Page 48 of Release You

“What is it?” She scooted out from under me.

I showed her the screen. A message from Mr. Paredes, the bank manager.

Mr. Paredes: Got your message. How does noon sound?

Earlier today, Nikki had shown me the medicine bottle she took from Mom’s bathroom. Inside, we’d found a key that we both agreed had to be a key to a security box. We had no way of knowing if the key was for a box at the local bank, but it was worth a shot.

“Looks like we have an appointment at the bank,” I said.

“God, I hope Tessa used the local bank. Phoenix is a really big haystack.” She jumped out of bed, completely naked, and strutted to the bathroom. “Give me thirty minutes.” She closed the door and then immediately came back out. “I’m going to use my bathroom. Who uses store-brand shampoo?”

“I’m poor, remember?” I got out of bed, met her at the door, and kissed her. “How long before you fully understand I have nothing to offer you?”

“It’s just shampoo, Henry.” She pushed me out of the way and snuck out of the room.

I leaned on the wall. How long before Nikki realized it wasn’t just shampoo? After her parents died, she and Lisa hadhad to make do with almost nothing, but she’d left that girl behind a long time ago. I couldn’t drag her down with me, back to that place she’d fought so hard to get out of. The hollow feeling in my chest hit me again. After last night and the better part of this morning, there was no way in hell I could let her go.

I considered joining Nikki in her shower, but in the end, I trudged to the bathroom to get cleaned up with my store-brand shampoo. We couldn’t miss our bank appointment.

Fifteen minutes later, I was dressed and ready to go. On my way out, I spotted the tuxedo I’d worn last night lying on top of the dresser. My dad’s tuxedo fit tight around the chest, but it got the job done. With everything that happened after the party, I’d completely forgotten about Mom’s envelope. I fished it from Dad’s jacket and opened it. My stomach sank, as the blood left my face and hands. Another note from Mom, addressed to me:

Henry,

Your uncle only had a copy of your dad’s will from before you were born. This is the will your dad signed and intended to be used. I kept it safe for you after your uncle sent you away.

Love you always, Mom

This version of Dad’s will was what I had expected. I was his sole beneficiary, and it was dated shortly after I was born. The will my uncle had was dated years before Dad and Mom were married. Jonathan had claimed Dad had simply forgotten to update it and fed the town some sob story of how he would never leave Mom and me on the street to fend for ourselves. The asshole paid for my schooling, only because my college fund wasn’t part of the family fortune, and Mom was the owner.

Heart pounding in my throat, I sat on the edge of the bed. All of this was still mine. Was that why Jonathan had kept me away from Mom all this time? Because he was afraid shewould tell me the truth? I had to tread carefully. When he found out I was looking for Mom, he’d sent someone to rough me up. What would he do if he found out I knew the truth and that I had a way to get my fortune back? Kill me like he did Dad?

My skin crawled at the thought of everything my uncle had done out of greed. I jerked to my feet, stuffed the will back into the inside pocket of the jacket, and hung it in the closet. I already had proof that Jonathan had stolen from me. No doubt Mom had left something in that security box that proved he had also killed his own brother.

When I reached the grand staircase, I stopped in my tracks. The Great Wall was gone.I couldn’t help but smile at Nikki’s antics. She was the thief who wore all her emotions on her sleeve. I sat at the bar in the lobby and waited for her, though it had already been the half hour she’d said it’d take her to get ready. I reached over the bar, grabbed a beer from the cooler, and froze. Nikki’s perfume infused the room, and my entire body stood at attention.

I turned to face her. We should’ve stayed in bed. My mouth went dry at the sight of her in that skin-tight white dress and all that hair draped over defined shoulders. She grinned at me and shook her head, as if she could read my thoughts. I glanced at my watch. I’d been waiting for her for almost an hour. Jesus, she was worth the wait.

“You look incredible.” I met her at the bottom of the stairs.

“I love going to the bank.” She laced her arms around my neck.

“No.” I gripped her wrists and brought them to my chest. “Please. No more Nikki Swift stunts. This isn’t a con. Mr. Paredes was a friend of Dad’s. We’re doing this my way.” I let go of her hands and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Your way takes too long.” She pouted.

“You didn’t seem to mind last night.” I reached for her waist and pulled her to me.

“I walked right into that one, didn’t I?” She looked upward.

“You kind of did.” I chuckled.

“Fine. But don’t you think for a second that this isn’t a con. We’re going to the bank with a stolen key to open a box that isn’t ours.” She headed for the door. “This is a con.”

I followed her out of the hotel with my eyes trained on her ass. I was going to a bank with a stolen key and an incredibly beautiful woman with a knack for thievery. Yeah, this was my first con.

“What’s with the huge purse? We’re not robbing the bank either.” I opened the car door for her.

“It matches the dress.” She flashed me an innocent smile.

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