Nicholas

 

 

If given the chance I'd find the son of bitch who has put this fear in Sophia, and I'd steal his life from him. Short of that, I'd get my lawyer to drum up some charge that would send his ass back to jail for good.

"When I first got to New York I stayed in a rundown motel in Queens." She moves her legs slightly, causing her ass to shift on the chair. "After I moved in with Cadence, I asked the woman who owned the motel if I could still use it as a mailing address. She said it was fine as long as I gave her a twenty dollar bill every month, so I do. When I have mail, she calls me and I go down and pick it up."

"Did he ever show up there?"

"Once." She raises her index finger in the air. "I found out about it when I picked up my mail. They told him I'd moved out months before. He waited in their parking lot in a rental car for days to confirm that."

"You don't think he's followed you home from Foster?"

"No." Her back straightens. "Whenever I know he's left Florida, I take extra precautions. My friend Dexie usually sends a car for me those days and I leave out Foster's service entrance and spend the night with her."

"But you said you saw him outside Foster Enterprises one day? Did your father not realize he'd left Florida?"

"My dad had a heart attack." Her voice is calm, her expression as well. "It was then."

"I want his name, Sophia. If you won't let me hire someone to shadow you, I'll have someone trail him."

I want that. It would give me a level of peace I've craved. It would also put me in his debt. "We can talk about that."
"We will." He rubs my calf. "Tell me why you were speaking to a lawyer about all of this."

"It was the lead prosecutor on the case." I smile slightly. "She's a good person and we've kept in touch. She wants to help, but her hands are tied. That day she called when we were at the hotel, she was checking in to make sure I was all right."

I like knowing that someone in Florida's legal system has her back. It's not enough though. I can't stomach the thought of her walking down a street in this city alone now. "I'm glad to hear that. A case like this has to be frustrating for someone out to do the right thing."

"I'm sorry I didn't let you come to my place." She leans forward, dragging her hand along the sash of the robe. "I've always thought that the fewer people who know where I live, the better."

It's a painful pill to swallow, but I get it. She's been trying to protect herself from a monster who can't let her go.

"I want to come to your place, Sophia. I want to have a friend of mine install an alarm system for you."

"I have one." She nods. "Cadence had it put in before I moved in. She said it's the best of the best."

Regardless of cost, it's still not enough to grant me peace of mind. "I'll have a look at it when I come over."

She glances back at the green flashing light on the security panel by my front door. "You're an expert."

"I have that to protect material things. Your security system has to protect you. It needs to do its job."

"It does." She slides closer to me. "Will you take me home now, Nicholas?"

When I thought about seeing her place for the first time, I envisioned a round of fucking to christen it under my touch. That's not going to happen tonight. I'll follow her lead but all I want is to hold her in my arms for the rest of her life. "I'll call for a car."

"Let's take the subway." Her face brightens with a smile. "I love taking the subway with you."

She likes melding into the crowd. It's her way of staying invisible. "I'm game as long as you promise to hold my hand."

She reaches to grab my left hand. "I promise I'll hold tight and never let go."

 

***

 

"I own the building she lives in." Crew looks out his office window at the skyline of Manhattan. "I haven't told her that because she'd flip out. Sophia thinks I'm one of those arrogant billionaires who own half this city."

"You are one of those arrogant billionaires who own half the city." I chuckle.

"There's a security guard at the door of her building at all times. I'll speak to the manager of the security team and fill him in on this dick that's stalking her. They'll keep an eye out for him. Give me his name."

"Franco Abano. I sent you an email on my way here with all the details Sophia gave me. His work history, all the shit like that is in there."

"Good. Let's talk about this Ella Kara thing she's got going on."

After Sophia had taken me to her apartment last night, I asked her if Crew knew about Franco. She told me he didn't, but she said she'd be fine with me filling him in. I did just that as I rode the subway back to my place after kissing her goodnight. He was almost as alarmed as I was although I could tell he wasn't alone. He suggested I meet him at his office first thing this morning to discuss what steps I should be taking to protect Sophia. I would have asked Sebastian for his advice, but he's deep in a case right now.

I spent most of last night thinking about Ella Kara. Sophia's name and face are going to be splashed across every fashion magazine in the country come fall. Even though Franco already knows she's based in New York, it gives him insight into where she'll be at certain times. She's the brand, so she'll be expected to be on stage when the collection debuts at New York Fashion Week. That makes her vulnerable in a way I can't accept.

"I'll hire someone to shadow her." My gaze shifts from the view of the city to his face. "You must have people you use. Give me a name."

"Run this by her first, Nick." His fingers graze over the screen of his phone. "Give her a chance to have a say in this. She's proud. She'll be pissed if you hire someone to protect her without her input."

He's right. Sophia insisted last night before I left that she was fine. I can't take steps to deal with this without speaking to her first. "I appreciate your help with this, Crew."

"Sophia's like a sister to me. I love her almost as much as I love Lark. I'd do anything to keep Lark safe. It's the same for Sophia in my mind."

I know how much his younger sister means to him.  He'd step in front of a bus for her. "I'll talk to Sophia and then I'll get moving on security for the launch of Ella Kara."

"Or I'll go down to Florida and talk to Franco."

I chuckle." Talk or beat the shit out of?"

"Whatever works, my friend. If he doesn't back off, I'll have someone down there pay him a visit."

"No need." I stand, shoving my chair back. "If it comes to that, I'll take care of it myself."