Heart Raider (Heartthrob Series, Book 1)

by Knightly, Sophia

  “No, we haven’t been in touch in a week. Did she leave a note?” she asked cautiously.

  “No. She took all her stuff and left. The only thing she forgot was her phone.”

  “Oh.” She paused. “If she gets in touch with you, please tell her to call Veronique. She has my number.”

  “I have it too now,” Will replied in a way that gave her pause. Was that a subtle threat? She hung up before he could make more comments or ask questions.

  Veronique immediately called Eric, the fact-checker who’d worked with her on many cases before losing his job with the station. They’d stayed in touch since then and he often said he owed her big time for the mistake that got him fired and her demoted. It was time to collect on his promises to do right by her.

  When the call went to voicemail, Veronique said, “Eric, please call me back. I don’t want to use up my battery, so I’ll make this quick. See if you can find out the whereabouts of a girl named Maya Magnus. She works in Grand Cayman.” She heard the beep of another call coming in. “Never mind, I need to take this call. I’ll text if I need you,” she said and clicked in to the call. She was relieved to hear Maya’s voice.

  “Maya! I was so worried about you. Where are you?” Veronique asked.

  “I’m staying with my brother, Will. He has a studio in downtown Miami.”

  “I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried about you.” She breathed a huge sigh of relief. Knowing Maya was safe and out of Grand Cayman eased the anxious knot in her stomach.

  “Will is fielding my calls. The office has been calling me nonstop since I quit.”

  “I can imagine. How did they react to your resignation?”

  “They didn’t have much choice. I reminded the higher ups that I’d been complaining about my boss, Philip’s sexual harassment for months and it was intolerable. They know they haven’t done anything about it.”

  “I’m glad you’re out of there. Do you have what I need?”

  “Yes. I’m leaving to visit my boyfriend in Virginia, but I’ll be back in Miami next Monday.”

  Shoot, another week to wait. “Please be extra careful.”

  “I’m not worried. My brother’s tough. So is Frank.”

  Frank was Maya’s Marine fiancé, and Veronique had no doubt he was tough. “Glad to hear it. Text me your brother’s address and I’ll contact you as soon as I can get there.”

  “Okay.” She jotted the address in her notebook as soon as Maya texted it. Her spirits lifted the minute she hung up. It was time to tell Nick everything.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Nick was so furious that Ronnie hadn’t told him about the gunshot until now, that he went for a jog along the shoreline to calm down. When he returned, he concentrated on cleaning the pool, scrubbing the interior, skimming the water with a net for stray leaves and adding chemicals to balance the Ph level.

  He tried to put his frustration and anger aside. He knew Ronnie was hurting over her cat’s killing, but she was in danger and damned well better open up and tell him what was going on. He’d get his answers tonight.

  On his way to his bedroom, he caught a glimpse of Ronnie in the kitchen. She turned when he called her name.

  “Hey you,” she said, smiling. “Dinner’s almost ready. Want to eat early?”

  He was surprised at how much her mood had lightened since this morning. “Sure. Keep it warm. I’m gonna shower first,” he said and headed toward the bathroom.

  The blast of frigid water was just what Nick needed to cool off as he showered and washed the sweat from his skin and scalp. But the jet stream did nothing to clear Ronnie from his overheated mind…and body. She’d looked tantalizing just now with her hair up in a ponytail, baring her nape and revealing her soft, creamy skin. He couldn’t wait to bury himself again in her wild, sweet essence. He closed his eyes and willed his body not to react. Too late. He was already hard. It was innate, organic, the way he responded to her. She had an uncanny ability to command his attention and distract him from everything but her when they were together.

  Freshly showered and wearing a loose cotton shirt and khaki shorts, he went to the kitchen only to find it empty. Barefoot, he headed down the hall in search of Veronique.

  “Ronnie? Where are you?” he called out.

  “Out here, Nick,” she answered. “We’re having a picnic on the porch.”

