Page 58 of Diamonds & Deception

“She can come too.” His voice is gentle and kind. He wraps one arm around my waist and guides me through the apartment and out the door to a waiting car.

I don’t ask questions and slide in. Daisy hops in the back and sticks her nose between the seats and rests her snout on my leg. I lean my head against the cool window and close my eyes as the tears continue to fall. Who would want to kill Lenora? She’s the life of the party. A guaranteed good time. She’d never hurt a living soul.

And now her soul is dead. Shot fucking dead in her own bed while I was out adopting a dog. I don’t resent Daisy. She’s been my rock in the few hours I’ve had her. I can’t imagine finding Lenora like that and being totally alone.

I whimper again and Daisy licks my hand. When the car stops, I open my eyes and see we’re at the employee entrance to the casino. I guess since he’s loaded and has a million hotel rooms at his disposal, it’s the least he can do.

We’re in the elevator when I ask, “How did you know?”

Drake keeps his eyes locked on the closed elevator doors in front of us. “I have connections.”

I snort, which turns into a sniff. Whatever. If he doesn’t want to tell me, I don’t care. I’ll take whatever handouts I can get until I’m stable enough to drive Daisy and me back to Philly.

When the elevators open, I’m surprised we’re on the top floor. Drake swipes his card to his penthouse and waits for me and Daisy to enter first.

“Why am I here?”

“You need a place to stay.”

I turn around and shake my head. “I’m not staying here. I can get a room.”

“You’re staying here, Nora.”

“Why? So you and your friends can tie me to a bed and gang rape me?”

Drake squeezes his eyes shut and takes two deep breaths before opening them again. “I’m not going to lay a hand on you, nor will anyone else. You’ll be safe here.”

“Safe? From who? Who’s going to keep me safe from you?”

“I had nothing to do with your sister’s murder.”

Fuck. I hadn’t even been thinking of Carly and her murderer still on the loose. I sure as hell didn’t mean to imply I thought Drake was involved. I’m over that theory.

Having nowhere else to go, I accept defeat. For tonight. “One night, and then Daisy and I are out of here.”

He opens his mouth as if to argue, then gives me a curt nod. “Come.” He heads down the hallway toward the guest bedroom and stands before the doorway. “Take a long bath and get some rest. When you’re able, make a list of what you’d like me to get you and Daisy.”

He scratches Daisy behind the ears before heading back down the hallway toward the living room. He’s being too civil. The complete opposite of when he told me to go to hell and get out of his life three days ago. But not as sweet and tender as the Drake from before.

I glance around the tastefully decorated bedroom and go into the en suite bathroom. Soaking in the tub does sound like the kind of therapy I need right now.

I fill it with hot water and bath salts I find in the cabinet and strip off my running clothes. Daisy makes herself a bed on them next to the tub, not leaving my side. I turn on the jets and soak until my fingers and toes are pruned and my tears mix with the tepid bathwater.

The thick, luxurious towel I grab from the rack is warm from whatever high-tech system Drake has set up. No complaints here. I find a robe hanging on the back of the door and slip into that, not wanting to put my dirty clothes back on.

When I step into the bedroom, I find a pile of Drake’s clothes folded on the bed. A sweatshirt, T-shirt, pair of shorts, boxers, joggers, and socks. He even left a small bowl of water next to the door for Daisy.

I should thank him for taking care of us, but my legs are still too weak to move. I change into his boxers and T-shirt and climb into bed, patting the space next to me for Daisy. She snuggles next to me, and I drape my arm over her hoping sleep will find me.

I must have dozed off for a few minutes because I’m jolted awake, screaming my head off.

Drake comes barging through the door. “Nora?” He rushes to the bed and cups my cheeks in his palms, forcing me to look up at him. “Nora. It’s okay. You’re safe.”

I pant desperately for air, my heart racing, sweat dripping down my spine. I can’t unsee Lenora’s dead body in her bed. In the bed I slept in for the past three weeks. In the bed, Drake and I made love.

“It’s okay.” He sits next to me and cradles me in his arms, pressing my face against his chest. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I cry into his shirt and wrap my arms around his waist. I’m too desperate for human touch to question what has happened between us, and what will happen between us. I need his touch. His comfort.

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