Page 81 of Release You

If I Had You

Nikki

I stood in the back of the tunnel, where the light didn’t reach while Henry strode out the front door with Tessa in his arms. A sharp pain hit me square in the chest. Why did it feel as if he were walking out on me, leaving me all over again.

Bracing my hands on my knees, I dry heaved, tasting the musk in the air in the back of my throat. The taste made my stomach muscles constrict even more. I’d never felt this kind of panic, the kind that made me want to jump out of my own skin. I’d been afraid for me and Tessa. But most of all, I’d been scared out of my mind for Henry.

For a very long minute, I thought he was going to kill his uncle. Yeah, I’d been prepared to do the same when Tessa and I were trapped in the tunnel and Francesca was the only thing between us and freedom. But Henry had so much rage inside him. It scared the shit out of me.

“Please help my wife. She’s injured,” Jonathan said to one of the cops.

Every time that asshole spoke, the urge to stab somethingflooded my mind. Out in the foyer, cops were still bringing in security guards for questioning. The crowded room made my head spin, and I couldn’t focus on anyone or anything. Why were they not dragging the real criminals out of here? Because they were Cavaliers?

“No.” I raised my voice and stepped into the light, effectively making the cop stop in his tracks. “Neither of you is leaving this place until you explain to everyone here why Tessa and I were kidnapped.”

Francesca snorted. “What are you talking about? Youcame into our home and attacked us. Officer, arrest her.” She pointed a finger at me.

I should’ve known she’d try something like this. I stomped over to Jonathan. His face was a bloody pulp as he sat against the wall next to his wife. He flinched, covering his head with his arms.

“Phone.” I wiggled my fingers in front of his face.

His gaze darted to Francesca, but then he conceded and fished his device out of the pocket of his dress pants and unlocked it for me. I dialed Dom’s number and waited.

“Dom here,” he answered.

In the background I could hear papers shuffling. I glanced at the screen and checked the time. It was four in the morning. Did Dom ever sleep?

“Hello, darling. Did I catch you at a bad time?” I glanced at the cop standing next to Francesca

“Hey, doll. Not at all. What do you need?” he asked.

“Well. I have some really bad people here trying to get away with murder. Any thoughts?”

“You didn’t leave him after all. Did you?” He chuckled.

“No.” I bit my bottom lip. “Did you talk to Henry?”

“You can say that, yeah. He brought me a very interesting recording.”

I pressed a hand to my forehead. The lack of sleep and Francesca’s death threat hanging over my head all night had compounded into one massive migraine. But I didn’t care. The nightmare was finally over. Henry had done the right thing. He’d reached out to Dom and given him the recording. Lisa was coming home.

“When will Lisa get out?” I asked.

“One thing at a time, doll.” Dom released a breath. “Where are these bad guys you called me about?”

“I’m at the Cavalier Manor. The police are here, but they’re not in a hurry to put the mayor in jail.” I glared at Jonathan.

“Put me on speakerphone.”

“Of course.” I tapped on the screen and held the phone out in front of me.

“May I speak to the officer in charge, please?” Dom’s deep voice made everyone look in my direction.

“That’d be me.” The cop in full SWAT gear stepped forward, the same one who a minute ago was ready to believe Francesca’s crazy lie about Henry and me breaking into her home.

“This is Dom Moretti, Henry Cavalier’s attorney. I have an original recording that belongs to Tessa Cavalier. I’d like to play it for you.”

“It’s a lie.” Francesca scooted up, sitting taller against the wall. Her leg no longer a concern. “They doctored the recording.”

---