Hidden Motive - A Hamilton Kane Mystery

Chapter 14

I had woken up in a shock when I saw Nick, smiling smugly at me as he gently placed a tray table across my lap. This was followed by him filling me in on why he was here and what a sealed contract with Death entails.

"So, let me get this straight. Death pricked me with some kind of poison that only activates when it is mixed with another chemical that he had laced on his lips. Now I have an unknown amount of time to find who is masquerading as his people before the poison kills me. Conveniently, you are the only person who has ever been on the receiving end of this poison and survived so Father's orders were to keep me close so you can keep an eye of the symptoms and update him," I summarized the situation not caring that my frustration was clear for him to see.

Nick was looking at me with a solemn expression as he nodded.

"So, where is my father anyways?" I asked as I shoved another piece of pancake into my mouth.

"He has gone off to retrace your steps at the precinct," he answered as he took a sip of his cappuccino while unnervingly watching my every move.

"Like the Captain will allow a civilian to waltz in and demand classified information like he owns the place," I replied incredulously when I saw a look pass over Nick's face. "What is it, Nick? Tell me," I firmly asked when he averted his eyes and looked out the window.

"Your father does not demand something when he can simply take it. He did not become the King by a popularity vote, you know. Knowing him, he will not be asking nicely but he will be discreet, of course," Nick answered, seemingly pre-occupied with a non-existent lint on his suit now.

Hearing the seriousness in his tone, I knew he was telling me the truth. But I can't sit around while my father terrorises my boss for information that I could get myself. Finishing the last of my juice, I moved the tray aside and slid out of bed when Nick was suddenly there, standing in my way. I tried to side step him but again he stood in front of me, slowly inching into my personal space.

"What are you doing, Nick?" I demanded an explanation as I tried to steady my racing heart.

"What the King has ordered me to do," his voice slowly turned into a whisper as he moved closer until our nose almost touched.

"I know he told you to keep me close. I think this is a little too close," I answered trying to keep the shakiness from my voice.

"He said to keep you here, by any means necessary," he leaned in as he whispered the words into my ear.

His scent filled my senses as his breath tickled the curve of my ear. He gently nibbled my earlobe as I felt his fingers slowly trace my own.

"So what? You're going to seduce me to stay?" I asked trembling at his touch as his fingers caress the side of my arm.

"You've always known that is my forte," his teeth nipped at my ear as my breath hitched.

"Nick. Please..." I could feel the sweet build up in the pit of my stomach as I tried to not let myself drown in the feel of his touch.

"Are you begging me to stop or are you begging for more, Little Lamb," he asked as he slowly trailed feather-like kisses down the side of my neck.

"Please, Nick. I. Don't. Want. This," I answered as I struggled to say each word.

He leaned in taking a deep breath before stepping away from me. Though I asked for it, the absences of his warmth where his hands and lips had been tugged at my self-restraint. It took everything I had not to look at him as I walked straight into the bathroom where I took the coldest shower I had ever had.

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Once I exited the shower, Nick was nowhere to be seen. I quickly dressed and found him by the front door with a few of his men packing up an SUV to the brim with guns and ammo.

"Where are you going?" I asked as he hopped into the passenger seat.

"Escorting you, Little Lamb. You are not one to let others do things for you," he answered with a wry smile. "Come along now and we'll discuss what our next move is on the way to the air-field."

Surprised that he knew what I was going to do even before I did, I questioned him, "And what of your orders?"

"If the Trojan war could be fought over Helen, then I do not see a problem with recreating such a war for you, Little Lamb," he answered without a hint of his trademark smirk that I was so used to, I could not hide the blush that crept up my face. I jumped in beside him pretending not to notice how he was looking directly at me while the men started filling into two more SUV behind us.

"How fast can you get me back to the precinct?" I asked, realizing that I had no idea whether we were still in Rome or not.

"For you, Little Lamb, within the hour," he answered as he tapped the driver's shoulder and we sped off.

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"Hamilton! Where the hell have you been?!" barked the captain as I walked into the precinct.

"Glad you're well, too, Captain. Where's my father?" I asked as my eyes immediately looked to his closed office door.

"Keep it down, Hamilton. Come with me," he hushed me and ushered me down the corridor to where Forensic was. As we exited the main office, he caught sight of Nick and froze as Nick gave him a knowing smile.

"What are you doing here?" asked the captain who visibly turned a shade paler.

"Merely escorting the Detective. Do not mind me, Steve. I'm not even here," he answered and quietly followed us.

"What are you doing with him, Hamilton?" whispered the captain, visibly sweating as he cast another look back at the mob boss.

"You can ask my father when you see him, Captain," I answered, annoyed that the captain was trying to hide my father's presence from me as if they have been in cahoots with one another all this time.

"He's not here, Hamilton," he answered, not even trying to cover up their interaction.

"Then where are you taking me, Captain?" I demanded as we reached the Forensic office door.

"We can't talk out here. Come inside," he swiped his card and opened the frosted glass door before entering.

As the door closed behind us, I sense something was amiss when I noticed that there was no one around except us. I cast a glance behind to see if Nick noticed this. I managed to catch a brief acknowledging nod from him before his eyes widened.

"Elena, no!" he yelled as he rushed towards me.

A gunshot went off as I felt a bullet grazed my cheek and hit him squarely in the chest sending him crashing backwards into one of the glass dividers behind him.

"Nick! NO!" I screamed out as I turned to check on him when I felt a muzzle pressed hard against the back of my head.

"Move and you'll be joining him in hell, Hamilton," a female voice spoke from behind me. It was so familiar that it stopped me in my track despite the woman's mild tone.

Slowly, I turned my head to confirm that the voice did indeed belong to who I thought it was. Someone who shouldn't be alive.

"Surprise! Missed me?" asked Valerie as she pointed it between my eyes.

Shit. What the hell is going on here.