Page 54 of Captured Pawn
Which meant the money was one more link back to Nick Knight.
I’d waited a week after leaving the Knight compound, hoping he’d come to his senses and come looking for me. The naive little girl inside had spent hours daydreaming of him arriving to whisk me away again—like he had in the cemetery.
But he didn’t come. He didn’t call. He didn’t even text.
“Sophie? Are you okay?”
Shit. I’d zoned out again. “Sorry. Can you repeat that?”
“Sure. I was saying that the photographer will be by both locations tomorrow to take all of the photos for the website and then I should have the properties active in the MPLS by Sunday afternoon.”
So fast. I had to push down the next wave of anxiety that frequently tried to drown me several times a day.
“Okay, sounds good. I want to thank you for making this all seem so easy.”
“Of course. I’m happy to help you and of course, anything for the Knight brothers.”
That’s right. As nice as Marianne was, she wasn’t here for me—not really. She was here for the Knights. Every time their family name was mentioned was like a kick to the gut.
“I’ll show you out,” I said, standing, suddenly anxious to be alone again.
I followed her to the exit and we said our goodbyes. It was only 4:55 p.m., but close enough. I turned the deadbolt to locked and flipped the open sign around. Before I turned back around, I looked out the front window to see families already parking and making their way the few remaining blocks to the river.
Another Friday night in the summer.
Another Waterfall event.
My heart hurt from the memories of precious years past when Matty and I would spend hours near the water together. He’d buy me cotton candy and lemonade and take me on the lame carnival rides, even though it had to be boring for him.
Yet, thinking of years past was better than remembering where I’d been on the first event of this season. The few fateful days I’d spent at the Knight compound had changed me forever. They’d hardened me, and yet, I was grateful for them because I finally knew the truth about my past—even though my dad and brother had tried to shelter me. It didn’t make losing Matty any easier, but it helped me understand him better.
If only I could say my time there had helped me understand Nick better. The domineering jerk who’d kidnapped me at the cemetery hadn’t surprised me at all, but the glimpses of his softer side had shocked me. How ironic that just when I’d finally wanted to stay with him, he’d sent me away.
I was grabbing my purse from the office when I heard the ding of the front door opening. My pulse skyrocketed, knowing I’d locked the door minutes before.
And the real estate agent didn’t have a key yet.
Jamming my hand into my oversized purse, I pulled out my Glock 9mm handgun. Since the revelation that I was apparently at war with the Bishops, I never went anywhere without it.
I tiptoed as quietly as I could toward the front, peeking through the crack in the open office door, but I didn’t see anyone. The silence was killing me. I knew what I’d heard. Someone was out there.
Refusing to cower in my office, I raised my weapon, holding it in both hands as I moved forward slowly… quietly…
It was a man, leaning over to look at the packed boxes.
“Freeze, asshole,” I called out, cocking my weapon. It was quiet enough that he now knew he was about to get shot.
“Such a good girl.” Nick’s voice registered right before he stood tall, turned around, and pinned me with a serious glare that took my breath away.
“You’re here,” I said rather obtusely.
“I’m here,” he confirmed, raising his hands in the air. “You gonna shoot?”
Had I not spent so much time with him recently, I never would have been able to detect the slightest of smiles he was trying to hold in.
“Maybe I should.” Despite my words, I lowered my weapon, putting the safety back on and securing it back in my bag.
I hated the awkward silence hanging in the air between us. Nick must have agreed because we both started talking at the same time.
