Page 12 of No Way Forward

She wanted to run her hands over his chest and to lay her head there. Five years felt like last week. She missed him. He was her friend, the only one who understood her and her struggle.

“We can find another way, Novette.”

“You know better than that. Tell me who has ever changed my dad’s mind when he set it on something? No one, that’s who.”

“Then stay for a little while, until you’re stronger.”

She had to admit he had a point. There were days she wondered if she could make it, times when she was so desperate for a break in her finances. After the ordeal with the kidnappers and the trunk of the car, she ached all over. Not to mention the fear threatening to choke the life out of her.

“A little while,” she consented.

Maybe she could pretend to give in to her father’s plans, lull him into thinking he won. He might give her an allowance. She could save up and then be gone again before he pushed her down the aisle with some idiot.

It’s not like I can sue him as alternative or press charges.

She almost laughed at the prospect. Her dad had gotten people off who were clearly guilty of their crimes. Plus, he had the unlimited bank account and the connections. What did she have? The memory of her apartment embarrassed her thinking Zaid had seen it all.

“Alright,” she said. “I’ll stay. For now.”

He nodded.

“Zaid, it’s important for him to think he’s won. Please.”

His gaze burned into her soul. “I don’t condone you running away at any time. You can stand up to him, Novette.”

“You’re in lalaland. What I want to know is if you’ll betray me.”

“I never have, and I never will.”

She thought of Azalie and Beau but dismissed the thoughts. “Then we’ve got a deal.”

Chapter 6

Novette pressed her ear to the door as hard as she could. The voices were muffled, but she could make out a few words. Her dad and Zaid had shut themselves into her dad’s office after Zaid gave him an update about the last few days. If Novette expected a teary and warm reunion, she was disappointed.

“The information I gathered was accurate to the letter,” Zaid was saying.

“What I want to know is why no one was able to find her before now,” her dad said. “I paid good money for years, and nothing other than some dead ends. When you finally got information this mess happens.”

“Sir, if I could have avoided—”

“I’m not blaming you, Zaid. You’re one of my most trusted men. The fact that you brought her back is proof enough. But something else is going on here.”

“I agree.”

Novette chewed a thumbnail. The memory of those men grabbing her was still fresh. Fear stirred even though she knew she was safe. What if they tried again? No, they wouldn’t. Zaid had said they were dead, but what about their boss?

She couldn’t help thinking this was her dad’s fault. For five years she lived her own life without a lick of protection. Then on the day Zaid was due to come get her, the kidnapping happened.

Her dad and Zaid were speaking again, so she listened.

“I want to speak to Dole, but I have a meeting. Talk to him. See what he has to say for himself.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I want to know why every time he gave us information about Novette’s whereabouts she slipped through our fingers. I want to know if he’s been selling information and if he let dangerous men know where to find my daughter.”

“As I told you I began to suspect him last year. I apologize, sir, that I wasn’t able to find her sooner. I’m not a trained investigator.”

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