Page 71 of Best Laid Plans

"This will fuck up Nina's reputation." I ran a hand over my face. This was hell. This was worse than last time.

"That’s Nina's problem," Kiefer shrugged.

"Nova didn't do this," Diego said confidently.

"How do you know?"

"I know her. People like us, Anson, we work hard, we don't steal."

"People like you?" I raised an eyebrow.

"People of color," Diego explained.

"Everyone steals, regardless of color." I had given myself to her again. I'd believed her that Pete had something to do with what went down seven years ago. But this time…there was no reprieve, no doubts. I'd set the login for Nova, and only she had access.

"I'm going to Savannah." Diego rose.

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to be there for her."

"You heard Kiefer. Let Savannah PD handle this."

"Are you fucking kidding me? You're really not going to give her a heads-up? Not tell her to get a lawyer?" Diego was furious.

"She has access to lawyers. She has friends. She'll be fine. Her kind always is." I should've never let her back in. "Let's talk about—"

"I'm taking the day off." Diego marched out of my office.

I sat, dropping my head in my hands, feeling my world collapse around me.

"Anson?" Kiefer asked, concerned.

I made a swift decision. "Make it go away."

"What?"

"Make it go away. I'll pay the hundred thousand myself. Just…make it go away."

Kiefer stared at me like I'd grown horns.

"I can't…I can't see her in jail again. I just…make it go away, Kiefer."

He sighed. "It's out of our hands, Anson. I'm sorry."

"Fuck!"

"Look, maybe we can set it up so you pay any penalties, and it'll go easier for her. How about that?"

I nodded. "Do it."

"You really want to save her? After all this?"

"I love her," I whispered. "So, yeah, I'll save her."

"So, when they say love is blind, they actually mean it's fuckin' stupid?" Kiefer mocked.

"Somethin' like that," I agreed somberly.

---