“Huh?”
“Oh nothing. That sounds perfect.”
Nikki’s finally settled on which movie she wants to watch as we arrive at our bungalow.
My Best Friend’s Weddingwas the winner.
I’m almost too distracted by her cuteness to notice that something is off.
The door to our cabana is cracked open, and the CCTV cameras that point at our room have been covered up with a spray.
The air has shifted, and I instantly transform into cop mode. “Nikki, stay out here,” I whisper as I stand by the open door.
“Why?”
The plank under my foot creaks under my weight, and the older man from earlier darts out of our closet and heads for the back patio. My strides have me reaching him in a flash, and I have him pinned to a wall before he can make a jump for it into the shallow ocean water.
“Nikki! Call the front desk and have them alert security and the local authorities.”
“Oh my God, Tony!” Nikki shrieks.
“Do it now, babe!” I keep my weight evenly distributed to keep him pinned.
“This isn’t what it looks like, buddy,” the man huffs.
“I’m not yourbuddy,” I say menacingly into his ear.
“Check my back pocket. You’ll have your answers there.”
“I’m not checking anything until you’re in handcuffs.”
“Tony!” Nikki pleads.
“Nikki, why aren’t you calling? Don’t worry, I got him. He can’t hurt you.”
“She’s not calling anyone, pal.” He looks past me and straight at Nikki.
“Oh yeah? And why are you so sure,pal?”
“Tony, let him go.”
“What? Nikki, are you okay?”
She ignores me and looks straight at the man struggling beneath my arms.
The shocker of the century happens when Nikki speaks up and says, “Hi, Dad.”
31
Nikki
“Dad?As in scumbag, John Fucking McClane?” Tony seethes.
“The one and only. But is it possible to have this conversation without popping my shoulder out of its socket?”
Tony eases off him but keeps a protective stance between us.
“What’s in your back pocket that will magically give us answers as to why you flew to this island and broke into your own daughter’s room?” Tony steps closer to my father, but I place a hand on his arm to stop him.
