Chapter 19 #2
Nico looked like he wanted to say yes. But one look down into River’s still-wide eyes seemed to change his mind. He sighed. “Put him in the cargo area for now. I’ll decide what to do with him when we hear back from Ren. Tape his mouth, though. I don’t want to hear his whining.”
Based on her recent turn as a kidnapper, River knew how hard it was to deadlift a grown man off the ground. So, she was suitably impressed when Enzo did it without so much as a grimace or wince. He tossed Weinstein into the back of the SUV like he was a bag of mulch from the home improvement store.
She’d never seen such casual, effortless violence in her life. It made her feel…
She’d really rather not process those feelings right now, when her brain cells were marinating in expensive wine.
Nico reached for her elbow to guide her into the SUV. It was a move he’d done several times that night. Her brain knew it was a gentlemanly, protective gesture. But given what she was feeling right now—the feelings she would not be naming until she was sober—she flinched. Hard.
A thousand emotions flitted through his dark eyes as he pulled his hand back. But the one that really hit her like a dagger to the heart? Hurt. That flinch was a gut punch she couldn’t take back or pass off as anything other than what it was.
She was scared. And her fear hurt him.
River wanted to apologize. But if she opened her mouth now, if she let him in on everything she was feeling, their relationship would change in a big way. She needed to think this all through a little more before she acted on all that.
Nico took a step back and gestured to the SUV. “Get in. Let’s get you home.”
When they were on their way back to the mansion (River was still having a lot of trouble thinking of the place as “home”), she finally worked up the nerve to ask, “If I hadn’t been there tonight, would you have killed that man?”
He turned in his seat to face her fully, his gaze not betraying an ounce of shiftiness.
“I wish I could tell you no, because I think that’s what you want to hear.
But honestly? Yes. I’ve seen more than my fair share of bad men, and this man?
” He shook his head. “The world would be better off without him. I’d bet my life on it. ”
There was that trademark honesty of his again. “I think I just need…some sleep. Maybe we can talk about this again tomorrow?”
His gaze sharpened. It felt like he was trying to see into her soul. What he was searching for, she had no idea. But after what felt like a tense eternity, he nodded. “Whatever you need.”
She held in a snort. If she could identify what she needed, she wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with.
Because if she was ready to be honest with herself (which she totally wasn’t), she’d have to admit that what she needed right now, what she really wanted? Well, that was far more terrifying than the violence she’d just witnessed.
It had taken all of three minutes for Ren to discover everything anyone could ever want to know about their would-be robber.
There was a lot. And none of it was good.
First of all, his name was Stephen Fray.
Twice married, twice divorced. Both exes had restraining orders against him after he threatened and beat them.
He had a couple of rape allegations, but no convictions on that front.
Nico would bet good money he’d terrorized those women into dropping the charges.
He had, however, served time for armed robbery. Apparently, he’d learned nothing from his time inside, which was unfortunate.
Nico wanted to call River back to tell her he’d been right. The world would be better off without Stephen Fray, and that if she’d been alone tonight, this bastard could’ve—probably would’ve—seriously hurt her.
But he didn’t. She’d jumped out of the SUV the second they got home and headed to the aviary to spend time with her parrot. She needed space, and he’d give it to her, damn it.
Even if it went against every instinct he had.
Nico had been shot before, and it hadn’t hurt as much as when River pulled away from him. She’d looked at him like he was a monster. And the worst part?
He was a monster.
He just hadn’t wanted her to see that side of him.
Too late for that now. So, he might as well focus on the problem at hand, he supposed. And that problem looked like he’d wet himself in the back of the SUV as he blinked up at Nico and Enzo, who were staring down at him dispassionately.
Enzo crossed his arms over his chest. “There’s a bunch of lye in the potting shed. A big rain barrel, too. I bet it wouldn’t take long at all to dissolve him.”
Stephen squeezed his eyes shut and whimpered.
What would River do in this situation? She was a good person. Would she let him go? Call the police?
But neither option would work. If they let him go, he’d be back on the streets in a day, hurting innocent people. And Nico had never called the police in his life. He saw no reason to start now.
He needed to do something that would ensure Fray was punished, but not killed. Something that wouldn’t expose Nico or his men to the authorities. Something…clever. That’s what River would do. Something clever.
Then it hit him.
Nico said, “Have Ren pick him up. He knows a guy at the border who can help us make sure this asshole spends the rest of his days in a Mexican prison. We’ll frame him for something involving children.
That’ll make him super popular with the inmates.
Give him a little taste of what he’s put women through in his worthless life. ”
Another whimper from Stephen as a wide smile stretched across Enzo’s face. “That’s inspired, sir.”
Well, what could he say? River was an endless source of inspiration.