Page 149 of Lavish

“I’m Burke,” he stated.

It had to be ironic or pure fucking luck that somebody looking into Victor found me.

Who else would be able to find me and put two and two together? But…this could also work with my plan. I could do what I couldn’t before, and get ahead of the scandal before it all went down.

“Mind if I ask how you found me?”

Burke gave a small shrug. “Wasn’t easy. I’ve been tracking Victor down for months—turns out he’s slippery. But he kept showing up in Lush. Odd little town for a guy like him.”

My brows lifted. “And?”

“And one day, I caught him talking to you.”

I paused. “Interesting. You tell anyone else that?”

“Do you want me talking about it?”

“What do you need from me, exactly?” I asked.

“I was hired by one of the families suing Victor—he conned them out of a lot of money and justice. I just need something that will stick on Victor and make the cops do a double take.”

“And you think I’m the missing piece to solve this?”

“I think you’re the only person he’s stupid enough to keep orbiting. He doesn’t trust anyone, but he keeps showing up near you. That means something. I need to know what he wants from you. What he’s planning.”

I inhaled deeply, and nodded.

“I’m not asking you to go public. I’m not asking you to wear a wire. I’m just asking you to give me what you know about him. Paperwork. Notes. Evidence. Anything to prove he’s into some shady shit.”

“What if I can get you a live confession?”

To move forward with Serena, we needed to leave the past behind. We had to put a stop to it, finally.

I leaned in. “I have an idea, if you’re game.”

The loud squeak of the condo door made me wince. The living room suddenly burst into light.

“You’re home,” Serena said in a flat voice. Doughboy lay beside her on the couch. Sitting up, she looked tense, her face all pinched.

“Where were you?” she asked, her eyes searching my face for an answer.

“At Mrs. Fontaine’s place.”

Serena tsked. “That’s lie number one.”

“What?”

“I went by the property. They told me you weren’t there.” she said calmly.

I shifted my weight, trying to keep my voice casual. “I had to step away for a bit. Handle a few things. How did it go with Miss Yvonne?”

“Don’t.” Her eyes narrowed. “Answer my question.”

Just tell her. Confess. It’ll be better that way.“Erik told me about Victor.”

My breath stalled, heart hammering once—hard—before the panic settled in.

“You—what?”