  He found her sitting on the top step of the veranda beside a tray of food. Her glossy hair was no longer in a ponytail, but tousled about her bare shoulders. He eased down beside her, careful not to knock over the candles on the tray.

  “Nice touch. Looks festive.” For someone who claimed not to be domestic, she’d done a fine job with the picnic, adding wine and candles. What was all this about? Her eyes sparkled with eagerness, like she was bursting to tell him something. She looked far different from the broken girl who’d sobbed in his arms earlier. It was good to have the old Ronnie back.

  She smiled. “Thanks, but I can’t take the credit for the food. I heated up two of Daisy’s meals again. The frozen food won’t stay frozen much longer, so we might as well eat hearty,” she said, handing him a plate of food.

  “What are we having?”

  “I think it’s beef stew. Smells good, doesn’t it?”

  “Tastes good too. Daisy calls it boliche,” he said, between mouthfuls.

  “Where’s Baxter?”

  “He left with Felipe.”

  “Oh, too bad. I miss him.” Veronique’s sudden wistful tone showed she was thinking of Slinky, but he didn’t bring up her cat. She needed to heal and block the memory of the vicious way her pet had been killed.

  They lapsed into silence as Nick devoured the meal. He was ravenous after working straight through lunch, only stopping to drink water and stay hydrated.

  When they finished eating, Ronnie put everything back on the tray, pushed it away and scooted closer to him until her soft arm rested against his. If she knew how much a mere brush of her skin affected him, she didn’t let on. She was too intent on looking up at the darkening sky and oblivious to the fine mist of rain descending on them.

  “It’s going to be a beautiful night,” she said softly. “Will you stay with me here for a while?” She turned to him with expectant eyes.

  “Sure. If you don’t mind the rain, I don’t.”

  “I don’t mind. As I recall, you don’t either,” she said huskily.

  Nick draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close. She sighed as she rested her head on his shoulder. “Still feeling blue?” he asked, tilting her chin to peer into her eyes.

  “A bit. I don’t normally dwell on stuff, but I’m blindsided by what happened to Slinky.”

  “That’s understandable, honey.” He stroked her silken hair from her face and kissed her temple. She smelled of flowers and rain, an intoxicating combination that made him want to bury his face in her hair.

  Dusk enveloped them and the light rain stopped, clearing the skies of clouds and ushering in glittery stars and a slim, crescent moon.

  “How do you feel, Nick?” she asked, pulling away to gaze in his eyes.

  “About what?” Was she asking how he felt about her?

  Her unwavering gaze held his. “Everything. The trial, your ex-wife…”

  “Where’s that coming from?” He’d shared plenty with her last night. This wasn’t the moment to bring up the disastrous past year. Not when the pearly twilight bathed her in a luminous glow, making him want to take her inside for more loving.

  “I want to know where you stand on certain things.”

  “You’ve had enough grief today without adding mine. I’ve been betrayed one time too many. I don’t care to rehash it,” he said. “End of subject.”

  “What do you mean end of subject?” Her eyes clouded with hurt. “I’d never do anything to betray your confidence, Nick. Surely, you know that.”

  Her solemn tone tugged at his heart, but he remained silent. He’d heard plenty of assurances like that
from Elizabeth who had often said, “Nick, I’m your best ally. Together, we’re brilliant. I’ll always be your champion.” Look where that had landed him—he’d damn near ended up in the state penitentiary serving time for something he hadn’t done.

  But this was Ronnie, not Elizabeth. As she sat before him, her heart and soul shining in her wondrous eyes, his heart rose in his throat clogging it with emotion.

  “I believe you,” he said gruffly. “Happy now?”

  “More than you can ever imagine,” she said, hugging him around the waist. She wasn’t going to let it go at that, he realized, when she searched his eyes, her chin lifted at a stubborn angle. “What do you want most in life?”

  “That’s a loaded question. What do you want most?”

  “Professionally or personally?”

  “Let’s start with professionally.”

  “More than anything, I want to restore my reputation as a first class journalist,” she said without hesitation. Her eyes burned with determination and he could just imagine her fervor and dedication to every case she reported.

