“I agree; they’re escalating. This is becoming more dangerous than I anticipated. I don’t want you going anywhere without back-up, Diamond,” Viper ordered.
“I’ll be careful, Viper,” Diamond said.
“You better be,” Knox stated sternly.
Evie and the other women paused at Knox’s words, looking stunned, while Diamond turned away and busied herself by putting the rest of the folders back in the cabinet.
“We’re done here. Holly can replace the sofa for me Monday. Thanks everyone. It would have taken several days for us straighten this mess out,” Diamond said, truly grateful for their help.
“No problem. We’re glad we could help,” Winter said with a smile.
Winter, Lily and Beth stood. “I’m sorry about the cuts, Lily.” Diamond continued to be stricken by the sight of the bandages on Lily.
“I shouldn’t have over-reacted; it was just a few scratches. We’ll see you tomorrow.” The women left with Razer and Shade.
“We have to go to, but Knox will stay with you until you get home,” Viper said, looking at the reorganized office. Diamond started to argue with him, but she had started to notice that it was a lost cause to bother once Viper’s mind was made up.
“Okay, we’re almost done here anyway,” Diamond relented. Besides, she could tell by the way that Knox was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest he wasn’t going anywhere.
“I called the locksmith, he’s on his way to put on another lock,” Holly said, hanging up the phone.
“Thanks, Holly.” Diamond glanced at her watch and realized it was almost five. “You go ahead. I’ll stay here until the door is fixed.”
“Okay. If you’re sure. I’ll go by the furniture store before work Monday and pick out a new sofa.” Holly left, leaving Diamond alone with Knox.
“Your friends really helped me out today.”
Knox shrugged. “It’s only fair since it probably was my case that brought the bastard out who did this.” His hand rubbed over his bald head. “This is fucking messed up. If I had just kept my dick in my pants, none of this would be happening.”
Diamond didn’t say anything because he was probably right, someone had used Knox’s interlude with Samantha to set him up. The question was, how had they known?
“Did you see anyone that day? Someone had to have seen you so they could turn the cops in your direction.”
“I didn’t see anyone. No one saw me wreck or Sam pick me up.”
“How about when you left the hotel?”
“No, it was empty.”
Diamond saw something flash across his face. “What?”
“I thought I heard something, but when I looked around, it turned out to be nothing. I didn’t see anyone.”
“Where did you think the noise came from?” Diamond felt a brief flare of excitement.
“There’s a big oak tree on the edge of the parking lot. I thought it was just the wind, but someone could have been hiding there. I’ll send Cash to have a look around.”
“I could go by on my way home,” she said, anxious to have a look around.
“No, it’s better if Cash goes. He’s a tracker; he might pick up something we would miss.” The locksmith knocked on the door as Knox made his call. Diamond purchased the strongest lock possible, yet she didn’t have high hopes that it would prevent another break-in.
The door repair didn’t take long. When it was finished, Diamond and Knox were finally able to leave. She glanced down at her watch as she headed to her car.
“What’s the hurry?” Knox asked, his long strides easily keeping up with her fast steps.
“I’m going to be late to dinner at my mother’s,” she answered, opening her car door.
“You’re driving to Jamestown?”
“Yes.”
Knox stopped her from entering her car by taking her arm. She started to jerk away until she noticed that he was pointing to her tire.
“Damn it. What is going on? This day is one disaster after another.” Diamond started to pull her phone out of her pocket to cancel dinner.
“I can drive you on my bike. I would just have followed anyway or Viper would have had my ass.”
“I’m not riding on your bike to my mother’s house.”
“It doesn’t look like you have much choice. It’ll take at least thirty minutes for someone to bring you a new tire.”
“You could change my tire for me. I have a spare,” Diamond suggested.
“Your spare is for shit. I noticed it the other day when we worked on your alternator. Your whole car is one big accident waiting to happen,” Knox said, shaking his head.
“I was going to get another one as soon as I get a few more clients. I needed Holly more than a car.”
Knox looked at her skeptically. “Maybe if you’re driving around town within walking distance of everything, but if you’re driving to your mom’s, then no, it’s not safe.”
Diamond knew he was right, therefore she bit back the sharp retort she had been going to make. At the same time, Knox went to his bike, getting on and handing her the helmet.
“You going home or to your mother’s?”
Diamond almost went home. Only the importance her mother had placed on her dinner made Diamond climb on the back of Knox’s bike.
Putting on Knox’s helmet, Diamond grabbed him around the waist as he rode out of the parking lot. Diamond had forgotten how much she loved riding on the back of a motorcycle. She hadn’t done it in years, since she had quit going for rides with her father. The first time she had ridden with Knox, she had been too sick to appreciate the short ride.
Sex Piston had bought her own motorcycle and took it out often after her father taught her how to ride, but Diamond had never been tempted to own her own. She knew she didn’t have her sister’s skill for the feel of the machine. As they went around the tight curves, she let her body go loose, holding on to Knox and following the moves of the bike.
It didn’t take long before they were pulling up in front of her mother’s house. Diamond climbed off, handing the helmet to Knox.
“Thanks for the ride. I’ll get Sex Piston to bring me home.” Diamond started to walk up the path to her mother’s house, stopping at his next words.
“I’ll wait.” Knox turned off his motor.
“Don’t be crazy. You can’t sit out here while we eat. The neighbors and my parents will wonder who you are.”
“So tell them.” Knox shrugged, making no effort to start his motor.
Diamond stared at the stubborn man, realizing he wasn’t going to give in. “For Heaven’s sake, just come in. You can have dinner with us, but remember when Sex Piston is driving you crazy that you brought it on yourself.” Diamond stomped to her parents’ house with Knox following behind.
She ignored Knox’s raised brow at her knocking and not going on inside the house.
When her mother answered the door at her knock, her eye’s widened as she took in the man standing beside her daughter. “Diamond, I was beginning to get worried.”
“Mom, this is Knox. My car had a flat and he was nice enough to give me a ride. I invited him to dinner, if that’s okay?” Diamond explained in one breath.
“Of course, dear, you know when I cook I always make enough for leftovers.”
Diamond was afraid of that. . She hadn’t had time to warn Knox about the lack of cooking skills her mother had or that she only felt the need to subject the family to said cooking in order to impart a piece of news that she felt was important to them all. Diamond studied her mother, looking for any signs of illness she might be hiding and was relieved when her mother looked healthier than she had in years.
“What in the fuck is he doing here?” Sex Piston asked as she set the beer on the table when they entered the dining room.