Page 13 of Release You

Hipolita’s sister was innocent?

CHAPTER 5

The Prince of Paradise

Nikki

Hipolita Morrow.

Now there was a name I hadn’t heard since college. It sounded so alien. This was usually the point in a conversation with a stranger where I had to explain I was half Brazilian, that I was named after my maternal grandmother. But not with Henry. This gorgeous man was really Henry Cavalier, my Henry. But dammit, whether he recognized me or not didn’t matter. Our story was over. I came back for Lisa. Her life was on the line.

“Hipolita.” His voice was strained.

A knock on the front lobby door made me jump. Dom Moretti walked across the threshold, and my world stopped spinning. I blinked to clear my vision, and I ran into his arms. He didn’t question it, just held me. When I glanced up at him, his eyes were dark pools shooting daggers at Henry.

“Darling, you came. It’s so good to see you.” I placed my hand on his cheek.

“I’m so glad I did.” His gaze fell to my hand gripping his sleeve. “Who’s your friend?”

“Oh, him? He’s not a friend. Just a construction worker.” I didn’t bother to look at Henry, just waved my hand in dismissal.

“I’m not a construction worker,” Henry deadpanned.

“Let’s go upstairs. We’ll be more comfortable there.” I winked at Dom and led him to the grand staircase.

Behind us, the sofa lumbered across the floor with a screeching sound. Two seconds later Henry slammed the front door.

“What was that all about?” Dom asked. “That asshole try something?”

“No.” I made my way to my bedroom window to push it open.

Hot air blew against my face and did nothing to ease the ache in my heart. Below the balcony, Henry stomped around the big hole in the ground, barking orders at his men. Russ raised both eyebrows at him, mouth slightly open, but didn’t question Henry’s instructions.

“That guy’s pissed.” Dom joined me on the small balcony. There was barely enough standing room for the two of us. “Who is he really, doll?”

Henry picked up debris off the roof of my Mercedes and threw it onto the backhoe loader. His workers slanted glances at him but didn’t say anything. The scowl on his face told them to let him be. This wasn’t the happy, carefree Henry I knew. The one who owned everything around us, who’d thought anything was possible. I rubbed a hand across my chest. The old wound was bleeding again, the way it did every time I thought of Henry.

“He’s the Prince of Paradise.” I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“The prince of what?” Chuckling, Dom set his briefcase on the bed.

“The prince of a fairy tale I once thought could be mine,” I muttered.

Henry looked up just as Dom came back to the window, snaked his hand around my waist, and kissed my temple. “This asshole broke your heart?”

Tears stung my eyes as I met his gaze. “His family founded Paradise Creek. They were rich and bigger than life. Everyone in town treated them like royalty. They still do.” I shook my head. I was one of those people, maybe even worse. Like all the girls in town, I had the biggest crush on the Cavalier boy. “When our parents died?—”

“I didn’t know that. I’m so sorry.” Dom sighed.

“It’s fine.” I wiped my nose.

“How did it happen?”

“Car accident on the 101. I was ten. Lisa was eighteen. We were happy, and just like that, our lives were over.”

“I didn’t know that, Nikki.” Dom shook his head, pursing his lips.

“I never told you.” I smiled at him and shrugged.

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