Page 87 of Cross & Crown

They boarded the yacht, and Nick shoved Julian toward

one of the sofas in the salon. “You here to talk?”

Julian nodded. “I still owe you for your previous assistance,

Detective. I intend to keep this civil.”

“Attacking them in an alleyway, that’s civil?” Kelly asked.

“I believeIwas the one who was attacked,” Julian

corrected. “You’ll notice I didn’t take a single swing at you. I was waiting until the detective was away from his partner to

approach him.”

Nick stared at him for several more seconds, then handed

Kelly the keys to the handcuffs. “Let him loose. I’ll be right

back.”

Kelly nodded silently, and Julian stood up to give him

access to the handcuffs. Nick gestured for JD to follow him

toward the lower deck. They both had to duck going down

the steps. It was second nature for Nick, but JD bumped his

head and cursed quietly, rubbing the spot as he followed Nick

to the VIP cabin.

88

Nick gestured toward the bed and the bathroom. “Make

yourself at home, okay? But stay here until one of us comes to

get you.”

“Right,” JD said with a nervous nod. “Is he the one trying

to kill me? Are you sure it’s okay to let him go?”

“No,” Nick answered. “And no. But we’ll trust him until

he proves me wrong.”

JD met his eyes, and it was obvious from the look on his

face that he caught Nick’s meaning. “Just like you’re trusting

me. Right?”

“Exactly,” Nick said. “Stay here.”

He left JD, closing the door behind him, and headed back

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