Page 62 of Corrupted Empire

I made headway in the hunt for Felicity and Kevin today, but what if that was all part of Felicity’s plan? What if I follow these threads directly into an ambush?

What if Ruby does manage to get all the evidence she needs to put me away? Would that not be what I deserve? I’m far from innocent. I murdered my own father. Should I not be punished for that?

I find Alexis in the nursery, bent over Harry’s crib, and the very sight of them begins to calm my aching head. He is asleep, and she reaches in and strokes the curl of dark hair from his forehead.

“Alexis,” I say.

She looks over her shoulder and purses her lips. “I heard Ruby was here earlier, and I know what you’re going to say,” she begins. “I should have kept my cool. I’m sorry, just something about that woman brings out the worst in me, and I couldn’t help myself. The bitch was taunting me…”

I walk over and wrap my arms around her, tucking her against my chest with my chin on her forehead. She is warm. The scent of jasmine coils through the air, and I suck in a deep breath.

Alexis hesitantly puts her arms around me. “Aren’t you mad?”

“I agree that you could have handled it better, but I’ve met the woman, and I know how difficult she can be. Besides, she played me the recording, and I have to say I’m too proud to be upset.”

Alexis tips her head back and shoots me a quizzical expression. “Proud?”

“Proud,” I repeat, smiling down at her. “You refused to be cowed by her. You stuck up for yourself, and what’s more, you made it very clear that you weren’t afraid of her.”

As I look down at her, I wonder—could Alexis and I really be partners? Is she really strong enough to carry a part of my burden? Or will she crumble in the face of my demons?

So far, she has proven herself. But we’re a long way from there yet.

“If you liked that, you’re going to like what else I did,” Alexis says, leaning up on her tiptoes to peck my cheek. She pulls away and walks through the dividing door into her bedroom. I follow and find her sitting on the bed with her laptop open, tapping on the keys.

“I went ahead and had a few of the reporters I hired to look into the Cartel do some digging into Ruby,” Alexis explains, and hands the laptop up to me. “Turns out our girl is deep in gambling debt.”

I grab the computer and read the documents open on the screen. Alexis’ reporters have found bank statements, lines of credit with various casinos, and debt-collection notices. I’m impressed.

I glance at Alexis over the top of the laptop. “You know this is all very illegal, right?”

Alexis bats her eyelashes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I laugh and set the laptop onto the bed, then pull her up by her hands. Her coquettish grin lights up the room, and I take a mental photograph of how beautifully devious she looks.

“Grab the baby monitor,” I instruct. “Let’s have dinner.”

* * *

Alexis sips the nonalcoholic champagne with a thoughtful expression. After she swallows, she nods slowly. “I like it,” she says. “I mean, it’s no Dom Perignon…”

I laugh. “The more time you spend with me, the more snooty your tastes seem to be getting.”

“I would use the word refined,” she argues. “Besides, I wouldn’t think that would be a problem for you.”

“It’s not. I think it’s cute.”

Alexis narrows her eyes across the table. We are sitting outside on the patio, with the heater turned on to full blast against the assault of the crisp fall air. Alexis is wrapped in a cozy wool blanket, though it has slipped on one side to reveal a tantalizing sliver of bare shoulder.

“Don’t call me cute,” Alexis says, sitting straighter. “I wouldn’t want you to make the same mistake Ruby did in underestimating me.”

“I would never.” I grin playfully. “Speaking of which, I would love to hear your ideas on how to use the information you’ve gathered about our dear friend Ruby.”

Victoria comes through the French doors with our meals. Tonight is just a simple dinner of steak, fries, and salad. Alexis’ eyes widen when she sees what’s on the plates—she has been craving red meat nonstop recently. My little tiger.

After Victoria sets the plates down and leaves, Alexis picks up her fork and steak knife and starts to carve into her meat. “I think we should start with her biggest creditor, the Stardust Casino. They’re a competitor of yours, aren’t they?”

Bellucci Inc. owns a few casinos in the state. They’re invaluable when it comes to laundering money.

---