“Careful, Dom,” Vaughn said with a put-upon smirk.“I’m starting to think you like me.Wouldn’t want your boyfriend to get jealous.”
Cam lowered into the chair next to Nic.“Oh, I’m not worried.”
“Not even at Dom’s first love being back in town?”
Nic cut off that line of distraction, because that was what Vaughn was trying to do.Not today, not while every second counted.“Speaking of first loves, I’m surprised you’d risk yours.Victoria could have been seriously injured in that accident.And now you’re risking her daughter, all for this grudge of yours against my father.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Or maybe it’s because Nicolette is Curtis’s daughter,” Cam said, picking up the thread Nic had started.“Does that outweigh whatever love you had for her mother?”
“My client—” Patton started.
“Doesn’t know anything.Right.”Cam tossed a mugshot on the table.“Then why is this man who kidnapped Nicolette Sare on Mr.Vaughn’s payroll?”
With witness statements, traffic cams, and surveillance footage from a nearby ATM, they’d been able to identify the hulking bald man who’d wrapped his arms around Lette’s middle from behind and hauled her away from the transport and into another car.She’d been wobbly, still disoriented from the crash herself, which was probably the only reason Mr.Clean had managed to subdue her, given her martial arts training.That and the gun he’d held on Victoria.
Vaughn didn’t bother to look at the picture.“Sure, it’s possible he’s on my payroll.I do hire private security from time to time.”
Private security or muscle?The guy had the build for either—six-three, three-fifty, bulging arms and legs—and the rap sheet of the latter, numerous charges of assault and battery.
“Tell me,” Nic said, “why does a legitimate businessman like yourself need so much muscle?”
“Debtors get desperate.I need private security professionals for my protection.”
Nic scoffed.“Or your muscle makes them desperate like they did Harris.”
“I keep telling you, Dom, I had nothing to do with Harris’s unfortunate decision to take his own life.Why would I do that to my own niece?”
“Why does a gangster do anything?”
“Careful, Counselor,” Patton warned.“You’re getting awfully close to slander and defamation.”
“To which truth is a defense.”
“What evidence do you have of the truth?”
Cam pushed another sheet of paper across the table.“Scopolamine was found in Harris’s system.A drug that in certain high doses can make a victim prone to suggestion.A drug one of your”—Cam curled his fingers in air quotes—“private security professionals used to date-rape a young woman last year.”
Vaughn’s eyes narrowed, like he was finally paying attention and hadn’t liked what he’d heard one bit.“You have no evidence of that.”
Cam leaned forward, the kill in his eyes.“You sure about that, Duncan?”
Some of the color drained from Vaughn’s face, and Nic didn’t bother to bite back his prideful smile.He’d never tire of Cam on the hunt, especially when he had his target dead to rights.
“Scopolamine is a prescription drug,” Patton said.“Who’s to say Harris didn’t already have it?That he didn’t accidentally or intentionally overdose?”
“No prescription on record,” Cam replied.“He didn’t already have it.”
“But you already had that reconveyance, didn’t you?”Nic said, speaking directly to Vaughn.“Drafted in advance before Harris’s suicide.”
“Basic planning for any real estate deal.”
“Except you have no history of forgiving debts, even for family members.”
Vaughn shifted in his chair, foot dropping all the way over his knee, legs crossed and spine straight.He picked at a cuticle, then, noticing both Nic’s and Cam’s attention drawn by the nervous gesture, he laced his fingers together in his lap and lifted his chin.“Did I say ‘any’?This one—Beth—is special.”
“Is this the evidence you presented to the grand jury?”Patton asked.
