Page 146

“Haley.”

Glancing at the man entering the office, Haley didn’t return her lawyer’s smile. “I’m sorry I showed up unannounced, but I wanted to speak to you before I fly out of town.”

“No problem. I can always make time for you. Have a seat.” Kent graciously indicated a chair in front of his desk once they were in his closed office.

“No, thank you. That won’t be necessary. I’m in a rush,” she refused icily. “There are a couple of matters I need you to take care of for me.”

“Certainly. Is something wrong?”

Haley reached inside her pocket to remove the slip of paper and gave it to Kent. “I need you to text Desmond Beck this location and ask him to inform you if the people are there. If they are, then please send the letter you were safekeeping for me to my uncle, George, along with the letter I drafted saying I wouldn’t contest George overturning Julia’s will.”

“The last time I talked to you, you were almost ready to proceed with the case.”

“I changed my mind. If you can take care of those two matters, I would be grateful. You can bill my account.”

“Of course. Haley, it’s a lot of money you’re relinquishing. Are you certain?”

“I’m certain.” She narrowed her frostbitten gaze on him. “My last request I expect you to do for free. Inform Desmond never to contact me again. I expect you to do this free of charge since I’m doing you a favor by not reporting you to the law board. There is no way Desmond would have known about Julia’s letter existing without you telling him. I wondered why Desmond had hired me to be his accountant when he could have chosen anyone, then the last two weeks, he’s been playing me like an organ. Why would he have gone through so much trouble unless he had confidential knowledge of a certain letter that could be used on George to make him play ball? There were only three people who knew the contents of Julia’s letter to me, and one is dead. That leaves you since I didn’t. Clearly, you’re on his payroll and betrayed my trust. I will be engaging another attorney when I return home. After you have taken care of these requests, I no longer need your services.”

Leaving her now ex-attorney speechless, Haley returned to the rental car to begin the long drive back to Kansas City. She wasn’t going to take the chance of being in the airport if Desmond flew back after finding her gone.

By the end of the drive, she was exhausted and cried until she had no tears left. Pulling up in front of Dante and Nadia’s house, she stared at the dark interior. It was three in the morning. She should go to her house and go to bed.

Putting the car in reverse, she saw the front porch light come on, and Nadia came out to stand on the porch, looping a belt around her house coat, with Dante watching from the left-open door.

Getting out of the car, Haley began walking toward the porch. As she grew closer, Haley began crying again, despite thinking she had nothing left. When the light hit her face, Nadia lifted her arms. Haley walked into those open arms without hesitation.

“He used me.” Sobbing into Nadia shoulder, Haley hated herself for crying in front of Dante.

“Should I call my men to take care of the fucker?” Dante’s harsh voice sounded from the doorway.

Haley was still giving it serious thought when Nadia rolled her eyes at her husband. “Of course not.”

Nadia made her feel ashamed for hesitating. Her BFF was always the sound of reason.

“Call Maria and tell her to bring a bat.”

Thirty-Three

Giving a series of sharp knocks, Desmond waited impatiently for Rhone to answer his room door. He was about to bust it down when Rhone answered groggily.

“What do Haley and you have against letting me sleep?”

“You have three seconds to tell me how Haley flew back to Queens City.”

“I might have helped her.”

Desmond grabbed Rhone’s T-shirt, raising his fist.

“Hold up. What was I supposed to do? She looked mad enough to swim back if I didn’t.”

“What you should have done is brought Haley back to our room and woken me up.”

“True that, but I didn’t.”

Desmond didn’t hold back the strength he used to punch Rhone in the stomach.

Hunched over, Rhone glared at him. “I thought you were going for my face.”

“True that, but I didn’t,” he snarled.

Rhone raised a hand to stop him when Desmond reared his arm back to punch him again. “How did you wake up? I thought I had another hour before you did. Security comes in at six.”

“I woke because I rolled over and she wasn’t there.”

“She actually let you touch her?”

Desmond raked him with a killing glare.

“I can mark her off my wish list, then. Before you try to beat me to a pulp, I may not have woken you, but I did contact your pilot. He should be here in an hour.”