“If I didn’t have the best guy in the business, he never would have found it. Your brother stashed money in the Caymans.”
Lucas jumped up from his seat, practically doing a fist pump at the news. “Thank you.”
“I’m sending you the information priority overnight. Not risking anything in email.”
“You more than earned your money. Thank you again.” Lucas couldn’t wait to tell Maxie. After which, next stop was the cops.
* * *
Lucas and Maxie called the police, detailing Bernardi’s actions from the first time he’d accosted Maxie at the Halloween party and Lucas had met him at the gym to the present. The man already had a record, and the police were all too ready to believe their story. Especially since the authorities were monitoring his actions. They still hadn’t given up on getting him on embezzlement and racketeering charges.
They’d been in a diner, meeting with a plainclothes detective so as not to call attention to the police in case Bernardi was watching. Hours had passed, of phone calls and conversation, when finally Aaron Gold, a Fed in a suit, presented them with a plan.
“You’ll give Bernardi the account number and bank information in the Caymans. We’ll work with our counterparts overseas and be there to take him into custody when he tries to access the account. Easy.”
“Too easy,” Lucas muttered, but he couldn’t deny the relief flowing through his veins.
Maxie placed her hand in his, her own release of tension palpable. “And you’ll contact us when he’s in custody?” she asked.
Gold nodded. “You’ll have done your part, and it’ll be over,” he assured her.
“Fine,” Lucas said. “Anything to get this son of a bitch out of our lives.”
Gold walked out and Lucas turned to Maxie. “Could it be that easy?”
“He sure made it sound that way.” Maxie wound a strand of her long hair around her finger. “God, I don’t even care if you hand Bernardi the information at this point. I want this over with, and I don’t want to see him again. Ever.”
He braced a hand on her knee, leaned in close, and brushed his lips over hers. “As soon as they have people set up in the Caymans, they’ll call and tell us to pass over the information. It’ll be a fast swap like the last time and he’ll be gone. Keith’s mess will finally be behind us. Then we can move forward with our lives.”
He slid his hand up her thigh and she stiffened.
He stifled a curse and removed his hand. He didn’t know what was going on with her or how to break through the wall she’d put up. For no reason, as far as he could tell. But his gut told him not to push. Not until this outside stress was behind them and they could truly focus on what was important.
Them.
Twenty-four hours later, Lucas got the phone call to deliver the account information to Bernardi. Grateful Maxie didn’t want any part of the exchange, he met the man outside Blink.
“You’re handing me cash out in the open like this?” Bernardi asked.
“No. I’m handing you my brother’s secret account in the Caymans.” Lucas held out a piece of paper with the information written on it. “This account has your money. The amount you told Maxie she owed you. Go find a way to retrieve it, and get the fuck out of our lives.”
Bernardi stared at the paper in Lucas’ hand, as if he was undecided. Clearly he’d thought he’d be getting cash out of Lucas.
Well, tough shit. “That’s the money you asked for. It’s the best you’re going to get from me. I’m sure you’ll have no problem managing to finagle your way in to claim that money. Regardless, I’m out. Done.”
Bernardi snatched the sheet from his hand. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you and your lady.”
Lucas frowned, watching as the large man walked away. With any luck, never to be seen again.
* * *
While waiting for word that Bernardi had been taken into custody in the Caymans, Lucas kept security on Maxie and his parents. He was no longer worried, certain the man had left the country, but having bodyguards was the prudent thing to do.
Waiting kept him busy. Not busy enough, because he still drove himself crazy over the way Maxie had withdrawn. It reminded him of the time after she’d lost the baby, only not quite as dark.
He struggled to find a way to approach her, but he didn’t want to drag her back to that time for no reason. Everyone was entitled to downtime. Maybe work was hard on her.
Or maybe she was feeling confined, living with him, sleeping with him, and she needed space. He considered that possibility and discarded it, if only because Maxie was strong enough to tell him if the relationship wasn’t working for her. She certainly hadn’t held back when he’d fucked up.