Page 49 of Protecting Christina

“Maybe we can get together tonight and come up with a different plan for my sister.”

“I’d love to, but I can’t. I’ve got to listen to the audio from the house just in case there’s something said that will provide me a way inside.”

“Yeah, of course.” I hired him to do just that. So, I was confused as to why I was disappointed by his response. My mind should be on talking to my sister and getting her away from Simon. Not on Will.

“You could come here.” I heard him say. His soft and sexy voice made my stomach drop. Biting my lip, and tossing back my hair, I said, “Ok. I’ll go home first to freshen up and then I’ll come by.” My voice was huskier than usual. This man had me talking like a sex phone operator. I nearly shook my head at the thought. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye, babe.”

Babe?

That threw cold water onto a very hot vibe. I’d never been anyone’s babe and never planned to be. I knew it was a term of endearment, but the possessiveness of the word had always turned me off.

Nobody owned me.

I’d make that clear when I saw Will, that there would be no nicknames like that between us.

As I drove through the Brooklyn Bridge, I wondered if I’d always been like this—defiant—or if it was something I’d learned. I’d never questioned myself before, but I was starting to wonder if the failed relationships in my life had always been due to the other person or if some of this was on me. I knew I wasn’t easy to get along with, but you knew where you stood with me. What you saw was what you got. I was honest about my feelings and expected the same in return. Not everyone wanted honesty. And I could appreciate that. The truth hurt me more times than I cared to think about.

***

I pulled up to Will’s building a couple of hours later. Between a long hot shower and New York traffic, I arrived a little later than I’d planned. Although I’d never told Will what time I’d be there.

When I entered the foyer and approached the concierge, a familiar voice called out my name. I turned to see Jake Devereaux walking toward me.

“It is you,” he said, smiling. He wore a suit just like the last time I saw him. I was pretty sure I threatened him that day. Said that we would have a problem should he not treat my friend right. Fortunately for him, it sounded like she had no complaints.

“Nikole isn’t home. Was she expecting you?”

“Um…“ I wasn’t sure what Will had told his friends, so I thought it best to keep it professional. “I’m here to see Will about my sister’s case.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Then he looked at my outfit. I hadn’t dressed up, but I did put on some lipstick and did my hair. He smiled. “Say hi to Will for me.”

I nodded and was about to head to the elevator when Jake’s next words stopped me. “And by the way, thank you.”

I turned around. “For what?”

“I haven’t seen that dimple on his face for a very long time.”

Then he shook his head, still smiling, and left through the glass front doors.

Dimple?

Why would Will’s dimple have anything to do with me?

My stomach tightened as the elevator tore up the twenty-plus floors. After checking my lipstick in the mirrored walls of the elevator, I took a deep breath and walked down the hallway.

I was just about to knock on Will’s door when he opened it. His eyes rounded and he pulled me inside.

“What’s going on?” I asked, stumbling into his apartment.

“It’s your sister. She’s outside Simon’s house. Hurry.”

He wore an earpiece in his right ear and handed me the left one, then he ushered me inside a dark room. There were three monitors in the room, and I saw my sister in one of them.

I blinked several times as I watched her slowly walking down the front steps. She looked behind her and to the side. “Do you think she’s trying to make a run for it?”

Will shook his head. “I hope not. But if she does, I’ve got a cop friend ready on standby to pick her up until we get there.”

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