Page 58 of Gin & Jewels

“See?”

“Is that my only option?”

I hesitated for a moment. “No. Seth needs to know the names of the pawnshops, or at least the cities where the jewelry was pawned, and he’ll tell the lead detective back in Vegas. It will take a few days for them to gather the evidence, and then they’ll make the arrest.”

She swallowed. “I’d rather do that.”

“Cassie,” I groaned.

“Please?” she begged. “I know it sounds stupid, but he’s my brother. I will tell the police everything, but I just need time.”

I blew out a breath. “Fine, but you’re staying with me at Mom’s.”

Cassie’s blue eyes widened. “I can’t stay at your mom’s house!”

“I’m not letting you go back to your brother.”

“We already discussed this. What if he runs?”

“I talked to Seth about it, and it comes down to your safety mattering more to me. The cops will do their job, and once they know who was behind the robbery, it will only be a matter of time before they catch up to him here or in some other state.”

“And your mom is okay with me staying at her house?”

“She will be, but we’ll have to tell her the truth about everything, starting with your name.”

“What if I get fired?” She frowned.

“Do you really want to stay here? I thought you wanted to go back to Vegas?”

“I do.”

“Then you don’t need to work here because we’ll be on the first flight we can get on. I’ll have Seth overnight your real ID.”

She sucked in a breath. “An airplane? I can’t—”

“Hey. You can do anything you want. Look at all the shit you’ve overcome, and you’re only twenty-two.”

“I know.” She shrugged. “This just sucks.”

“You have me, princess. I’m not going anywhere. We’ll get through this.”

Her gaze connected with mine, and she gave me a warm smile. “Good.”

“Oh, and Cass?”

“Yeah?”

“Mom doesn’t know I’m an escort. Let’s keep that between us.”

Mom returned from lunch about thirty minutes later. She walked up to where I was sitting at the counter. “Did you eat?”

“No,” I admitted. Food hadn’t been on my mind.

“What can I get you?”

I thought for a moment. “Strawberry fields salad with chicken.”

She balked. “A salad?”