Page 36 of Release You

I got in my truck and drove out of town, toward the 101. I had to get Nikki out of my mind, forget about what we almosthad. There was no us. There was no making up for lost time. How could we? The shadow Dad’s death cast over our lives would never go away.

Giving up wasn’t an option, though. I still had Mom, and she needed me. I turned onto the freeway. Phoenix was only an hour away. Today more than ever, I needed answers, and for once, I had a pretty good idea of where to begin.

By the time I reached the Hilton hotel in North Phoenix, my heart rate had slowed down to a normal beat. I had no idea what to expect or what I was looking for. Maybe I just wanted to know Mom was okay. If she had been here a few nights ago, someone would have noticed. She was hard to miss in that electric wheelchair of hers. Why would Jonathan take the time to bring Mom to her favorite place, as if they were lovers? It should be me taking care of Mom, not him.

I rubbed a hand along my jaw. I should’ve looked through more of Jonathan’s receipts. Found out if this was something they did often, which would mean he was treating her right. I drove through the resort, parked on the restaurant side, and headed up the steep hill to A Different Point of View.

The hostess wasn’t at her post, so I went straight to the bar area nestled along the wall in the darkest part of the restaurant. A glow of light shining on the liquor bottles made the place look like an oasis in the middle of the desert. The bartender had a good view of the dining room. Maybe he’d seen something.

I sat on one of the barstools and ordered a draft beer—way better than the crap I had back at the hotel. An image of Nikki in a bathrobe, standing on the balcony drinking a beer, flashed in my mind. I took a pull from the glass, swallowed, and then took another before I let the glass fall hard on the counter.

“I see Nikki’s still leaving devastation wherever she goes,” a male voice boomed behind me.

I swiveled around and came face-to-face with her non-client. The asshole who, for whatever reason, had driven to Paradise Creek to give Nikki a quarter of a million dollars. This was the last thing I needed right now.

“Dom Moretti.” He offered me his hand.

“Henry Cavalier.” I glared at him.

“We’re switching to whiskey.” He chuckled and sat down, gesturing the bartender for another round.

“Small world,” I said. What was he doing here of all places?

“Not really. Nikki sent me.” He must’ve read something in my eyes because he quickly clarified. “No. She didn’t send me here for you. I understand you’re looking for your mom? Tessa Cavalier.”

I nodded. “Yeah. I didn’t know she had called you.”

“I’m her lawyer.” He raised an eyebrow. “She calls when she needs things.”

My stomach rolled. Who was Nikki Swift? This asshole was some kind of crook lawyer, the one she called when she needed help. I hadn’t forgotten the way she ran into his arms the day he came to see her at the hotel. No wonder she was done with me. I couldn’t give her what Dom obviously could easily afford. The bartender set the shot glasses in front of us. I grabbed it, knocked it back, and gestured for him to pour me another one.

“My kind of guy.” Dom patted me hard on the back. “Keep ’em coming.”

“Did you find anything?” I asked.

He shrugged and took the shot. “Maybe. The bartender who was here three days ago isn’t here today. But my friend Todd has graciously agreed to track him down for me.”

The bartender gave me a half smirk that said money talks.

“If she was here, would we be able to find outwhere she went? Or maybe she’s staying in the hotel?” I swallowed. I didn’t know how much Nikki had told Dom about Mom. “She’s not well. She’s, um?—”

“I know. Nikki explained.” Dom looked down at his drink and took a small sip of the whiskey. “I asked around. No one matching Tessa’s description checked into the hotel. I’m sorry. Todd is our last hope.” He frowned, surveying my face. “How’s Nikki doing? She seemed put out when I talked to her. But I can never make heads or tails of what goes on in that pretty head of hers.”

“Are you two?—?

He put his hands up. “We’re just friends, man. We have a similar view of the world.”

Up until today, I’d thought I could read Nikki like a book. But my head was spinning so hard I had no fucking clue what was going through her mind anymore…or mine. My stupid idea of taking her out for breakfast had completely backfired. I hadn’t considered Mrs. Blaine would still hold such contempt for Nikki and her sister. I’d never understood where it all came from. Nikki had been a child when it all happened. It wasn’t her fault.

“I think she’s hurting. But she won’t let me in.” No idea why I was telling this to a stranger. What the fuck did he care?

“You broke her heart, and now you want to help?” He returned my glare.

“Is that what she told you? I gotta go.” I reached for my wallet.

“Drinks are on me.” He grabbed the check off the counter.

“Fuck off.” I took several twenties out of my wallet and threw them on the counter. “We’re done here.”

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