Page 84 of Enforcing the Rules

She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s exciting, and it’ll never be boring, but…”

“But, what?”

She shrugged. “I think I may have to find something else.”

“Because of me?”

“No. Because of me.”

“What do you mean?”

She bit her lip and stared off at the horizon. “I’ll tell you later. I promise. Right now, I need to take this paperwork to Bill and get paid.”

I nodded, wishing she’d tell me what she was thinking. “Okay. We can do that. I’m driving.”

She rolled her eyes and headed to the passenger side. “You’re such a guy.”

“Yep. And you love that I am.”

“That I do.”

I drove her to Sunshine Bail Bonds and waited outside. When she came back out, I was waiting, propped against the hood again, staring at my phone. I’d typed out a text to Stephanie, and my thumb hovered over the send icon.

ME: YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO TAKE MIA AND LEAVE THE STATE. I’D STILL LIKE YOU TO SEND PHOTOS. MAYBE SOMEDAY WHEN SHE’S GROWN, I’LL GET TO MEET HER.

I took a deep breath and hit send.

Kate stopped before me. Her eyes fell to my phone.

I turned it around, so she could read it.

Without a word, she wrapped her arms around my neck. We stood there for a long time, then I put my hands on her waist and pushed her back. “You get paid?”

She nodded.

“Now what, babe?”

She held the check in her hand and stared down at it. “Now I pay Ruiz and get Chloe free of that mess.”

“No. Your sister doesn’t owe that debt, and you sure as hell don’t owe it.”

“Utah.”

“Hush. I’m gonna take care of that. First, you’re going to drop me off at my bike. Then you’re going to my place and getting some sleep tonight. You look exhausted.”

“I am.” She yawned.

We climbed in the car, and I dialed Rock.

An hour later, Memphis dumped the money and the Rolex on the table in Church. All the officers stood around it.

“Is it all here?” Rock bit out, lifting a stack and thumbing through it.

“If you count the Rolex,” I stated.

Rock picked up the watch, glanced at it, then tossed it on the piles of money. “Where is the son-of-a-bitch?”

I folded my arms. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

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