Page 89 of Protecting Nicole

“But why would he do that? He’s taken care of his brother since he was a child. That proves he isn’t the type to bounce on his obligations. He isn’t you.” I intake a sharp breath when my final sentence rings through my head on repeat.He isn’t you.

As theories flood my head, I flick through the arrest document like a madman, my hunt undeterred by Knox attempting to rip it from my hands.

I find what I’m seeking a short time later. The registration papers for the Jaguar.

“You were the registered owner.” I stumble back when shocking truth after shocking truth pummels into me. “That’s what he meant when he said he defrauded the government. He lied… for you.”

“It wasn’t for me,” Knox denies, his tone not as harsh as anticipated. My heart squeezes with guilt when he admits, “It was for River.” His laugh is off. “My father only had to make out he’d held back Child Services a handful of times, and Laken was willing to do anything to ensure he continued to have his support until he turned eighteen. He wasn’t eager to sign up for time behind bars, though. It took a lot of weaselly tactics to get him over the line, but we eventually got there. Probably helped that he thought he’d only get six months.” I hate the pride in his eyes when he locks them with mine and says, “It’s a shame your sister wasn’t as put off by the church’s possible shame as your parents. Petra told the DA that Colette was pregnant. Her recent miscarriage saw her throwing the book at Laken.”

My reply is stern enough to break through his husky chuckles. “You son of a bitch. You won’t get away with this.”

His teeth gleam as brightly as the moon breaking through the storm clouds when he says, “I already have. And you’re not wrong. My mother is a bitch. But don’t worry, she’ll get her dues not long after you and Laken get yours.”

I race to beat him to the door when he turns for it.

I’m about to step past him when a wildly flung fist sends me flying backward. I skid across the polished floorboards of his office, my slide only ending when I crash into his desk without enough force to keep me down until he exits his office and locks the door behind him.

34

LAKEN

When a smell unlike anything I’ve ever smelt lingers in my nose, I peer down at River, who’s still huddled into my chest, watching the moon slowly break through the clouds.

Aware he’s been busted, he murmurs, “I’m sorry. I get gassy when nervous.”

I pray for a strong gust to blow away the stench before replying, “There’s no need to be nervous… and you can’t solely blame nerves for that.” He laughs when I say, “That smells like you ate one too many tacos and washed it down with a bottle of fish sauce.”

With how long it took to calm him down, I’m so grateful for the laughter that chops up his reply. “I might have had a couple of tacos last night.” He tilts his head back, putting his big eyes on full display. “Bonnie wanted to make sure I was eating. She bought me some food.” He blinks several times before confessing, “I might have also eaten the leftover scrambled eggs you made for the crew when Nicole got sick.”

“Now the smell makes sense.” With the mood a lot lighter than it was an hour ago, it takes me longer than I care to admit before it dawns on me what he said. “You atemyscrambled eggs?”

“Uh-huh,” he replies, nodding. “They’re always so much better than the hotel’s because you use real butter.”

I love his compliment, but it isn’t the time to gloat. “How did you eat my eggs, River? Did you take them with you when you checked out of the hotel?”

He scoots forward before twisting his torso to face me. “We didn’t leave the hotel.”

“We?” I know who he’s referencing. The admiration in his eyes tells me everything I need to know. I just want him to spell it out for me.

“Nicole and me.” I realize I have a lot of damage to fix when his tone drops as he confesses, “And Knox. He’s still there too.”

“At the hotel we checked into when we first arrived in LA?”

He nods again. “Knox told Nicole that she was safe from you. That he had men on every floor.”

“And in the lobby,” I mutter when I recall Dallas telling me they’d checked out days ago.

I’m such a fucking idiot.

“No!” River shouts, his gas loud and proud this time around as he pulls me back down. “This is why I’m nervous. He will hurt you if you try to take Nicole away from him. He told me he would. That’s why I had to leave her. I left her with him.”

I grab his fist before he can whack his head again and bring it down to my face. “Look at me.” When he shifts his wet eyes in any direction but mine, I repeat, “Look at me, River!” His eyes are drenched and full of panic. “The decision I made ten years ago was wrong. I took the cheat’s route. I know that now.” I wipe at his tears while saying, “And that’s why I know I can’t do it again. Leaving this to Nicole, forcing her to fixmydecision, is the cheat’s way out. It isn’t fair to expect Nicole to live with my mistakes… Just like it wasn’t for you ten years ago. I’m sorry that I made the wrong choice, River. I’m sorry I hurt you instead of protecting you like I promised, but this is my chance to make things right. This isourchance to make things right.”

“He… He… He…”

“Can’t hurt us anymore if we don’t let him. I promise I willneverlet him hurt you again, River.”

With how badly my decision hurt him, my word should mean nothing to him.

---