Page 51 of Love Over Time

“Fuck off, I got it all under control,” Dom said.

I’d obviously walked in at the tail end of their conversation. “Cheers,” I said when they took the bottles from me. “Dom, I wanted to apologize for the other night. You saved our lives, and I was an asshole to you. Didn’t even thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it, man.”

“Thank you.” I raised an eyebrow. “I owe you one. Call on me anytime.”

“I’ll remember that. This is Derek Cole, by the way.”

“Cole.”

“Henry Cavalier.” I shook Cole’s hand. He seemed like a nice enough guy, smart. It was odd meeting one of Nikki’s marks. How had Nikki conned him out of a quarter of a million dollars? He obviously didn’t have a problem getting beautiful women. How had he not seen it coming?

Cole’s eyebrows furrowed for just a second, slanting a glance toward Nikki. “That Cavalier.” He pointed at the brick wall where the Cavalier Hotel sign hung on the other side, facing the street.

“Yeah.”I’m not her next con, asshole. I’m not a mark.

“I see you’re out of the doghouse.” Dom grinned.

I chuckled. “You don’t know the half of it.” My heart rate hadn’t really come back to normal since the excruciating twenty minutes we’d spent at the bank and then behind the sofa.

“Did you find your mom?”

“No. Not yet.” I exhaled before taking a long swig of beer.

“If you need anything, just let me know. These days Cole has nothing exciting for me.”

“That’s the way I like it.” Cole drank from his beer, his eyes on Valentina.

“Well, if you mean that, I have a favor to ask.” I swallowed. It’d come down to this, having to trust someone I’d just met. But I wasn’t a kid anymore. It was fucking time I faced Jonathan.

“Oh yeah.” Dom rubbed his hands together. “What have you got?”

“I recently found my dad’s will. Do you know anyone who can help contest a counterfeit will?”

His laugh echoed somewhere in the back of the stairs behind us. “Let me guess. You make a move, and your uncle puts another hit on you. With a professional this time.”

I nodded. “It’s a card I can’t play just yet. Not with Mom missing and Lisa still in jail.”

“But you can’t let the asshole keep what’s yours?” Dom had a real knack for sniffing out problems, seeing the big picture. His eyes turned hard with determination. He could see, play by play, what would happen if I sued my uncle. “If you trust me with it, I can take a look, come up with a plan.”

Cole shook his head, amused. “You live for this shit, don’t you?”

“You know I do, man. Can’t walk away from a good fight.” Dom shrugged.

“Give me a second. I’ll get the papers.”

On my way up the stairs, I slanted a glance over my shoulder toward Nikki. She appeared engrossed in her conversation. I knew better than to believe the act. Sooner or later, I’d have to tell her about the will. For now, I wanted to enjoy this moment with her—when I knew she wanted me for me, and not my family’s money. This would be easier if she wasn’t looking for her next con in every goddamn corner.

Chapter Nineteen

Trust Me. I’m a Thief.

Nikki

Valentina sat across from me, with her big innocent brown eyes, pouty lips, and rosy cheeks. She sipped her wine and glanced down at her hands. I made her uncomfortable. She really didn’t know how beautiful she was, didn’t understand how or why Cole was putty in her hands.

“I heard you’re getting married. Congratulations,” I said in Spanish.

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