Page 131 of Exposed

“It’s breaking and entering and you want me to let their shady-as-fuck attorney think he’s pulling one over on me and let him negotiate his release?”

Beth has a reputation. She knows her shit, is tough on everyone, and if you are on the wrong side of the law in this city, you do not want her to be assigned to your case. The woman will serve up your own balls on a silver platter for your last dinner with an added garnish of parsley just to pretty them up.

“It’s not like you won’t get a shot at him later. You’ve seen the evidence I have on him. When I’m done, you can add to his charges, and he’ll rot in prison for the next few decades. You’ll get another notch on your belt. Trust me, he’ll never forget you or me.”

She turns her heated glare to Tim. “You’d better make him wrap this case up fast. If I let that asshole negotiate with me, I want to see him back in a jumpsuit within eight business days.”

I frown. “Why eight?”

She frowns at me. “Because I’m too pissed to make it ten. You’re lucky it’s not five, Jennings. There aren’t many people I would do this for, but I know you’ll come through. Eight days.”

“Eight days,” I echo, not sure what will happen if I can’t make that work. But since my fake wedding day is within that time frame, I have no choice but to make that happen. “I appreciate it.”

“I’ll negotiate, but not until late tomorrow afternoon. I can’t look like a total pushover, and I’m due in court in the morning. He can stew until then.”

“That’s fair,” Tim agrees. “We appreciate it.”

“You better,” she mutters, turns on her spiked heel, and calls over her shoulder, “I will not do this again.”

I wait for her to turn the corner so she’s out of earshot. “Well, that’s done.”

“When is the next money pick up?” Tim asks.

“He’s getting a deposit into his offshore account today for the first one. That’s enough time for me to fictionally clean his dirty cash. Once he confirms it’s there, I’m going to propose a second pickup—this time bigger. Really fucking big. I think I can make that happen in the next three days without looking too anxious.”

“Get it done. The sooner the better.”

“Everyone keeps saying that, like I’m the one dragging my feet. I want this shit done too.”

Tim almost rolls his eyes and mutters, “I bet you do. I’d like to be off the hook for you hooking up with your informant.”

“I need to get the hell out of here. It’s not like Carter’s attorney is going to be hanging at the DA’s office, but I can’t take a chance on being seen right now. One more reason to get this done.”

Tim and I are almost out the door when we are forced to astop. Micah pushes through with his cell to his ear and a frown focused on me. “I’m here with him. I’ll ask. For now, follow the car. Hang on.”

“What?” I demand.

“This is Brax. He was securing Goldie’s apartment once the cops were done. I thought Goldie was going to stay at your place.”

“She was supposed to,” I grit.

Micah lifts his chin. “She does not follow directions well.”

“At least Rand is behind bars for the time being,” Tim notes.

“Dammit.” I look to the side and shake my head. “Tell Brax to stay with her. I’ll head there now.”

Micah shakes his head. “No, King. She took off.”

I freeze for a nanosecond, not believing his words. “What?”

Micah confirms the latest of the shit show my life is turning into. “Brax tried to stop her, but apparently he’s only into locking up his own wife. He said he wasn’t about to restrain Goldie. She took two minutes to throw some shit into a bag and was gone. She’s headed north out of town. Brax is following her because he didn’t know what you’d want him to do.”

“Fuck me,” I mutter and grab my cell to dial her number.

It goes straight to voicemail.

I dial it again with the same result, so I try a text.

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