Page 33 of Murder at Rescue Ridge

“Please, call me Nikki. Otherwise, I’ll be looking over my shoulder for my mother.”

Paul chuckled as she scanned the road ahead to ensure those men weren’t waiting, biding their time.

“Is it true what you said back there about being okay?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not running away from someone, are you?” he asked.

“No.”

How much could she tell Paul without giving too much away? “My stepfather doesn’t like my boyfriend,” she said, figuring it was easier to stretch the truth than go into a long, drawn-out explanation. “Doesn’t want me to be anywhere near him, so he sent out a few of his employees to find me and bring me home.”

Paul’s face twisted in disbelief. “Do you mind if I ask how old you are?”

“Mid-twenties,” she said.

“Aren’t you old enough to make that decision for yourself?” Paul asked.

“Yes,” she said. “As a matter of fact, I am.”

“Then, why does he think it’s his business?”

“In his way, he’s looking out for me,” she said. “He stepped in when I was young. My mom was struggling to take care of us both. My biological dad didn’t care one way or the other about us, and my stepdad was the one who stuck around. He might not be perfect, but he didn’t leave.”

“Forgive my saying so, but there’s overprotective, and then there’s crossing a line that shouldn’t be crossed,” Paul said.

He was right.

What did she intend to do about it? After Heath’s actions, she didn’t want to go through with an adult adoption. Nikki’s last name might be controversial to some, but it was her identity. Her father might not have been a stellar person, but he was gone now. Was it time to usher in a new era of Guidrys?

Nikki wasn’t even sure she wanted to go back to law school after spring break. Heath would be livid if she dropped out since he was paying her tuition. But what was the point? Did she even like the law anymore?

“You’re right,” she said after a couple of beats, lost in thought. “My stepfather went too far, but he didn’t intend this. Heads will roll when he finds out how I was just treated.”

“They should.”

“Sorry to get your family involved,” she said.

“It’s no trouble,” Paul said. But it was. He was going out of his way to drive her to the ranch.

Would those three know where she was headed and try to intercept her and salvage the reward?

Or were there others waiting for a chance to snatch her for the money?

Conrad paced in the kitchen.The lawyer believed he could get the trial moved as late as possible to give the law time to find the real killer. Kade and the others were committed to finding out who really murdered Harrison Guidry. Conrad couldn’t leave the house, or at least, he couldn’t go far without triggering the damn device on his ankle.

The sound of gravel crunching underneath tires caused him to move to the window. He didn’t recognize the truck, but he instantly recognized the passenger…Nikki.

How?What?

He practically ran to the back door and out as she exited the passenger side.

What had happened to her? She was limping, and her eye was swollen.

But she was here.

“How on earth did you get here?” Conrad asked.

---