Page 70 of Savage Ruin
“An account and a safety deposit box. The bank offers a key safekeeping service. When the customer needs to get into the box, they give them the key and at the end of the visit, the customer gives it back. This is a huge benefit for your father because it means he doesn’t have to carry the keys to his box which would be highly suspicious if Paulo or his men found them.
“They keep a pretty close eye on him during these trips. Every time we caught footage of him in the airport, two men were with him,” I respond, and hand him the piece of paper I brought with me. “Here’s his account number for the first Switzerland bank and the deposit box number. The balance is around a million dollars. I don’t know what is in the box.”
“First bank?”
I shake my head. “I was curious when we found the third identity. When he returns as Ron Silva, he removes the contents from the safety deposit box, liquidates the diamonds, and deposits the money in a second bank account. It’s smart. If Paulo ever suspected him, he could legitimately claim the first account as personal savings or something.” I hand him the paper with the second account. “The balance is close to twenty million in this account.”
Thiago stares at it for a couple of minutes. I assume he’s thinking through the options. He dials Mateo and gives him the information to share with Paulo, but not the account numbers. They’re leverage.
Mateo informs him the meeting is set for this afternoon. If all goes well, he and Raider will travel back tonight.
Thiago calls his father next. “I need your DNA—blood and hair, at least. Courier it to my office by end of day.” He hangs up. “Hopefully, this buys us some time. If not, it will be available if I need to go through with staging his death.”
The air is thick with tension.
“Let’s get out of here,” he suggests.
“Where to?”
“Have you been to Little Havana yet?” he asks with a smile on his face.
Alarmed, I don’t know what to say. “Havana, Cuba?”
“No. Little Havana in Miami. You’re in for a treat,” he assures me with a carefree grin. “Let me change and we’ll go.” He goes to the wall of cabinets by his desk and opens it to reveal a rack full of clothes.
“Wow, you have a closet in your office?” I get up and stroll over. Suits, button-down shirts, polo shirts, a tuxedo, and other assorted clothes hang neatly together.
He reaches past me to grab a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.
When he whips off his suit jacket, I realize he’s going to change right here. I lean against the cabinet to watch every second of his unintentional strip tease—but really, I’m waiting for him to get down to those sexy boxer briefs that show off his incredible assets.
When they’re finally revealed, I bite my bottom lip to hold back any potential sounds of admiration that might come bursting out of my mouth right now. This man’s legs are unbelievable.
His eyes dart to mine and widen. “If you keep looking at me like that, we won’t get farther than the couch.”
My gaze slides to the couch. It’s comfortable. And I already know it works really, really well for all kinds of positions.
He grabs my hand. “Stop. We’re running away for a couple of hours. Get with the program, Night.”
I laugh. “Fine, fine. You’d better make it up to me, though.”
His hand caresses my butt. “It will be my pleasure.”
* * *
Little Havana is amazing.Riotous color is everywhere… from the walls to the windows to the roosters. Yep. The vibrantly painted statues are everywhere. Apparently, roosters are a symbol of strength and power.
We stroll down the sidewalk, peering into shops. The only time we stop is to watch the Masters Cigar Rollers roll cigars by hand in the store windows. It’s incredibly meticulous work and mesmerizing to watch.
Both of us had eaten lunch earlier, so we grab coffees, a piece of caramel flan, and a guava and cream cheese pie and take it to the park. Every square inch is packed with people, but we manage to squeeze ourselves into two seats by a group of older men playing dominos.
Thiago’s face is completely relaxed. “I can’t remember the last time I took a couple of hours off in the middle of the afternoon.”
I reach over and slide my hand into his larger one. It engulfs mine. Entwining our fingers, I play with them while we eat. “In the last five years, the only time I spent outdoors is on my runs. On my way down to Miami, I smelled the ocean and saw the waves, and couldn’t stop myself from finding a place to eat by the water. It was the first time I’d eaten out in public in years.” I wave my other hand. “Now look at me. Out here, walking around the streets of Little Havana, with a handsome man at my side. What a leap.”
He slips a bite of the flan between my lips. “Actually, five men at your side, but who’s counting?” His mouth twitches with the laughter he’s holding inside.
I slide my eyes to Mitch, but he’s not even looking at me. “I don’t see anyone but you,” I drawl in my best Southern voice and flutter my eyelashes.
