Page 66 of Demise

The woman smiles, and I’m assuming she believes Bexley is my wife. It’s a pleasant thought.

“Come in then,” she insists.

“This is a black market jewelry store,” I whisper to Bexley as Maggie walks ahead down the hall.

She looks at me with a troubled expression.

“Don’t worry. It’s fine,” I assure her.

“Right through there,” Maggie says. “You have it all to yourself.”

I thank Maggie and open the door for us to walk in. Diamonds, sapphires, gold, and silver fill the room. Bexley’s eyes widen, and I hold back my smile.

“Pick something out. It’s yours.”

“What?” she says disbelievingly.

“You heard me.”

She moves around the room, mystified. I watch her, settling back against the door, loving that I’m able to do this for her.

Bexley decides on a knotted diamond bracelet. Can’t imagine why, but I approve.

We spend the rest of the day joyriding, stopping at a small café called Monnie’s Diner on the outside of the city where we both have breakfast.

Afterward, we go back to the loft. Bexley lies down on the couch, admiring her new bracelet. I stand, with my hands in my pockets, watching her.

She looks up at me and smiles.

I just watch her. Amazed that she’s here with me. After all this time, after everything, she’s here.

Her own expression turns serious. “I’m not leaving,” she says.

I feel my brow furrow. “Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

I walk over and kiss her, promising that we will have everything after this is all over.

Later, I leave for a while to meet up with Sweep and see if he has any new information on Moretti.

He’s found out who Moretti is spending his nights with and where he is staying. He’s paying a call girl to keep him company while he’s in town. Earlier, Sweep got her alone and told her we’d pay her more for information. She gave him names we already knew, but also gave us all of Moretti’s hangout spots.

Where he dines.

Where he has meetings.

All of it.

Now we just needed someone to brave a wire. For a couple grand the girl agreed. We had aninand I was ecstatic.

______________

We left Atlanta and headed back to Postings. A few weeks have passed. We’ve kept the warehouse going, kept money flowing in, and kept in touch with Henry. The girl has sent us tapes with Moretti talking shop, but it’s nothing criminal. Nothing tangible, until something happens that changes everything…

Chapter Forty-Eight

Bones

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