Page 107 of Javier

Keeping Rozina in my sights, I fought to dial down my indignation. Altruism sucked. Kindness was dangerous. Good people died while bad people thrived.

When I hesitated, Missy asked again. “Please, Javi. Trust me?”

Her pleas always slayed me. Going against my instincts, I slid the cell out of my pocket and handed it over to Missy.

“I’ll be right back.” She stepped out of the treehouse leaving Rozina and I staring at each other wordlessly. I’d never wanted to sock a woman before. Tonight, I did.

Missy came back a few moments later. “I went down the hill and got a good signal. I spoke to Allen. I told him we had a situation. He’s on the way. You have very little time left.”

“For what?” Rozina asked.

“My father, your employer, is gone. There’s no payment in your future.”

“Zero,” I put in gleefully. “Squat.Nada.”

“You’ve committed several crimes—trespassing, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted kidnapping, the list goes on,” Missy said. “If I press charges, you’ll be stuck in a Costa Rican prison for a long while. You won’t get to see your kid, either.Also, the NYPD will be notified and you’ll be fired. You’re now unemployed and unemployable.”

The woman’s shoulders slumped and yet, a moment later, her head snapped up and her eyes narrowed on Missy. “Ifyou press charges?”

“You heard me right.” I’d never seen that crafty smirk on Missy’s face, but it was both cunning and stunning. “I want your silence and your assurances that you’ll leave us alone, forget that I exist, and never, ever mention my name to anyone for the rest of your life.”

She got Rozina’s attention.

“You do what I ask and you’ll be escorted back to the States. I won’t press charges against you… yet.” She paused to let that sink in. “I want to help you, detective, but I need to make sure you’ll honor our agreement.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rozina asked, her voice cautious.

“I’m going to give you something a lot of people never get.”

“And that is?”

“A second chance,” Missy said. “An alternative to prison and ruin.”

I suddenly understood what Missy was doing. My Angel was kind but also brilliant. I should’ve remembered that all along. My hothead began to cool. I was happy to be a spectator to this showdown.

Rozina’s forehead wrinkled into a suspicious frown. “Why would you give me a choice?”

“Because we’re all human. We all make mistakes.” Missy lifted a delicate finger in the air. “However, the alternative I propose entails atonement and sacrifice.”

Rozina glanced at me and grimaced. “What the fuck is she talking about?”

I smirked at the fucked-up bitch. “I suggest you hear her out.”

Face hard with distrust, Rozina turned her gaze back to Missy.

“Mr. Allen will arrive soon,” Missy explained in her calm and calming voice. “He’ll document everything that happened here today. You’ll sign a legally binding affidavit confessing to your crimes. We’ll also be keeping pictures, motion detector data, DNA evidence, witness testimony, your gun, mask, and outfit, everything we need to put you in prison. We’ll seal the evidence and certify the investigation. Then, we’ll make sure to keep it all safe for posterity. If you don’t keep your side of the bargain, we’ll begin by delivering such evidence to the NYPD.”

Rozina stared, her mouth hanging open, her tanned face the color of wax.

I suppressed a bark of laughter. Heaven had no angel as bright as mine. My huntress was ruthlessly sweet and mercilessly kind. She blew my mind with her mental maneuvers. Yeah, Missy was compassionate, but she was no pushover. She was determined, decisive, powerful.

Rozina swore a nasty string. “You’ve got me by the balls.”

“Does that mean you agree to Missy’s proposal?” I demanded.

“I guess.”

Missy just stared at the woman, her eyes a pool of serenity.

---