“Jagger, I—”
I don’t wait for her to finish the sentence. I end the call and chuck the phone across the room, narrowly missing a terra cotta vase. My body shakes from too many emotions rushing to the surface at once. I want to scream and cry and rage until I’m a shriveled husk. Anything at all to purge the endless turmoil.
“Jag? Are you okay?” Em peeks around the corner.
“No.” My voice sounds thin and remote.
Em rushes to me, pulls me into a hug, and holds me until I stop trembling. She doesn’t ask questions. Her silence reminds me of all the reasons we work as friends.
“That was Callie. She said Cash is in trouble. She wants me to leave.” Within the comfort of Em’s embrace, my thoughts begin to clear. “I think I might’ve overreacted a little.”
“Just a tiny bit.” The stroke of her hand along the length of my hair is a balm to the turmoil in my soul.
“It just made me so angry. I mean, she hasn’t cared about me for the past four years, so why now?” I push away from Em, swipe the angry tears from my face, and straighten my clothes.
“You have every right to be upset, Jag.” Em retrieves the phone from the floor. Thankfully, it’s still in one piece. “But maybe she wasn’t able to contact you until now.”
“True.” I cover my face with my hands, wishing I could snap my fingers and transport myself to Cash, then stare at the ceiling. “She could’ve explained herself instead of ordering me around.”
“And we all know how you hate that.” A bit of Em’s old humor peeks through her melancholy. She extends the phone toward me. “Maybe you could call her back? Her number didn’t show on the caller ID. Did she leave her contact info?”
“No.” I take the phone and stare at it. After all the years of wondering and worrying, I’ve wasted a chance to reconnect with my only blood relative. My temper always gets in the way.
“Well, she knows where you are. Maybe she’ll call back.”
“Maybe.” I replace the phone on its charger, feeling ashamed of my behavior. “I’m sorry for the outburst.”
“It’s fine.” She pats my arm. “Let’s get back to work. It’s been a good distraction for me. Maybe it will be for you, too.”
“Wait. I have something to cheer us up.” I motion for her to follow me into the backroom where the safe is located. While she watches, I unlock the door and open it up. “I tried to tell you about this before but it was never a good time.” I step aside to reveal the neat stacks of hundred dollar bills. “Cash gave back the money he took from me. All of it plus interest. There was enough to repay my loans and this is what’s left.” Together, we stare at the money. “Half of this is yours.”
“For me? Why?” Her eyes grow larger. She removes one of the banded stacks and riffles through the money.
“Because you deserve it. You’ve worked hard, and you’ve taken risks, and you should be compensated.”
A furrow mars her smooth brow. “Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks.” She replaces the money in the safe then returns to her desk. A tear rolls down her cheek and plops onto the papers in front of her. Her lower lip trembles. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I’m so sorry about all of this. I love you, you know?” Seeing her cry makes my eyes burn. I sniffle.
“I love you, too.”
“We can work through all these problems, right? I mean, you don’t have to like Cash. I get it. But he’s important to me.” The words tumble out of me in a rush. “He’s not at all like we thought. He’s got a huge heart. If you’ll just take the time to get to know him, you might be surprised. I mean, the money, the car, his house. He even offered to take in Mr. Mercer.” I draw in a breath. “And he made sure Kyle will never bother me again.”
“Really?” Her eyes lift to meet mine. It’s the first time she’s looked at me in the past hour. “You know, I thought I saw Kyle across the street once, but when I went outside, he was gone. I thought it was my imagination.” A fierce scowl darkens her face. “That bastard deserves whatever he gets.”
I take both of her hands in mine. “Did I tell you that Cash runs homeless shelters for runaways? They’re amazing places. You’d be impressed. The kids love him.”
“We were both wrong about him.” She shakes her head, frown deepening. “Never listen to me, Jag. I’m a terrible judge of character.”
