, surprised he hadn’t heard the phone ring when Cindy had called.
“I noticed a couple of things,” Brad began. “One guy took his gloves off and he had manicured fingernails, another guy was wearing expensive leather loafers, and his teeth must have cost fifty grand easy. They also asked me about the people who lived on the street. Casually, but they were fishing. I wouldn’t be surprised if they started knocking on doors.”
“Are they still there?”
“Yeah, they’re piling stuff into a truck.”
“Good work, and thanks for the heads up. Keep me posted if anything interesting happens.”
“Sure thing.”
Ending the call, Nick quickly listened to the message from Cindy.
“Hi, boss, I just finished trolling through Bianca’s social media. Based on some of the comments from her friends, it appears she has issues with both her parents. That’s not uncommon, I suppose, but I thought you should know. I’m here if you need me.”
Dropping his phone in his pocket, Nick sat on the edge of the bed and thought back to the startling conversation between Matt and Tony he’d heard earlier. He needed to tread carefully—very carefully. Bianca’s kidnapping was far more complicated than he’d imagined.
CHAPTER12
Exhausted, and with an uncomfortable heaviness in his chest, Matteus was finding the much needed nap elusive, and though he was trying to stay calm his mind continued to race.
He’d been around villainy his entire life, both in law enforcement and as a player in the treacherous criminal underworld. Kidnapping Bianca had involved a great deal of risk, and he knew any number of things could go wrong, but he never expected she’d escape, especially not during a wild storm. To make matters worse, Tony’s infamous temper was becoming a problem. The situation was reaching a crisis point. He had to find Bianca or disappear. With every hour that passed, the latter seemed his only option.