  “Fair enough. And personally?”

  She clasped her hands around her knees and leaned her head back to gaze at the stars in the horizon. Her face grew somber as she gathered her thoughts. She looked vulnerable, hesitant to divulge her feelings. That was a first. Ronnie’s feelings were usually laid out in the open for everyone to see, especially him.

  “Actually…” She hesitated and smiled. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. This might sound lame because I love to roam free, being the first to break a story wide open. That gives me a real high.”

  “Nothing wrong with that, Ronnie. It’s who you are.”

  “Exactly, but I haven’t finished telling you how I feel. I used to get restless and always want to be on the go. But after this week, I’ve realized how lonely I’ve been. There’s been something missing.” She paused and looked up at the sky. “All of a sudden I want a place to call home. My studio is just my landing pad between assignments. I rent it furnished and I still have stuff in boxes from my last move.” She studied the stars as she spoke softly, keeping her gaze from connecting with his.

  “Why haven’t you unpacked?”

  She shrugged. “Part procrastination and part not knowing where I really want to be. I’m subletting the place for six months, and then I have to move on.”

  “Where would you want to live?”

  “I’m not sure. I have a lot of decisions to make,” she said, gazing at him with questing eyes.

  “I’ve been thinking about where I want to go from here too,” he admitted. “But this place has grown on me.”

  She sighed and her eyes turned dreamy. “I can see why. It’s truly paradise with the turquoise waters and all that glorious white sand. Even the sunsets are magical with their pink and purple hues.”

  “Yeah, it’s beautiful and there aren’t a lot of people to deal with,” he said. “You’ve seen the island before and after the hurricane hit. That doesn’t give you an idea of how peaceful it usually is.”

  “True, but you can’t stay away from civilization forever…can you?” The profound expectation in her eyes rattled him.

  She had a point. Before she had come, he hadn’t been able to stand being around people. Now he was dreading her departure. He’d grown accustomed to having her there, especially tonight when she smelled like an angel and all he could think about was burying himself inside her tight, velvety warmth. He’d never get his fill of her. She didn’t only bring him sexual pleasure—she made him feel alive.

  “Nick?” she prodded.

  “I plan to get back in the saddle and take the helm again at my foundation. I was expelled from it when I was indicted on insider trading charges.”

  “You were chairman of the board, right?”

  “Yes.” His mouth twisted. “Ironic isn’t it? Zack’s in jail and I’m no longer CEO because my name might tarnish my own foundation,” he said, disgusted at the paradox.

  “Who runs the show now?”

  “My ex-wife is the president, always has been. When we started the foundation, Elizabeth ran it full time while I worked and traveled. She serves under the direction of the executive board. Out of five board members, we’re down to three.” But not for long, he thought darkly. She was garnering public goodwill with her philanthropy, and buying time until Zack got out of jail.

  “Is Fred one of them?”

  “No. He used to be the secretary until I got kicked off. Then he quit.”

  “So you only have three board members now?”

  “Yeah, there’s Elizabeth’s family lawyer, Ron Comptel, and Pete Gershon, a college friend of ours. Pete’s a major party animal. He’s only on the board to boost his public image. He couldn’t care less about the fund, but as long as he continues to bring in big funds, we keep him on.”

  “Hmm. One of those,” she said, her mouth pressed with censure.

  Nick nodded. “Pete donates money. Ron, the lawyer, collects his fees for not doing much, and they all let Elizabeth run the show.”

  “Are you okay with that?”

  “Hell no. I don’t trust Elizabeth. Or anyone in my prior life,” he added with a cynical curl of his lips.

  “What are you going to do about it?” she challenged, her tone sharper than usual.

  “The foundation is in my name. It was my brainchild and I plan to regain control.”

  “Good.” She surprised him by giving his thigh a hearty slap. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.”

  “Why does that please you so much?” He took hold of her hand, struck by how strongly she squeezed his hand.

