Page 76 of Storm Warning

“A lifetime ago,” Riley said. “When I was sixteen.”

“Oh, I’d love to hear about that sometime. Wouldn’t that be fun, Miles?”

A mocking smile curved his mouth. “Sure, baby doll. I’d enjoy getting to know Riley much better now that she’s a grown woman.”

“Not going to happen,” Andre said.

Kara’s smile faded. “Is something wrong?”

“Ask your boyfriend.”

“What’s going on, Miles?”

“Riley is the reason I went to prison.”

Elias shifted to stand on Riley’s other side. “You went to prison for your own actions, Thomas. Don’t blame a sixteen-year-old girl for your prison sentence.”

“Why shouldn’t I blame her?” Thomas pointed a finger in her direction. “She’s the reason I lost more than a decade of my life.”

Kara stared at Riley. “Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Why would you do that to him? Miles is a kind, wonderful, and warm man who would hurt no one. That’s so unfair. I could have had more time with him if not for you.”

“Count yourself lucky you didn’t.”

Thomas took a step toward Riley, rage filling his eyes.

Andre shifted to stand in front of her. “Take one more step, and I will happily take you down, Thomas.”

“Should I call security, Miles?” Kara’s eyes were wide as she looked from one person to another.

“You won’t need to do that, ma’am. We need to ask Thomas a couple of questions, then we’ll leave.”

The man laughed. “Why should I answer your questions? I don’t owe you a thing.”

“If you’re innocent like you’ve convinced Ms. Street, you won’t mind talking to us for a couple of minutes. What will it hurt?”

Would Thomas cooperate? He couldn’t pull off acting as a wrongfully convicted man if he refused to talk to them. Even Kara would look at him with suspicion in her eyes.

Andre saw the minute Thomas realized he was boxed in and couldn’t escape.

“What questions?” Thomas bit out.

“What do you know about Joe Rutland?”

The other man frowned. “Who is he?”

Oh, man. Unfortunately, Andre believed him, and from her body language, so did Riley. “Do you know anything about Cliff Carter?”

Thomas snorted. “Looks like you’re out of luck. I don’t know anyone named Cliff Carter or Joe Rutland. So, who are these guys?”

“Men who paid us a visit. They seemed like the type of men you would know from your prison days.”

“Why did you come to me to ask if I knew them?” Thomas scowled. “Wait a minute. I see how protective you are of Riley. The only reason you’d question me about these men is if Rutland and Carter tried to hurt Riley.”

“Did you hire them to attack me?”