Chapter 12
“So you ever gonna tell me why you called in this particular favor?” Sinead asked, eyebrows raised.
Nick stopped with her at the driver’s side of her black Navigator. “Favors mean you’re supposed to do what’s asked without questions.”
She snort-laughed, looking like the girl he’d grown up with for a moment and not the badass lawyer who made grown men cry on the stand. Or on a random Tuesday. “I thought we were friends. And the vibe between you two was…I don’t know. Interesting.”
He tried to find the right words to answer, then sighed. “I don’t know why I called you. I mean, I know why, you’re the best.”
“Damn straight.”
When Clover called him this morning, worried about Berkley, he’d simply gone with his instinct.
And that wasn’t a normal reaction for him.
He didn’t just react to things; he thought things out, weighed any ramifications.
But his only instinct had been to protect Berkley.
If she hadn’t been with him at the time of the murder, he’d have lied, been her alibi.
And that knowledge shook him to his core.
“Well?” Sinead was still watching him.
“I wanted to make sure she was okay, that’s all. Something like this could get out of control fast without the right lawyer.” He lifted a shoulder, trying to appear casual when he felt anything but.
Because he was still keyed up at the way those assholes had trapped Berkley in that interrogation room. She’d asked for a lawyer more than once but they hadn’t cared. That told him all he needed to know about the detectives.
“You want to protect her.”
“Well yeah.”
Sinead gave him a smile he couldn’t read, then unlocked her vehicle but still didn’t make a move to get inside. “I’ve got Vera already looking into things. It’s clear someone has an axe to grind with your woman and it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
His woman? He didn’t hate the thought of it.
“Make sure she always has an alibi if you can. Someone needs to be with her at all times—she’s got siblings and friends. Work that shit out. And in the meantime, I’ll do what I do best.”
“Are you going to tell the cops the rest of what happened?” Or more likely have Berkley make an official statement once the shock wore off.
“We’ll see what plays out. She has no legal duty to make a statement, and my job is to protect her. You just need to keep your woman safe.”
Berkley wasn’t his woman, but he wasn’t going to negate his friend’s words.
“Oh,” she said as she slid into the driver’s seat. “Bring her food. Feed her. Cook for her. Show her that you’re actually useful and more than a pretty face.” Her grin was pure Sinead before she shut the door in his face.
It wasn’t like he needed instructions on how to…
what, pursue or court a woman? Because yeah, that was what he wanted to do.
More than his next breath. But more than that, he just wanted to keep Berkley safe right now until the real killer was caught.
Because she was in clear danger. Someone wanted to hurt her.
But not physically. Not yet anyway. They were screwing with her, wanted her locked up. That was…diabolical. Calculated.
As he pulled out of the parking lot of the sheriff’s department, he called Clover.
“Hey. Everything okay?” she asked as she answered on the first ring.
“Yeah, just leaving now. Are you with Berkley? How is she?”
“Ah, I’m not currently with her, but she’s at home with her brothers. And I think she’s still processing everything. Which is obviously understandable.”
Yeah, regardless of them being divorced, he doubted she’d wanted the man murdered.
On top of that, someone was clearly trying to hurt her, to set her up for murder.
Had drugged her in her own home. That was beyond psychotic.
Whoever this was, wasn’t just going to give up.
Something he was sure Berkley understood.
But Sinead was right, she shouldn’t be alone.
She needed to be with someone at all times.
Not just for an alibi, but for protection.
Even on the job when she was working for him and Clover. She couldn’t be alone at that mansion or just working with her assistant. Nope, he was going to put some protections in place.
“So how did you find out about everything?” Because Berkley had been surprised when he’d mentioned Clover’s name. “Berkley didn’t tell you.” It was a guess, but a good one.
“Oh shoot, I’m getting another call. Byyyeee.” She hung up before he could respond.
Which answered one of his questions. His sister was seeing one of the Knight brothers. He just wasn’t sure which one.
He’d deal with that later. For now, he needed to pick up a few things, make some calls, then head straight to Berkley’s place.
***
Nick knocked on Berkley’s door, glad she had a door camera and another visible one in the corner of the patio ceiling.
Berkley was clearly surprised to see him when she answered her front door. Probably because he hadn’t called ahead.
“Did you check the cameras before answering?” he asked her.
She blinked at his brusque, demanding tone. “Ah, yes, of course. What are you doing here?”
He held up the plethora of bags. “Making you dinner.” Then he strolled into her house as if he had every right to be there.
He definitely should have called, but he hadn’t wanted to risk her telling him not to come over.
He wasn’t used to these feelings, this tight sensation in his chest every time he was close to her.
