Page 72 of Diamonds & Deception

“I told her to stay.”

Ryder laughs. “That’ll teach you for treating her like a dog. You guys need some serious lessons on how to treat a woman.”

I groan. She said the same thing to me. If I want to keep her safe, I need to tell her about the danger she’s in.

“Says the guy whose longest relationship is three hours.” Nolan snorts.

“I’ve pulled all-nighters before, thank you very much. Besides, what’s your record? Three days?”

“Okay. Cool it. Can we talk about our game plan? Nolan, you’ll contact your PI and make sure security notifies us if there is any chatter or sightings of Eddie. Ryder willnotpoison any food. Yet. Trey will talk to Avery about laying low.”

“And you’ll keep Nora busy in your penthouse?”

I roll my eyes at Ryder. “You may want to stick close to the casino until Eddie is taken care of. Stay in your penthouse, or you ladies can get yourself a suite on the fifteenth floor if you need more privacy. I want us to stay relatively close.”

“You booking a separate suite for Nora too?”

I ignore Ryder’s prodding and dismiss them with a lift of my chin. “I have work to do, as I’m sure you do too.”

I’m not surprised Nancy is still at her desk at ten past six when I leave. “I thought I told you to go home.”

“I’ll cut back my hours when you cut back yours.”

“Well, I’m heading upstairs so you should go home too.”

“When I go home, I’m done for the night. You’ll grab something to eat then roam through the casino all night making nice with guests and overseeing everything. Maybe you should take your own advice.”

When I step off the elevator, I’m pleased to see Roger sitting in a chair outside my penthouse. It’s gotta be a boring job. Boring is safe. It’s when his job becomes not boring that I worry.

“Any disturbances?”

He nods toward the door. “She tried to leave about thirty minutes ago. Said the dog needed to be walked. I told her someone would be there soon to take care of her.”

I informed Roger I’d be here at six to do just that. I’m only fifteen minutes late, but I’m not sure how strong the boxer’s bladder is.

“Thanks. I got it from here. Have a good night.”

I let myself in and am practically accosted by a fired-up woman. She attempts to push past me and I hold her off.

“Let go of me, you bastard. I will not be held prisoner any longer.” She struggles as she tries to swat at my chest while holding Daisy’s leash and a bag of her stuff in her free hand.

I kick the door closed with my foot and trap her against it. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“You know I’m not into the kidnapping and bondage thing, so let me the fuck go.”

“Nora,” I growl down at her. My patience is thin. Hell, it’s gone. I never lost my patience until I met her.

“Shut it, Drake. You don’t trust me. I hurt you. You hate me.” Tears fill her eyes and she sniffs them away. “You’re in love with your first girlfriend. I get it. There’s no reason to torture me anymore by holding me captive.”

“I’m not holding you captive.”

“Then why won’t you let me go?” She glances up at her wrists that I have trapped against the door.

I release them and step back. “We need to talk.”

She snorts. “We did that already. There isn’t anything else I can say, and you’ve already told me how much you hate me. We’re done. Let’s bury the hatchet and move on.” She turns her back on me, reaching for the doorknob. I wrap my fingers around her wrist, holding her still.

“You can’t go.”

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