“That’s not true. You were only trying to protect me.” Her change of heart brightens my sour mood. “Hey, Tony suggested the four of us meet for drinks or dinner. I think it’s a good idea. What about you? We could go to that new place on 126th Street.” I make the offer as a gesture of peace, but it has the exact opposite effect. A sob shakes her shoulders. She covers her face with her hands. I gather her in my arms. “Oh, honey. What is it?” Feelings of fierce protection roar through me. “Did Tony do something?” If he hurt her, I’ll hunt him down and make him pay.
“No. Not exactly.” She dabs at her tears with a tissue then blows her nose. “Something seemed off with him yesterday. It’s just been little things, but they started to add up. And it really pissed me off that he’s been taking your side and not mine. So, I followed him when he left our place. He didn’t go to the police department. He met a woman at the park.”
“Did you ask him about it?” I crouch next to her, rubbing her arm for support. “There could be a million reasons. Maybe it was a good friend or a work colleague. A sister?”
“He kissed her on the mouth, Jagger. Like, full tongue.” A shudder runs down her body. “He’s a cheating bastard.”
“Oh, Em.” The grief on her face acts like a knife to my chest. Her ex-husband had been unfaithful. To suffer through a second betrayal must be a devastating blow. “At least you know. Wouldn’t you rather learn about his character today instead of a year from now?” My words are poor comfort for a bruised heart, but I can offer emotional support.
“That’s what I get for trusting a man. I should’ve known better. All the signs were there. The secret texts, the last-minute cancellations, the way he’s never available when I call him.” She picks at her manicure, forehead furrowing.
“I still think you need to talk to him. At least for closure if nothing else.”
“We’re supposed to have drinks tonight, but I’m going to cancel.” The flare of her nostrils suggests a shift from grief to anger. That’s a good sign. She’s already moving through the process of recovery. “And that’s another thing. We always have to meet at these out-of-the-way bars and restaurants. I just thought he hated going into the city because he lives and works there. Now I know it’s because he didn’t want to run into the other woman.”
“Any man who would cheat on you is an idiot.” I tuck her hair behind her ears and try to smile. “You’re smart and beautiful and fun.”
“Thanks.” A small smile plays on her mouth. “I wanted to tell you, but I was too embarrassed. I feel like such an idiot.”
“You can always depend on me, Em. I love you so much.” Until this moment, I underestimated my affection for her. “Let’s promise that we’ll never let a man come between us again.”
“Promise.” Her shoulders rise and fall with a deep breath. From the top desk drawer, she withdraws a compact mirror to survey the damage done to her makeup. “Goodness. I look like a clown.”
I stand to get out of her way. “Why don’t you go fix your face and I’ll finish up here. Then we can talk about a plan to get you back on your feet.”
A wobbly smile tilts the corners of her mouth. “You still haven’t told me about your trip to Chicago. I want to hear all the details.”
Eighteen
Cash
August has arrived. The days are getting shorter. The sun, however, has failed to get the message. Temperatures have been record-breaking. The heat is relentless. I spend every available minute with Jagger. Teaching her the basics of money laundering, how to protect her influx of cash withou
t alerting the IRS or—even worse—a thief like me. If anything should happen to me, I want to make sure she has the tools to take care of herself. Her business with Loretta has great potential. We discuss the possibilities of expanding the operation to overseas locations. In the evenings, we make love until we’re both exhausted. I can’t get enough of her.
I wake up in the middle of the night to watch Jagger sleep, loving the way her eyelashes fan over her cheeks, and her lips part. Money and power mean nothing without love. I know that now. I’d give up everything to keep her forever.
Callie’s words have stuck with me. Unless I make serious changes to my lifestyle, a future with Jagger is out of the question. I’ve been successful over the past decade, avenged Chelle’s death, and built enough wealth to last several lifetimes. It’s only a matter of time until one of my enemies comes looking for me. If the FBI doesn’t get me first. I won’t let that happen.
