Page 43 of His Road Dog

Chapter 17

Nicole

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NICOLE SLID OFF THEseat of the motorcycle. Infuriated, she paced back and forth in front of Priest in his driveway. He made it impossible for her to leave and go back to the motel.

She fisted her hands. "You're the only person I've ever felt like punching."

"Go ahead." He swung his leg off the Harley and stood. "Give me your best shot."

She gasped. "I don't believe in violence."

Guilt filled her. She was better than that. People only needed love and light in their life, not pain and conflicts.

"Letting off a little steam will make you feel better." He grabbed her hand and led her to the front door, letting her inside. "Or having sex with me."

"Just take me home, Priest." She refused to take another step. "It's late. I don't want to stay here. You can even call a cab for me. I've got money on me to pay the driver."

"No cab is going to come up here."

"Why not?"

"Because I say so." He walked out of the entryway.

Not to be discouraged, she followed him into the kitchen. "Why did you even make me leave the casino? I didn't go there with you. I was having fun."

He filled the coffeemaker with water and turned the machine on. "You were followed this evening on your way home from work by two guys named Hamilton and Jones."

She sat down on the barstool next to the island. "I wasn't foll..."

The black car. She knew there was something weird about the vehicle on her way to the motel. Her intuition had told her to get to safety because she was alone. In her anticipation of going out tonight, she had put the encounter out of her mind.

"Who are they? What do they want from me? " She swallowed. "Are they your friends or enemies? Couldn't you have waited until tomorrow...or in the morning to tell me this?"

"One thing at a time, and then I'll answer your questions." He opened the cupboard. "Do you drink coffee?"

"If you put a lot of sugar in it."

He moved around the kitchen, comfortable in the space. That surprised her for some reason. Looking at him, nobody would think he knew where the kitchen was located, even in his house, much less know how to fix coffee.

Priest put a steaming mug in front of her, along with a Tupperware container full of sugar. He reached into a drawer and handed her a spoon while lifting his cup to his mouth.

Once she consumed her first sip, she said, "Will you answer my questions?"

He leaned against the counter, slipped his hand into his front pocket, and drank. "Remember the pictures I gave you?"

"Yeah, but I didn't recognize them. I don't know them."

"They work for a guy who lends money to men who gamble at the casino." He paused. "Do you know if Roy had money problems?"

Her spine stiffened in surprise, and she automatically laughed. "He paid for my motel and bought me clothes so I could go with him when he played Black Jack. Roy owned a car lot, and he mostly won when I was with him, so I don't think he would have any reason to borrow money from anyone."

Priest grunted, draining the last of his coffee.

"You think otherwise?" She studied him. "What are you thinking?"

"Word on the street is two cars came up missing on Guthrie's car lot before he was killed. I can almost guarantee that the VIN on the car that followed you matches one of the vehicles that went missing, but has a new paint job."

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