And knowing that someone was actively trying to harm her… He needed to keep her safe.
“Wait…” Sighing, she shut and locked the front door behind him.
“Who else is here? I brought enough to cook for your brothers too.”
Faint surprise flickered in her green eyes. “Cormac is out getting food—and Apollo is currently sitting across the street. His vibe was too intense and I just needed a few minutes to myself.” Her tone was defensive, as if she’d had more than one argument with her brothers.
She also didn’t say where Micah was, but he didn’t ask.
“Did you at least set your alarm?”
“Oh my god, I have three brothers, I don’t need another one.” With an exasperated sound she turned away from him and stalked toward what turned out to be her kitchen.
He definitely didn’t want to take on a brother role, but he kept his mouth shut because she hadn’t kicked him out yet. And he wasn’t going to give her a chance to.
“What kind of food did you bring?” She looked more than mildly curious as she eyed all his bags.
“I’m going to make spaghetti bolognese.” Unless she kicked him out too.
“That sounds amazing. I’m glad my brothers aren’t here to eat it all,” she muttered. Then frowned at him. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Should I not be nice to you?”
“You’re…cooking for me.” And it sounded like an accusation. “After showing up as my alibi and bringing me a high-powered lawyer.”
“A true alibi.” Wasn’t like he’d been lying. Though he certainly would have. Something he decided to keep to himself.
She sniffed slightly, eyeing him like she wasn’t sure what he was up to, so he turned away and started pulling out ingredients.
Cooking was something he could do well, and from the time he was young it had been one of his mental escapes. Even his asshole of a father hadn’t had shit to say about the meals he’d made for the family.
“So how are you doing?” he asked as he started prepping. “With Henry’s death? It’s got to be a lot to deal with.”
She pulled out the pots and pans he would need as well as the bottle of wine he’d brought.
“You’re the only person to ask me that,” she murmured as she popped the cork.
“And I don’t know. I despised him by the end.
Once I saw his true self, the man he’d been hiding behind the mask, I realized that I never loved him, but the illusion of him.
After that, it was…I don’t know. I wouldn’t say easy to leave, but it wasn’t hard.
And he hated me for that, I think. He hated that I saw through him and had no feelings anymore.
” She snorted, seeming to be more talking to herself than him.
“I actually think he just hated women in general but…” Clearing her throat, she shook her head.
“I don’t know how I am, and that’s all I’ve got. ”
“Fair enough. Look, I’m sure you know this, but someone is targeting you.”
“I know. I just…can’t imagine who. Honestly. Someone who hates me enough to kill t—” She cleared her throat again, took a sip of her wine. “Thank you for this. Especially since I missed my first day of work for you.” Her tone was wry.
“I’m not worried about that at all.” He added the pasta to the boiling water. “But I am curious which of your brothers my sister is dating.”
She blinked at him, her green eyes going wide for a moment. “I don’t know that she actually is dating one of them.”
He narrowed his gaze at her.
Which just made her smile.
And man, he loved that smile. It really was like the sun coming out.
Just as quickly, it dimmed at the sound of a chime from her phone. He recognized it because he used the same doorbell app at home.
“I’ll grab it.” He moved fast before she could protest. He doubted someone coming to attack her would use the doorbell, but he wasn’t taking the chance.
She made an exasperated sound behind him, but he didn’t hear her stool scrape against the floor so figured she was staying put.
“It’s my friends,” she called out as he reached the foyer. “I can see them on camera.”
Some of the tension in his shoulders eased but he still checked the peephole anyway before opening the door. Sure enough, two of her friends stood there, one he recognized from last night.
They both stared at him once he opened the door.
The shorter of the two—Silvia, he remembered—moved first. She stepped into the house, the tall one following. “Where is she?” Silvia demanded, glaring up at him, as if he’d had anything to do with what was going on.
The blonde glared at him too.
“Kitchen.”
The two women dismissed him before hurrying into the kitchen. Before locking up, he stepped outside and scanned her front yard and street.
She lived in a quiet neighborhood near the end of a cul-de-sac.
He’d seen enough kids’ bikes and other toys in some of the front yards to see that this was a family-friendly neighborhood.
Nothing looked out of the ordinary, but…
Yep, he spotted Apollo sitting in a truck across the street under an oak tree.
The shadows mostly hid the vehicle, a perfect spot.
He raised his hand in a wave before ducking back inside and locking up. At least her brother waved back. He wondered when Cormac would be back.
He passed Berkley and her friends, who were now in her living room, all talking in hushed whispers, and headed back to the kitchen.
Until she kicked him out—and he hoped that she didn’t—he was going to feed her and keep her safe.