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CHAPTER 99. An insulted intelligence
“You finally broke him!” Elliot snorted as Nick went the rest of the way to the police station without speaking to either of them. Richard shrugged. “Layla told me he already knew. I didn't think the fact that it was me was a big deal,” he said, getting out of the car and opening Nick's door. “Come on down, my son, and let's give our statements, and if you behave yourself, daddy will buy you ice cream on the way out.” Nick seemed to react at that moment and got out of the car as well, took a deep breath and looked Richard straight in the face. “I won’t get between my mother and you,” he assured, raising his hands as a sign of peace. “And I won't because you can laugh now, but you're fighting in the big leagues, champ. Layla Bennet will chew you up and spit out your diaper, kid. I mean... daddy!” Elliot burst into laughter and the three of them walked into the police station, looking for Detective Norton. The policeman had no idea that a few months ago Valeria and the twins had bee
CHAPTER 100. A signed sentence
Valeria gave Alice a kiss and Zuzu another before they went to rest. It had taken Amelia just under twenty-four hours to discharge her from the hospital, and she was finally in the quiet of her home, but she knew well what that meant. She didn't bother going to her room, instead, she headed to the master bedroom, which she had shared with Nick before they took the vacation trip. She couldn't avoid him any longer and Andrew and the twins were no longer around to serve her as a protective barrier. She lay down on the bed but was unable to fall asleep, and two hours later she was tossing and turning and pacing around the room as if she were being chased by a hundred spiders. She did not hear the soft sound of footsteps approaching the door, but turned around as soon as she heard that voice. “You're going to dig a trench across the room, troublemaker,” Nick muttered, and Valeria saw him standing there. He looked like he had just come out of the bathroom, wearing pajama pants and drying
CHAPTER 101. A poisonous call
Nick was shaking his head vehemently as he shifted uncomfortably in the back seat of the car. Jack was driving, Yuri was in another car, and a patrol car was escorting them back home. The last protection they had for the moment because Detective Norton had bought the story about Miranda leaving the country. But he hadn't. Nick knew Miranda wasn't the type to take the hit and walk away. “I don't like this,” he said, turning half his body toward Valeria. “I don't believe that Miranda's gone. We know how she is.” “This must be a trap,” Valeria agreed. “But what can we do, Nick? Protecting ourselves is the only thing we have left.” “That and wait for her to attack us again... No, Valeria, I'm not going to stand idly by,” Nick declared. “We can't afford to just wait.” Valeria didn't feel good about that either. She took his hand and squeezed it tightly as a sign of support. “What do you want to do?” Nick ran his hands through his hair, weighing his options. “Why don't we leave?” he
CHAPTER 102. A Thing Called Desperation
Detective Norton pounded the table angrily before running to the precinct IT department and asking them to put a trace on that cell phone. He had also recognized that it was a local number, and that meant two things: First, Miranda had played him like a fool to buy time, and second, she didn't care anymore if she was found, so whatever she was planning to do, she had unfortunately done it already. He gave the number to one of the technicians and waited impatiently as they began their search. “Come on, move it, that call won't last a lifetime!” he said, trying to put a rush to it before getting back to talking to Nick. “We're going to find her, Mr. Bennet, don't worry... Mr. Bennet? Nick!” But Nick had had to put the phone aside to hold Valeria, whose legs had failed her when she heard Miranda's last words. “Loss? What—what do you mean?” “Well, someone you love has just died. Isn't it obvious?” Miranda asked as if Valeria were stupid. “Why else would I give you condolences, you idi
CHAPTER 103. An exchange
Alice wrinkled her nose as soon as the car stopped. She was in the back seat, with the dark windows rolled up, but as soon as that man had stopped the car and opened a door for her, the smell of mildew and rust had invaded her little nose. “Come on, get out!” Alice looked at him with disgust. She had never looked at him with anything but fear, but this time it was different. “I don't like the way it smells,” she replied loudly. “Look brat, I don't care what you like or don't like,” Baxter growled impatiently. “Come out right now if you don't want me to take you out, and we both know you're going to scream!” Alice plucked up her courage and got out of the car, backing away so her father wouldn't touch her. “Now walk!” Alice looked around. They were in something that looked like a warehouse or a very large storage unit. Everything was empty except for several doors in the back. From one of them she saw a tall, thin woman with an unpleasant face come out. “Is this the girl?” she a
CHAPTER 104. Enemy allies
Valeria sat down on the bed, her hands shaking violently. “My God!” Nick pressed her against his body, kissing her forehead. He couldn't tell her to stop crying, he knew she wasn't going to. “Troublemaker, please, make an effort. You have to calm down. You have to think that everything is going to be all right.” Valeria shook her head in frustration. “All right? Nothing has gone all right since—” she interrupted herself, but Nick knew exactly what she was thinking. “Since you met me.” “I didn't want to say that…” “You don't have to say it. I'm not stupid. Your life became a mess from the very day you set foot in Bennet Designs,” Nick muttered, swallowing with difficulty. “And I've tried to fix it, troublemaker, but I just haven't been able to!” “Damn woman! She seems to have more lives than a cat! And you know what bothers me the most? She's always in the shadows; she doesn't show her face even once! And the police seem to be useless!” “You're absolutely right about that,” th
CHAPTER 105. A moment before everything
Connor, Jack, Yuri, and the twins went out to get everything ready, and to gather the cash for Valeria to take with her, while she and Nick stayed in the office. “Val, I'm scared. Promise me you're not going to deliberately put yourself in danger.” “You know my brothers won't let anything happen to me,” Valeria said, trying to muster as much confidence as she could. Nick pulled her close to kiss her. He lost himself in her mouth and just for an instant he allowed himself to think of nothing else. He needed her. Every inch of her. Every piece of her heart, every smile. He clung to her body as if it were the last plank of salvation in the middle of a storm, until Valeria abruptly pulled away from him and tugged on his arm. She pulled him out of the office, turned right, a corridor, two doors, darkness, and a lock on a small room they didn't even know what it was. Nick didn't stop her when she reached under his shirt and bit his lips. They both had adrenaline pumping and anxiety boil
CHAPTER 106. A shot in the night
Valeria felt the car begin to slow down. She couldn't see anything, but she knew she wasn't alone. It was dangerous playing bait, but more important than anything else was locating where they were holding Alice. She felt the change in the surroundings as they entered a darker place, and the car soon came to a stop. She listened as Samuel opened the car door and dragged her out. He made her walk at least fifty paces before Valeria heard the latch of a deadbolt as it slid out. Samuel pushed her into the office and removed the ropes from her hands first and then the black hood. He left her there and walked out, closing the door. Valeria's heart skipped a beat when she saw Alice sitting in a chair, her eyes wide with an expression she couldn't believe. “Mommy?” “Alice!” Valeria squatted down and opened her arms to welcome Alice in them. She couldn't help the tightness in her chest and the tears that betrayed her, but at least she felt the relief of seeing her alive. “Are you all rig