  “I want you to be happy,” she said exuberantly, and kissed his jaw. “That’s why.”

  Nick wound his hand in her silky hair and kissed her. Her mouth went soft and pliable beneath his, her lips parting and taking in his tongue with a soft little moan.

  “I want you to be happy too. Very happy,” he drawled, insatiable for more of her sweet surrender. “Let’s go for a swim.” He tugged her hand as he rose from the steps. “The pool is sparkling clean and warm.”

  “Sounds tempting, but not yet,” she demurred.

  “I thought you’d be all for a skinny dip,” he said, sounding disappointed.

  “Of course I am, but not yet.” Veronique squeezed his hand and gazed at him with anxious eyes, praying that the trust he’d professed didn’t vanish over what she was about to tell him.

  His brows knitted together in puzzlement. “What’s wrong, honey? You look white as a ghost.”

  “I have something to tell you. It’s important information.” Her heart thudded painfully in her chest when she saw his smile fade and his features sharpen with suspicion.

  He sank down beside her, his large body landing with a thud. “What is it?”

  She took a deep, calming breath. “It has to do with your foundation.”

  “What about it?”

  “Please listen to me and don’t get mad.” This was the dreaded make or break moment. If she could only get him to hear her out, he’d understand why she hadn’t told him earlier.

  “Why would I get mad?” he asked, removing his hand from hers. He already looked troubled; she could only imagine his reaction when she filled him in on everything.

  “I’ve been investigating your ex-wife.”

  Nick’s dark brows snapped together. “Elizabeth?” He paused and drew in a sharp breath. “Why?”

  “All during your trial, I wanted to reach out to you because I knew you’d been wronged. Then when I found out where you were, I started investigating the trial and everything related to your foundation.”

  “What does this have to do with Elizabeth?”

  “Something didn’t add up when only Zack was sent to jail. I believed you were innocent all along, but I had strong reservations about Elizabeth. That’s when I decided to investigate her activities.” Her words came rushing out as she stared at the transformation in h
im.

  Nick’s skin was stretched tight over his sharp cheekbones, his jaw clenched, his mouth set as he stared at her with severe blue eyes. Anger reverberated in shock waves from his body. “Elizabeth is dead to me. She betrayed me more than you can ever imagine. Don’t mention her again,” he said vehemently before he got up and turned away.

  She shot up and grabbed his forearm. “Don’t turn away from me! Stay and listen to what I have to tell you.” Her body shook with exasperation as she faced him, trying to get a grip on her temper. “Elizabeth is still screwing you over, Nick. She’s syphoning money from your foundation and sending it to an undisclosed account in Macau.”

  He went as still as marble. The only thing moving in his rigid body was a ticking muscle in his jaw. His eyes targeted her like blue lasers.

  “What are you talking about?” he said in a deceptively soft voice.

  “Elizabeth gave instructions for funds transfers to two schools in North Carolina, but not all the money that was supposed to go to the École des Jeunes Travailleurs in Haiti got there. Only a small portion of it.”

  “How much snooping did you do to find this out?” His voice was unnerving as he stared at her.

  She thrust her shoulders back and narrowed her eyes at him. She was so anxious for Nick to trust her, she was beyond letting his caustic comments hurt her. Naturally, he would lash out. He had to be in shock over what she’d divulged, incensed at her for meddling in his affairs, and most likely furious with himself for not suspecting Elizabeth. She understood how he felt. Her initial reaction to the evidence had been a bone-chilling urge to hunt Elizabeth and take her down.

  “Well?” he said, not taking his eyes off her.

  She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with much-needed oxygen as she prepared for his interrogation. “I went to visit all three schools. The ones in North Carolina were thriving, but the one in Haiti was a disaster. The place is barely running with minimum resources. Pierre Morais, the director—”

  “I know who the director is,” he said curtly.

  “Yes, of course you do. Mr. Morais told me the school got very little support from the Cameron Hope Foundation. He also had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned the scholarships. That’s when I began to suspect that the money was being sent elsewhere.”