On an early August morning, after Jagger leaves for work, I take a shower and head downstairs. Gage meets me at the bottom of the stairs. The grim line of his mouth sets off warning bells.
“What?” I ask, but I already know what he’s going to say. My good fortune is running out.
Gage points toward the video monitor next to the front door. “Trouble.”
There are four cars and a police van parked at the gate. An officer holds his badge up to the camera.
“Fuck.” Gage and I stare at each other. I jerk my head toward the back door. “Head down to the dock and take the boat over to the marina. You know what to do.”
“Are you sure?” He grips my shoulder. The grim set of his lips echoes my sentiments.
“Yep. Positive. Somebody has to get me out of jail. Call my lawyer and get Athena down here.” I give him a wry smile then press the intercom button. “Morning, gentlemen. What can I do for you?”
The older guy lowers his badge and raises a document. “Mr. Delacorte, we are Special Agents Dodd and Warren. We have a warrant to search the premises.”
I open the gate. They park their vehicles in front of the house. A dozen armed officers scatter across the lawn.
“Cash Delacorte, we’re here to execute a search warrant.” The older guy waves a hand to the four men standing behind him. They push past me, into the foyer, and disperse throughout the house.
“Can I see it?” I hold out my hand. Dodd passes the document to me. I flip through the pages. Standard stuff. “If you tell me what you’re looking for, maybe I can help you out.”
“We have reason to believe that you’re responsible for the theft of a million dollars in jewelry over the past year. We’re looking for these six pieces.” Agent Warren, the younger one, steps forward. His fair complexion and pleasant features seem vaguely familiar. He holds up his phone to show me photographs of three necklaces, a pendant, and two rings. I recognize the pieces. They were sold through Dark Desires over a month ago. I try not to smirk.
Agent Dodd narrows his eyes. “We also have reason to believe you have knowledge or involvement in the murder of Kyle Jennings and the extortion of Hubert Spillman.”
“I don’t know either of those people. You won’t find anything here.” I shrug and gesture toward the living room where two men are digging through drawers and looking over the furniture with gloved hands. “Why don’t you come in and have a seat?” Dodd and Warren perch on the white sofa, looking uncomfortable. I sit in the chair across from them, remaining relaxed. “If you had questions, you should’ve asked me. I could’ve save you some time.”
Jason, my attorney, also happens to be the son of a Supreme Court Justice. He arrives within an hour. I’ve been playing tennis with him for the past five years and doing occasional odd jobs for him whenever he doesn’t want to get his hands dirty. He takes one look at the warrant and laughs. “Really, guys? My client is a respected businessman.” His confident gaze meets mine. We’ve been preparing for this day. “Cash, don’t say a word. If they have any questions, they can direct them to me.”
The feds turn the place upside down, seize my phone, empty drawers and cabinets. They find nothing. Only a fool keeps sensitive information in his private residence. And I’m not a fool. This house is a hangout for my men and a place to lay my head at night, not a storage facility. My sensitive items are locked inside a vault at a South American bank. Safe. Secure. Inaccessible to everyone but me.
Once the search has ended and the feds have gone, I text Gage and let him know the coast is clear. My biggest concern is Jagger. She’s going to flip her shit when she finds out what happened here today. I’ve texted her a dozen times without a single reply. She usually answers within minutes. What if the cops took her in for questioning? I’m pacing the floor in front of the French doors when Athena arrives. She made the four hour drive from Chicago to Indy in record time.
“I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but have you considered that your girlfriend might be the one who orchestrated this whole charade?” Athena plops into one of the leather club chairs, draping a leg over the arm. “I think she ratted on us. Maybe she’s been working with the cops all along.”
“Jagger wouldn’t do that.” Gage enters the living room via the kitchen. He has Lucy tucked beneath his arm like a furry football and looks like he’s about to strangle Athena.
Athena sits up, her eyes brightening at the thought. “Careful, precious. I’ll snap your neck like a twig.”
