Page 18 of Embracing Easy

It's like she's crawled under my skin and burrowed her way into my every fucking thought.

Focus, Patterson.

Dropping back down to my haunches, I give the chain one last yank, making sure it's secure. As I straighten, I feel my phone starting to vibrate in my pocket. “Shit.”

Grabbing ahold of the thick fabric with my teeth, I pull off my glove and fish it out.

Dex's name is flashing across the screen, and I hope whatever he's calling for isn't bad news.

Tapping the screen, I press the device against my ear and grunt, “Yeah?”

“Yo,” Dex's voice crackles through the speaker. “Got some intel on the cocksucker who scammed your girl.”

My grip tightens on the phone. “Let me have it.”

“Alright, so get this. This asshole's been running the same scam all over Florida. Goes by the name Randall Brodrick, but that's probably bullshit. He's got a whole network of fake rental listings set up.”

“Fuck,” I mutter, anger bubbling up in my chest. “Any idea where this prick is operating from?”

“That's the kicker, man. Looks like he's right here in Miami. Got a P.O. box downtown, but I'm still working on pinning down his actual location.”

I let out a low whistle. “No shit? That close, huh?” This is good news because I want to personally educate the motherfucker about what happens when you scam people out of their hard-earned money.

“Yeah, brother. But listen, this guy's slippery as fuck. He's got a system set up to move the money through about a dozen different accounts before it hits his main stash. It's gonna take some time to trace it all back.”

I run a hand through my hair, frustration gnawing at me. “How long we talking?”

“Few days, maybe a week. I'll keep digging, but this asshole knows what he's doing.”

“Alright,” I sigh. “Keep me posted. And Dex?”

“Yeah?”

“When you find this fucker, I want you to drain his fucking accounts. Nobody messes with what's mine.”

There's a pause on the other end of the line, and I can practically hear Dex's eyebrows shooting up. “Not you too? Ain't no bitch putting my balls in a sling. Fuck that.”

I growl, not in the mood for his shit. “Just find him, alright?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Dex chuckles before hanging up.

I shove my phone back in my pocket, my mind racing. Lexi's scammer is here in Miami. The thought of that piece of shit being so close makes me fucking giddy. I want nothing more than to hunt him down and cut off his balls, but I know I've gotta play this smart.

As I climb into the cab of my truck, I can't help but think about Lexi. She's probably back at the house by now. I wonder how her interview went this afternoon. She was nervous as hell when I left her this morning.

A smile tugs at my lips, thinking about the look on her face when I kissed her before I left this morning. I know she's wondering what the fuck I'm playing at. She'll catch on soon enough.

A few hours later, I pull into my driveway and kill the engine. As I sit here, staring at my front door, it hits me.

Lexi's in there.

Having someone to come home to isn't something I'm used to, but I have to admit, it's fucking nice.

On this thought, I step out of the truck and head straight for the door. I pause, key in hand. Something's different.

The moment I step inside, a tantalizing aroma hits me. Is Lexi cooking? The thought of her in my kitchen, making herself at home, does something to me. It feels right, like she belongs here.

I move through the house, following the scent. As I round the corner into the kitchen, I spot her. She's standing at the stove, her back to me, humming softly to herself. For a moment, I just watch her, taking in the domesticity of the scene.

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