“What about the missing shooter?” Lincoln chimed.
“I’m working on it,” Niyah assured. “I should have something when I get back to work on Monday.”
“Good. Thanks, Doc,” Lincoln responded.
“What do we know?” Victor questioned.
Donna exhaled a frustrated breath. “So far, all we know is one of the shooters that attacked Bella and me wereAsian. Dude that tried to kill Bella and Lucas in the hospital wasAsian, and so was the doctor that Niyah ran into before her intern was murdered.”
“The man snooping around my office was too,” Niyah added.
“It’s the fucking Yakuza!” Bella blurted out through laughter.
Lincoln glared at her with knitted brows, surely baffled by her bizarre behavior. But, high or not, Bella was a detective, and she might have been on to something.
CHAPTER 23
XANDER
After pouring a generous amount of Scotch over one ice cube for himself, Xander filled a wineglass with pinot noir and carried it over to Niyah. She accepted it with a grateful smile. The family fact-finding session had gone on for over an hour and the only thing they’d established was that a handful of Asians wanted them dead. Yet, they still had no idea why.
Xander offered his hand. “Take a walk with me,” he commanded in a whisper.
Niyah accepted his offer and placed her hand in his. She stood and allowed him to escort her from the parlor and into the hall. Instead of the front door, he led her to the rear of the house and out a set of patio doors.
“Oh, my God,” Niyah gasped when they stepped out onto his parents’ vast estate.
“It is remarkable,” Xander agreed. “But truthfully, I don’t see why they need so much space. I wish they’d consider downsizing.”
Niyah shrugged. “Maybe they keep it for sentimental reasons.”
Xander shrugged. “Maybe.” He led her past the well-lit, Olympic-sized pool and into his mother’s garden. “There’s something I want you to see.”
“Okay.”
They took the short walk in silence. Xander simply enjoyed the feeling of her warm hand encased in his. He liked Niyah; liked being with her, but feared that once the danger was gone, she would soon follow.
For the life of him, Xander couldn’t understand why she was so resistant to him. In his experience, most women foundhim attractive or at least, that’s what they told him. He thought of himself as a gentleman. He was fairly intelligent and practiced good hygiene. By all accounts, he was a catch. So, why did the good doctor keep throwing him back in?
To Xander’s dismay, Niyah pulled away. She walked over to a bed of flowers and inhaled the intoxicating scent.
“Hyacinth,” she whispered with adoration.
Xander took her word for it and inhaled. Truth be told, he didn’t know a daisy from a carnation. But the flowers smelled nice, so he waited patiently until she was ready to move on. And when she was, he retrieved her hand and pulled her toward their destination.
Minutes later, they arrived.
“This was my secret hiding place,” he announced, pointing toward the lake.
The confused look on Niyah’s face caused Xander to chuckle. “Not the lake,” he clarified. “Over thereto the left,” he said pointing to the small boathouse.
Xander wrapped his fingers around her wrist and pulled her toward the rickety wooden structure. It had been years since he’d been inside. It seemed time has taken its toll on his favorite childhood hideaway.
Xander reluctantly released Niyah’s small wrist and turned the knob to open the door. After a good yank, he gained access. The light from outside filled the boathouse, allowing him to find the light switch.
He stepped carefully inside and walked near the end of the dock to turn on another light. When the boathouse was safely illuminated, Xander turned and waved Niyah over. She looked nervous.
“I can assure you that you’re safe. I built this place with my bare hands. Come on in.”
