Page 69 of Blackmailing the Bad Girl

“Who’s he?”

“The owner of Trenton Industries, the first company I stole from.”

“Holy shit,” Regan said.

“Exactly. The thing is, I was so stupid. I’d always known there was a connection. That’s why I picked Nik’s company—because it had strong ties with Trenton’s. It was dodgy by association.”

Except the connection had been all but severed when Nik took over the company, and she’d gotten the distinct impression on Saturday night that he hadn’t liked the other man. “Anyway, I just freaked out.”

“Did he recognize you?”

“No. But he said he knew me from somewhere. He’s going to remember, and I’m finished. And probably so is Danny if they start digging.” She took a deep breath. “I can’t go back to prison.”

“You won’t. We won’t let you.”

She forced a smile. “You can’t stop it. It’s all going to come tumbling down on me. And really, I deserve it. I thought it was a game. Right until I got caught. Then it was too late. I was in prison and so scared and messed up, and I don’t want to go back. Ican’tgo back.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll think of something. Even if we have to take a hit out on the guy.”

She sat up straight in her chair. She did feel better, now that she’d gotten it out of her system and into the open. “I don’t want you involved. You’re not to do anything that might get you in trouble. I couldn’t bear it. Anyway, I’ve already come up with a plan.”

“You have?”

“I’m going to run away.”