“Everybody, just shut up so I can think.” Fuck, this is bad. I push my hands through my hair. Frustration threatens to crack my ribs. I pace across the living room floor, taking the same path Jagger follows when she’s worried. I don’t believe Athena’s accusations, but I do believe someone is leaking information.
Because I can’t take the weight of their stares, I head out to the pool. The sun is lowering to the west. Twenty-four hours ago, I was here with my baby girl, listening to her excitement over plans for the future. A future I want to share with her. And now I don’t know what to think. Behind me, the French doors open. Lucy’s toenails click on the concrete pool deck as she trots toward me.
“Don’t listen to that psychopath,” Gage says, following us outside. “Jagger isn’t responsible for this.”
“I know.” The harder I try to puzzle out the situation, the more tangled the threads of deceit become. “But someone else is. None of this makes sense.”
He rests his hands on the stone wall dividing the pool area from the terrace below it and stares over the lake. “They didn’t find anything. Do you think this was a scare tactic?”
“I don’t know. I think they’re desperate for anything to put me away.” The cool breeze blowing across the lake is welcome after the intense heat of the day.
“You need to put a stop to it.” As always, Gage is the voice of reason in the midst of my chaos.
“Jason’s going to file harassment charges. He’s got a friend at the Bureau who might be able to give us some insight into what’s happening.”
Athena ambles toward us, taking easy, graceful strides. She never hurries, but her leisurely pace is deceptive. When provoked, she can strike with the swiftness of a cobra. “Did the party move out here? No one told me.”
“Athena, reach out to your contacts. See if anyone knows what’s going on.” An ache forms in my gut. I hate feeling out of control. “I want you to watch over Jagger until we figure this out.”
“Do I have to?” Athena pushes out her lower lip in a sultry pout. “She’s so annoying.”
“On second thought, you stay with me.” Jagger hasn’t explained her reasons for disliking Athena, but I respect her feelings. “Gage can watch Jag.”
“Will do, boss.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ve got this.”
“If you ask me, this is all your girl’s fault.” Athena withdraws her phone from her pocket, avoiding my eyes. “She’s been nothing but a huge pain in the ass since the beginning.”
“You’re treading on thin ice.” My voice remains low and calm. Inside, I’m a raging vo
lcano. “I trust her. Nothing you say can make me believe otherwise. If you can’t handle that, then you need to get the hell out of my house.”
“Fine. I’ll behave.” She lifts both hands into the air. It’s the closest thing to an apology I’ve ever heard from her lips. “Seems like a whole lot of trouble over nothing, but whatever.”
Nineteen
Jagger
It’s been two weeks since Callie called. She’ll be unhappy to learn that I’m still staying at Cash’s house, and I have no intention of leaving anytime soon. I like living with him. Waking up in his bed is the best part of my day. Sleeping beside him is the best part of my nights. Although he hasn’t said anything more about being his girlfriend, it’s pretty obvious to everyone that I am.
As Em suggested, time apart has been beneficial for our relationship. We haven’t discussed Tony again. She’ll talk about him when she’s ready. Until then, she seems to enjoy having the cottage to herself.
After a long day of creating forgeries for Loretta at Mercer’s, I’m disappointed to see Athena’s Audi convertible sitting in my parking spot in Cash’s driveway. She’s been absent for the past two weeks, and I haven’t missed her. I climb out of the car and head straight to the backyard. A bead of perspiration slides down my back. It’s so freaking hot. The guys will probably be in the pool.
The iron gate clanks as I swing it open, and gravel crunches beneath my feet as I follow the curved path toward the patio. Sunlight dapples the blue surface of the lake. I’m even more disappointed to see Athena pull herself over the pool’s edge in a single graceful motion. Her smile brightens. “Well, hello, Ms. Jones.” She’s wearing the tiniest thong bikini I’ve ever seen. The minute triangles of black fabric showcase delicate muscles and smooth tanned flesh. Gosh, I hate her.
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