Page 94 of Trapped with the Billionaire

I pulled her back in. “Dad can wait. You’re my priority.”

The blood had drained from Nicole’s face. “I worry about her,” she said wearily.

I pocketed my now silent phone. Dad didn’t usually call in the evening, but whatever he wanted could wait. Nicole slid down off the barstool. “It’s late, and I’m tired. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Subtleness wasn’t her style this evening. She flicked off the light in an obvious move to force me out.

That plan, however, wasn’t going to fly. I took her arm and stopped her. “You’re coming with me, Nickels.” My condo was the only logical place tonight.

“No way. This is my house. And anyway, yours is so high I’ll get a nosebleed if I go up there again.” She tried to laugh in the midst of this horrible situation.

“It’s not safe here. You’re coming with me.”

She stomped her foot with the pathetic softness of a church mouse. “I’m not leaving Casa di Rossi.” Her voice carried the indignance her foot stomping hadn’t.

I led her over and lifted her back up onto the barstool.

“Hey,” she complained.

I stooped to look her in the eye. “You don’t get it, do you? Do you think Lara killed that guy tonight?”

Her brows drew together. “Of course not. She wouldn’t.”

“And five years ago, did she kill Parker?”

She shook her head angrily. “How can you even ask that?”

“Answer me. Do you think she did it?”

Nicole crossed her arms. “No, absolutely not.”

“The note on the tree and the message on the carpet, were those her?”

She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

I ticked them off on my fingers as I went through the incidents. “Five years ago, there’s a murder, now a maniac breaks into your house and paints a message to leave or die, then there’s a note that says you’ll pay, and finally someone gets killed, just like five years ago.”

Her shoulders slumped.

“If none of that was Lara, there’s a killer out there who’s struck twice and threatened that you’ll die if you don’t leave. I’m not letting you stay here alone. You’re coming with me.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “No.” She sniffed. “I won’t let someone chase me away from this house.” Her stubbornness wasn’t making any sense. “I won’t let them win.”

“That’s stupid.”

“Stupid?” Anger bloomed on her face.

“Sorry, bad choice of words. Let’s say risky.”

“If I’m stupid, you’re… you’re…”

“Worried,” I finished for her.

“Overbearing,” she said.

I moved closer. “You mean considerate and helpful.”

She didn’t smile. “That maniac wants to make me leave.Youwant to make me leave.” She hopped down from her stool and moved around me. “What’s the difference?”

I followed her. “Ipromisedto keep you safe; that’s the difference.”

---