Page 68 of Triggered By Love
“Why is that?”
“As if you don’t know.” He crowded Jason against the wall of the corridor. “Stay away from my sister. Any questions you have, you come to me.”
“Where were you when she was attacked?”
Damon’s upper lip curled. “What’s your point?”
“You’re either a witness who hasn’t come forward, or you weren’t around to protect her. Do I need to take you in for questioning?”
“Jerk.” Damon spat as he turned toward Avery’s door.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Avery droppedher overnighter in front of her door and picked up the golden box of chocolates propped against it. A smile almost tickled her face when she saw it was her favorite brand.
Before Jason’s insinuations, she would have enjoyed it—figuring they were from a secret admirer who was harmless. Now, he’d ruined even the smallest bit of enjoyment at being a minor celebrity.
He’d likely yell at her for picking up the box and ruining the fingerprints. Eff him.
She slipped the card from behind the ribbon and opened it.
Blank.
The chocolates were expensive, and it wasn’t Richie’s style not to take credit for them. He was a namedropper, and he made sure everyone knew the backstory to every gift or event he came across.
“Was that there when you reported the break-in?” Jason’s voice startled her. She jerked guiltily and tried to hide the box behind her back.
“No, it wasn’t,” Damon replied. “Who are they from?”
“No name.” She studiously kept her gaze from Jason’s heated presence. How was it this man could make all her nerve endings shimmer while grating under her skin with his deep hero’s voice making accusations?
Jason took out an evidence bag and slipped a glove over his hand. “You shouldn’t have touched it. I’ll need to dust it for fingerprints. Now I’ll need to collect your fingerprints, too, to eliminate those in favor of the suspect’s.”
“Excuse me? Damon said this box wasn’t here earlier,” Avery said. “You can’t have them. They’re mine.”
“They could be poisoned.” He wrestled the box from her grip and zipped up the evidence bag. “Let’s go into your apartment. I need you to tell me everything that’s out of place.”
“Not until you have a search warrant,” Avery said. “I’m not going to press charges on this burglary. The door isn’t even broken.”
“It’s because you probably left it unlocked,” Damon said.
“Then it’s not a break-in.” Avery flipped her hair over her shoulder and acted nonchalant.
“What are you trying to hide?” Jason, never a respecter of personal distance, crowded her against the doorway.
“Nothing. I want to see what was taken. Maybe Damon got it wrong about my design notebook.”
“He thinks Ivanna Chu took it,” Jason said, receiving a sharp glare from Damon.
“Ivanna? No way.” Avery blocked the doorknob with her body. “Damon, why would you accuse Ivanna? She works for me.”
“I mentioned her as a possibility,” Damon said. “She knows your entire model lineup and helps you plan the show.”
“So?” Avery’s gaze darted from Damon to Jason. “Do you suspect her?”
“Was she working for you last year?”
“Yes, but I trust her one hundred percent.” Avery crossed her arms. “If you two are going to railroad her, I’m done with this investigation. Even if she took my notebook, she has good reason to get into my sketches. She’s the one responsible for selecting the accessories for each model based on what they’re wearing. Maybe she wanted to get an idea of what’s in my head.”
