Page 7

Bishop

This has got to be the worst idea you’ve ever had.

Is it, though?

You’re marrying a girl because she can’t afford your fees. On what planet is that going to work out well?

Two birds, one stone. She gets protection. I get out of a self-made situation that I should have known better than to get involved in.

You really think that’s a good reason to get married?

It’s a better reason than most people have. Anyway, it’s only for a couple of weeks. Then I’ll get her set up in a new life and carry on with mine. Like every other contract, once my part was done, I’d never see her again.

And your mother will lose her shit if she finds out what you’ve done.

I’ll deal with that if I need to.

I eased my foot off the accelerator when flashing red and blue lights appeared ahead of me, and the car rolled to a stop just before the turnoff into the parking lot of the motel.

“Stay here.” I told the girl beside me and climbed out of the car. I pushed the button on my keys, locking the doors, shoved them into my pocket and walked slowly toward the motel.

The lights grew brighter, and I spotted a police car parked at an angle outside one of the motel rooms. The door to the room was open, and voices drifted toward me on the night air.

“It doesn’t look like she’s been here for a couple of days.”

“Is there any clue to where she might have gone?”

I stepped back into the shadows cast by the motel’s sign.

“No. Nothing. Her clothes are here. So, she must be planning to come back. The owner said she’s paid up for a couple more days.”

“Did you manage to get into the security box?”

“Not yet.”

“Maybe there’s something in there that will tell us where she’s gone.”

“Maybe … Look, Chester, I thought you guys broke up.”

“We’re giving it another go.”

Hmmm . I’d heard enough to know there was no way I was getting inside to collect the security box or any clothes, so I turned and headed back to my car.

She glanced at me when I settled back into the driver’s seat.

“Your ex is in your motel room.”

She swallowed, paling. “What? How?”

I shrugged and reversed down the road until I could change direction. “Doesn’t matter. We can adapt.”

“But my money is in there.”

“We’ll work that out later.”

Truth was, at this point I didn’t need her money. Fifty thousand wouldn’t get her much from anyone in my line of work. She didn’t need to know that, though. If word got out that I had done a job for such a small amount, other people would ask. And, anyway, the favor she was doing me, albeit without knowing, would balance out what I’d need to do for her. I’d continue with the plan and work out the fine details later.

It had worked out well for Rook. Okay, granted, it had been Magdalena who was in dire straits and needed a pretend boyfriend, not Rook. But it still worked out. I needed something a little more … persuasive than a girlfriend to get a message across.

“What do we do now?” Her question broke into my thoughts.

“Airport, Vegas, wedding, Glenville.”

“I don’t have a change of clothes … or my passport.”

“We can get both in Vegas.”

“I can’t get a replacement passport that quickly!”

“ You can’t. I can.”

“How?”

“By having powerful friends and money to throw at them.” I pulled into the parking lot of a hotel and cut off the engine. “Our flight to Vegas leaves at noon.”

“What happened to me meeting you at JFK for six?”

“I’ve changed the plan. My original flight was leaving at six. Now we’re going to Vegas first, then we’ll fly out from there.”

“I still don’t understand why you think marriage is the best idea.”

“I’ve explained already. It puts you under the safety of my name.”

“Do you marry all the women you’ve helped relocate?”

“Of course not. That would take up far too much time.”

“You don’t strike me as someone who does favors , so how does this benefit you?” There was a suspicious note in her voice.

“And you’d be correct. But you’re desperate, and lucky for you, I need a wife for a couple of weeks.”

“Will the length of the marriage be in the contract?”

I nodded. “Four weeks. I can work out the details of your new life and have everything ready for when our contract ends.”

“Why do you need a wife?”

“That’s none of your business.” I unclipped my seatbelt. “I’ve booked a suite here for a few hours. You should make use of the facilities. I don’t need questions on why my soon-to-be wife looks like she’s been beaten up, or a good Samaritan thinking I’m forcing you to marry me and taking steps to stop it.”

I climbed out of the car. She didn’t move.

I rested a hand on the roof of the car and leaned back inside. “What now?”

“You want me to trust you, put my life into your hands, and marry you. The least you can do is tell me why you need a wife.”

“It’s a personal matter. Nothing that will affect you.”

“I’m about to change my name and marry a man I haven’t even known for twenty-four hours. You don’t think that affects me?”

“The car is not the place for this conversation. Come inside.”

“And then you’ll tell me?”

“I’ll consider it.” I straightened, slammed the door, and strode toward the entrance. She’d either follow me or freeze in the car. It made no difference to me. If she didn’t come with me, I’d simply be back in the original position I’d been in.