Page 45 of Saving Bonnie

“I had...stuff happening and couldn’t deal with her right now.”

Something shifts in my gut. This was supposed to be a stress reliever for me, but anger is starting to take the lead. I’m not sure what pisses me off more. The fact he lied to me. That he defended her then made her sound like she’s a nuisance. Or that he once had the right to touch her.

“That why you stole from her?”

He jerks his head. “What? I didn’t steal—” His voice drops off, and a split second later his shoulders droop. “Crap.”

I frown as precious seconds tick away. “I’m waiting.”

Saul drags his chin up, turning awkwardly to check in the direction his partner would have chased the group. He releases a breath. “I got robbed a couple of weeks ago,” he admits reluctantly. “They wiped me out. Bank, credit cards, 401K.” He pauses. “I didn’t know they got to her, too.”

Although he sounds contrite, I won’t take him at his word. “You don’t want to lie to me.” I give his arm a painful twist.

“Ah! I’m not. I’m not.” He checks the darkness again. “I didn’t report it.”

“Why?”

“I’m trying to transfer to an office job. Being in the field…” He shakes his head, defeated. “I can’t do this.”

I loosen my hold on his arm, letting him go on.

“Having them find out, before I move, would put everything on hold. So, I borrowed some money from my parents, and I’ll be living on ramen for the next month.”

His voice has the ring of truth to it. He’s right. Having the government know how easily someone can get to him will stall his career. It would make him seem susceptible to bribery or threat.

“I lost everything, my girlfriend included. She got hit, too, and had to move back with her folks. Now she won’t take my calls.”

If the son of a bitch expects me to have a shred of sympathy, he’s fucked.

“I should have called her...Bonnie.”

“You should have,” I agree. Though everything inside me is screaming that I don’t want him near her. His saving grace is her name. He didn’t use Bunny. Still, he has shit he needs to fix.

“Breaking up with her...it wasn’t easy.”

I don’t want to think about him and the woman who couldn’t deal with me.

“The job won, man,” he adds, defeated. “She was never going to leave that place. And I don’t want to stay in Laredo for the rest of my life.”

The guy doesn’t understand heritage. Tradition. Family ties. She was right to cut him loose. That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t make things right.

“Deal with your shit,” I say, releasing him. “And if you follow, you won’t have to worry about the boss finding out what happened.”

I turn on a heel, heading to the bank. Half my attention is still on this jerk-off, hoping he’ll do something stupid. Meanwhile, I work to swallow the bitter truth. I’ll have to bring in Kassy.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Bonnie

“Sign here, please.” The guy from the overnight service hands me an electronic pad.

Frowning, I double-check the label on the box, but it’s clearly addressed to me. Satisfied, I scrawl my name within the square and return the pad with confusion.

“Thank you.” The guy, who’s vaguely familiar, offers a tight smile before he turns to head out the door.

Curious, I tear into the package, to find another box. This one has a smooth finish in a rich burgundy with an embossed S nestled in gold filigree.

My heart beats stronger as I peek under the lid, inhaling a subtle fragrance. A nearly transparent sheet of paper sits atop layers of gold and burgundy tissue paper.

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