Page 50 of Release You

“I’m gonna give you a minute, darling.” She grinned, fingers tapping on her hip bone, one eyebrowraised.

I hadn’t noticed she was up to something. She was getting better at bluffing. Or maybe I was just another poor sap in her hands, like everyone else. I checked the back pocket of my jeans. My wallet was gone, and so was Mom’s key.

“You have both keys.” I slow-blinked.

“I’m going in. You coming?” She reached for the bathroom door.

CHAPTER 17

Second Rule of Con

Nikki

“Nikki, this isn’t a game.” Henry pressed me against the bathroom door.

“I know that.” I pushed at him. “Lisa’s hearing is tomorrow, and she may or may not stay in that hell of hers for another fifteen years. This isn’t a game. It’s the rest of my sister’s life.”

Wincing, he cradled the nape of my neck and held me against his chest with his lips pressed against my temple. “I’m sorry. Do you really think this box has the answer we’ve been looking for?”

“Yes.” I nodded.

“What made you look for the key in Mom’s bathroom? Did you remember something?” Brow furrowed, he cocked his head, placing a finger under my chin.

“Not really. I just figured if she kept an emergency fund, maybe she also kept some kind of insurance policy there too.” I met his gaze, and my chest tightened. The pain in his eyes hurt me more than I’d thought possible. “If your uncle killed yourdad, there’s a reason he didn’t come after you and your mom. Don’t you think?”

He nodded. “What’s your plan? I’m such an asshole. I should’ve asked that from the beginning. I just don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

“I’m already knee-deep, Henry. And that has nothing to do with you. Okay. Maybe a little.” I gave him a weak smile. “Lisa’s life depends on it.”

He pressed his lips to mine, and my legs went weak. A quiet pang spread to my core. The way it did every time we touched.

“No more of that. I need to focus.” I pushed him away.

“That’s probably a good idea.” He let out a breath.

My watch beeped. It was time. “Okay. Mr. Paredes is leaving for lunch right now.”

“How do you know?”

“It was on his desk calendar.Lunch with the wife.We need to make sure his key is found before he comes back from his date. He can’t know we accessed Tessa’s box. Who knows who your uncle has in his pocket.”

“Wait. Don’t we need a badge to get in the vault?” he asked.

“Right.” I paced the length of the bathroom. “How about the security guard? Would he have access?”

“I doubt it.” He shook his head. “If you lifted a key off Mr. Paredes, why not his badge?”

“He didn’t have it on him.” I shrugged. I’d expected to have something to show Lisa tomorrow, something that would bring her a bit of hope. “We’ll have to come back some other day. We can’t do much without a badge.”

“Let’s just go back to his office. I’m sure he left it there.” He placed both hands on his hips, long fingers tapping the pocket of his jeans.

“I’m sure too. But we can’t go across a lobby full of employees and sneak into his office. Everyone would see us. No. We need to plan a proper heist.”

“Okay. But what about his key?” He relaxed his stance, rubbing his jaw.

“I’ll drop it somewhere where Bill can find it. We’ll come back with a better plan.”

I opened the bathroom door and went out. When I confirmed the hallway was empty, I did a quick, low whistle for Henry.

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