7 - Buried Under Ice: Ice Breaker Cold Case by Cynthia Eden

Author:Cynthia Eden [Eden, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“How much have you been drinking?”

Lark rubbed her arms to try and chase the chill from her body. They weren’t in the lobby any longer. Their little group had moved into a small conference room on the hotel’s second floor. Kurt had been too eager to get them out of sight and into a private location.

Nate Quest sat at a table and cradled a cup of steaming coffee in his shaking hands. The coffee had come courtesy of Jase. As for Oliver? He stood and watched his attacker with a cold, dark gaze.

I can’t believe Nate swung a punch at Oliver.

And Oliver hadn’t hesitated to strike back.

“How much?” Oliver pressed.

Nate blinked his bleary eyes. “I don’t…I don’t know.”

“You attacked me. You get that I could press charges against you, right?”

Nate glanced toward Lark—

“Nope.” Oliver immediately stepped into the other man’s line of sight. “I don’t want your eyes on her. Lark was nearly abducted last night. You know anything about that?”

“I…what?”

“Where were you last night?” Rapid-fire.

“Am I…am I being charged with something? Punching you?”

Lark craned to see around Oliver. Tilting to the left, she was able to get a glimpse of Nate.

He rubbed his red eyes. “I don’t think my hit landed on you. Can you charge me if it didn’t land?”

Jase pulled out the chair next to Nate. “When did you get into town, Mr. Quest?”

Nate just rubbed his eyes harder.

“I can ask the concierge,” Oliver snapped. “We can get the truth from him. Just thought you might want to tell us yourself first. You know, thought you might want to cooperate.”

Nate’s hand dropped from his eyes. “Yesterday. I-I arrived yesterday.” He blinked. “No…day before. After I got the call…one telling me that you were going to help her. I left as fast as I could after that.” His voice hardened. “You can’t let him out.”

Oliver stalked forward to tower over Nate. “Who called you?”

“Don’t know…Didn’t recognize the number.” Nate started to look at Lark.

Only to catch himself. His gaze shot back to Oliver.

“Where were you last night?” Oliver demanded to know.

“Uh, boss?” Jase rose. “Can we step outside?”

Oliver didn’t look like he intended to step anywhere.

“Out drinking,” Nate mumbled. “Wandering the city. Trying to retrace Casey’s steps.” His shoulders slumped. “I should have gone after her that night. So stupid…it was such a dumb fight. My ex texted me. I-I sent her a quick note back. Casey got jealous. I told her it was nothing. I was marrying her. Her. That was why I was in Vegas. I didn’t have cold feet. Wasn’t thinking about someone else.” His eyes squeezed closed. “She saw my phone. Freaked out. Said if I was gonna have a last fling, she was, too.” A rough shake of his head. “There was no last fling for me. I loved her.” His eyes opened. “I loved her.”

Lark wrapped her arms around her body.

“I still see her…cold and too pale on that stupid metal table. The bruises around her throat…” Nate’s hand rose to touch his own throat.

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