I resist the urge to snatch the bracelet away. It’s the only memory I have from my mom and the only thing I kept as Rai. “Apparently, you couldn’t do anything with those. I’m going to have my lawyers retrieve my belongings.”
He pushes off the car and Joe stands his ground beside me. I don’t push back or cower. It was stupid to be scared of him in the beginning, or maybe it wasn’t him I was scared of; it was the unknown and the thought that I hurt someone. Now that I remember my meeting with Reina and know full well both of us were victims, Detective Daniels can’t do shit to me.
We stand toe to toe. He’s taller so I have to stare up at him, but that doesn’t reduce my defiant stare.
“You think I’ll give up, you spoiled little girl?”
“Oh, I’m sure you won’t, and I’ll enjoy watching you fail.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Now, where’s my ring?”
“Your ring?”
His brows scrunch as if he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.
I motion at the picture. “I wore my engagement ring that night—where is it?”
“We found no ring.”
My heart flutters as I whisper, “So she took it.”
Oh, God.
Reina was trying on my engagement ring and it was a bit loose on her finger, so if she really was hurt or fell unconscious, the ring would’ve slipped off.
Or that’s what I want to believe.
I need to think she kept it because it was precious enough not to throw away.
“She took it?” The detective’s eyes zero in on me like a hawk’s. “Who is she?”
Shit.
I didn’t mean to say that bit of information aloud.
A larger than life presence stops behind me. His warmth envelops me like a cocoon. I don’t even have to look back to know who it is.
“If you’re done, leave,” Asher tells the detective in a firm voice that’s too similar to Alex’s lawyer tone.
“We’re not done.” Something glints in the detective’s eyes. “Miss Ellis here was just telling me about a she.”
“That would be the housekeeper.” Asher wraps an arm around my waist, and it feels more protective than anything he’s ever done before. “Now, leave before I call the other cops on you, the ones who can suspend you.”
Detective Daniels spits on the ground before he yanks the door of his police car open and slides inside. He stares at me through the window for a second too long. “I’ll get you one day, Miss Ellis.”
And then, his car revs up and he drives away.
“Motherfucker.” Asher’s rage-induced voice prickles my skin.
“I’m sorry, sir.” Joe slightly bows his head. “The guard at the gate is new. He didn’t know we don’t allow the police in.”
“It’s okay, Joe.” I smile at him.
Besides, even my security members aren’t allowed to mingle with the police. After all, they’re a legitimate business and can be targeted by the authorities if they make enemies with them.
As soon as Joe disappears inside, Asher spins me around so his arms are surrounding my waist from the front.
His expression is tight and on the verge of hell breaking loose. “Why the fuck were you talking to him? He’s after you, and he’s not someone to be trusted.”
“You think I trust him?”