Page 192 of Trapped with the Billionaire

My man took me into his arms, and the torrent of tears sped up.

I sobbed out all the hurt I felt now that I understood what Ernst had done.

* * *

Josh

Two hours later,redness still showed in Nicole’s eyes from the crying as we sat on the couch across from Detective Beal.

Winston had arrived and taken Echo to the vet hospital where the prognosis for her dog was good.

The detective had confirmed that there were bones from at least one person out back, and a team was digging as we sat here.

“You should have told me what you uncovered on the financial front, and I would have figured this out,” Beal said to me.

I doubted the arrogant prick would have put the pieces together. “Maybe.”

He looked to Constance. “And him I get, but you should have known to call 9-1-1 before racing over here.”

She answered calmly. “The situation didn’t warrant it, given the information I had at the time.”

He huffed and shook his head.

“What about the neighbor?” Constance asked.

“We still have him for Tanaka’s murder,” Beal answered.

“I’d rethink that given the site of the crime,” she said. “I’d check DNA from inside the glove against Berg.”

“Any other professional insights?” Beal asked.

“He had a folding Swiss Army knife. The blade length fits with the reports of both murders. I’d be disassembling it and looking for trace DNA in the hinges.”

Beal sneered. “We’ll get right on that.”

I zoned out as Constance continued to lecture Beal. All that mattered to me was the shivering woman I had in my arms—my woman.

She’d been through hell and hadn’t said anything since explaining how Ernst’s visit had turned into the armed confrontation.

Why hadn’t I seen it earlier, when Winston had suggested her parents had faked their deaths? Knowing Nicole and what she’d told me about them, it made infinitely more sense that someone else had faked their boat sinking to cover up their deaths. If only I’d put the pieces together earlier.

Nicole looked up at me. “You came for me.”

I kissed her forehead. “Of course. Why would a woman allergic to shellfish ask me to get shrimp?”

She giggled. “You just called me woman.”

I squeezed her tighter. “Because I’m the luckiest man alive that I have you as my woman, and I love you.”

“Love you too,” she said, with eyes that told me it was true.

Chapter 49

Nicole

(Nine days later)

This was Monday morning,the start of my second full week in charge of the family company, and I was still moving files around in my new—Daddy’s old—office when I had time.

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