Mick shook his head. “I was shocked, too. But the old man really did leave me the company. You see,” he leaned forward on the table, “he knew I’d be able to help Nicole keep the company away from vicious men like you.”
Carl tapped a finger on his chin as he stared at Mick. “Then you must know that I’ve bought out three of your shareholders.”
“Actually, no. I don’t need shareholders any longer.” Mick grinned widely. “Have you forgotten, I’m a very wealthy man, myself?”
Carl’s face turned red with anger. He took in some deep breaths and his shoulders relaxed. “Well, I’m very happy for you. I, myself, have acquired a large sum of money.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that.” Mick controlled the conversation now, and he loved every minute of it. “Frommycompany, in fact.”
Carl laughed. “What makes you think it was from your company?”
Mick’s mood changed quickly and he pierced Carl with a glare. “Because Nicole and I watched online as yousecretlyembezzled money from a dummy account that her man over security had set up just to trap you.” Mick leaned back in his chair and linked his fingers over his chest. “You know, it reminded me of that time when you went undercover at the Steele Construction company and stole money from them.” He nodded. “Yes, it was almost exactly like that time, except you didn’t go undercover this time. You paid Jerry McClain to be your fall guy.”
Carl’s face quickly paled to an ashen hue. His broad shoulders sagged as defeat slowly etched its way across his features.
Mick grinned. No amount of money in the world could compare to this moment.Priceless.
He peered over Carl’s shoulder and nodded toward the two undercover policemen who had come to make the arrest. Mick quickly looked back at his father.
“Oh, and I’d like to introduce you to two of my friends.” The two undercover cops stopped next to their table. “Carl, I’d like you to meet Detective Greer and Detective Petterson who have all the proof they need to become yourreally closefriends.”
Mick stood and motioned to the police.
“Carl Remington,” Detective Greer said loudly, “you are under arrest for attempted murder and embezzlement.”
The fear on Mick’s father’s face was indescribable, and yet Mick would always remember the moment Carl turned into a weakling in a matter of seconds as the detectives read Carl his rights. A voice inside Mick’s head reminded him that he was not like his father, and he never would be. Although they were related by blood, that was as far as the bond went. Mick would always remember that James Adkins was more like a father than Carl Remington ever was.
Nicole moved beside Mick, sliding her arm around his waist. She gave Carl a victorious smile. Mick tightened his hold on her. He couldn’t be prouder of her.
Light bulbs from cameras started flashing, alerting Mick to the paparazzi that had been here since he’d first arrived. He glanced around the room. All cameras and cell phones were recording the arrest of Carl – the man they didn’t need to fear any longer. Several journalists hurried to Carl and started asking him questions as the detectives walked their prisoner out of the hotel.
Mick looked beyond them to the smiling face of Deputy Todd Howell. Mick gave the deputy a nod of gratitude as he followed the detectives and the prisoner out of the hotel.
Nicole peered into Mick’s face and smiled.
“It’s over.”
“Finally.” He sighed. “However, if we don’t get out of here soon, we’ll be hounded by reporters as soon as Carl is put in the squad car.”
“Oh, dear. That’s not good.” Her worried gaze swept around the room. “Where should we go?”
In one swift movement, he lifted her in his arms and raced toward the elevators. Giggling, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Lay your head against my chest, and nobody will see you,” he said with a laugh.
“Oh, my darling, charming man.” She kissed his lips briefly. “I don’t care who sees me now. I never want to hide my feelings for you ever again.”
The elevator doors opened, and he hurried inside, quickly pressing the floor number. From the other end of the bar, he noticed reporters rushing toward the elevator, calling out his name. Thankfully, the doors closed before they could enter.
Mick and Nicole laughed for a moment, and then she sighed and caressed his goatee. He loved it when she touched him so intimately and gazed at him as if... he was her hero.
“So, Miss Adkins, what are you going to do now that you have your company and there is no threat of a takeover?”
Her gaze softened as her eyes twinkled. “I thought about sharing the company – along with the rest of my life – with the man I love... As long as he approves, of course.”
Mick’s heartbeat tripped over and over, causing butterflies to dance inside his chest. “You want to share your life with me?”
She nodded. “We haven’t known each other very long, I realize, but everything we’ve shared so far has convinced me that you’re the only man for me. Mick Remington, I love you with all my heart. I want to be with you forever.”
