It’s then that I see his madness. He comes at me, and it takes all my self-control to hold myself in check. We can’t do this here. The clock on our ability to stay is ticking. Paparazzi will come storming out of the bushes or over the hill at any moment. I’m surprised they haven’t done so already.
Calming my tone, I step back. “I have your money. In two days, you can have it. Once you agree to my terms.”
He jerks his head, which creates an unattractive double chin around his already toadish face. “I need that money now! Ava was supposed to meet me here with the note. Not you. Where is she?”
“You will never go near my wife again,” I say. “In two days, you’ll get what’s coming to you—with conditions. Take it or leave it.”
It’s Cal’s turn to touch my shoulder. “Breathe,” he says, and I know he’s right. I can’t lose my cool if we’re going to make this work. I’m not giving us much time to build our case, but I have to keep this guy on the hook. He can’t run.
“I can’t go two more days. I don’t know this place.” He’s whiney and sniveling, and I hate his fucking face.
“Eight o’clock. Monagasco Yacht Club. It’s a private club, so you have to wear a dinner jacket. I’ll have your money, and we will discuss what you will and won’t do after I give it to you. Can you remember that or do you need me to text it to you?”
“Write it down.” His voice comes through his nose.
Cal and I exchange a glance. This guy is psychotic.
“I don’t have a pen,” Cal says.
Reaching out, I grab Vega by the collar and jerk him up close. He lets out another pig noise. “The email address you used to contact Ava? I’ll send the information to you on that account. Can you still access it?”
“Yes,” he says, and I shove him backwards.
“Two days.”
He staggers away, and I glance up at Cal. His brow is lowered, and he appears as perplexed as I am.
“I don’t like it,” he mutters. “He’s dangerous.”
We’re standing close, watching Vega pick his way through the sunbathers. “He’s a criminal, a pedophile, and a blackmailer.”
“I think it’s something more. We’ll have to be careful.” The words are just leaving his mouth when I spot the photographers coming over the hill.
“No time to waste.”
Hands in our pockets, we bow our heads and make our way up the beach in the direction of my car. Since Hajib is driving my wife around, I have the rare luxury of driving myself. Cal and I jog around the black Audi R8, and with two solid thumps, the doors close.
“I miss driving,” I mutter as the car purrs to life.
We pick our way slowly through the crowded streets, stopping every block for traffic signals or pedestrian crossings. We’ve settled our main concern for the day, and now we’re headed to Occitan.
My fists tighten on the steering wheel, and my brother laughs. “You’re dying to get this baby out on the open road.”
“It’s not often I’m behind the wheel of my own car. Off the track.”
“You haven’t raced in almost three years. Not since…”
“It was the last time,” I say. It hurts a little more than I’m willing to admit.
“That’s too bad. You were something to see out there.”
I exhale a bitter laugh. “Don’t rub it in.”
We’re quiet as the miles tick past. Our encounter on the beach is heavy on my mind. Vega is a loose cannon. He’s desperate, and that means he could try anything. I’ll have to increase the guard around the women.
Cal’s voice cuts through the silence. “Have you decided what you’re going to say to this asshole?”
“No.”