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.
Chapter 20
If only River was as carefree as a cussing rescue parrot in a private, high-end aviary, maybe she’d be enjoying herself as much as Feather Locklear was.
For a bird who’d lived in poverty before this week, Feather had certainly adjusted to luxury quickly.
At the moment, she was hopping between every branch and perch in the aviary as if she couldn’t decide which one was her favorite, cooing happily. River sighed. “At least someone is having fun,” she muttered.
She took a seat on one of the stone benches under the redbud tree and let the events of the evening run like a movie in her mind. It had all been so good—the dinner, the conversation, the kiss—until the violence happened. But the worst part of the night?
The flinch.
If anyone had asked her before tonight what she’d do if she could travel back in time, she would’ve answered, “Find and fuck young Harrison Ford.” Now, though? It’d be to go back to that moment Nico reached for her and not flinch.
