Page 58 of Trailer Park Billionaire (Distinguished Billionaires #3)

HELENA

I fold the letter back up with trembling hands. Not neatly. Not delicately. But with fists of rage.

How dare that asshole make it so difficult for me to hate him?

Then I turn to Alex. “Why can’t you bring me to him?”

Alex shrugs.

“What exactly is that idiot doing right now?”

I have a sneaking suspicion of what he might be up to. And I do not approve.

Ben’s friend looks like he wants to lie. He opens his mouth and closes it again, like a fish gasping for air in a tank that’s just been knocked off the shelf.

“I’m not supposed to say,” he finally mutters.

I narrow my eyes at him.

“He—look, it’s not?—”

“Alexandre,” I snap, my voice low and flat.

“I just read a heartbreak manifesto from a man who apparently decided he’d rather martyr himself in a brainless attempt to save me, than to figure out a way to fix this with my help.

So either you start talking, or I start…

I don’t know. I’ll kick you in the shins. ”

I kick him once, not holding back.

Alex jumps, rubs his leg, and sighs. “Fine. Fine. It’s not a great plan anyway. No classic. Not underappreciated. Definitely not unexpected if you know Ben.” Alex sighs again.

“He’s trying to take down his family, isn’t he?” I take a guess.

Alex nods.

“How?”

“Well… he asked Elaine to call a meeting with the St. Clairs since he didn’t know if they’d show if he asked them himself.”

My skin prickles.

Alex continues, “He’s setting up cameras at the museum.

Then he’ll get them talking, to get a confession.

He’s planning to testify against them. With his insider knowledge about their crimes and all the evidence he’s collected over the years, he can probably put them away for a long time.

I’m supposed to keep you distracted until it’s done, until the St. Clairs are arrested, and you’re safe. ”

I stare at him. “That’s fucking bullshit. They’ll just tell the cops about all the paintings Ben stole from them.”

Alexei holds up his hands like I just threw a punch. “That’s what I said. But he doesn’t care. All he cares about is taking them down.”

I feel my fists clench even more. My jaw aches from grinding my teeth. “So he’s handing the police everything. And he’s putting himself behind bars to do so.”

Alexei’s voice is quieter now. “You would be safe. From them.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “How romantic. Going to prison to protect the damsel in distress. I guess he would be safer in there too. Specifically from me.” I can’t let that happen.

“What a moron. Do you have a bouquet of red roses and a mixtape full of heart-wrenching hits from the ‘80s that remind him of me to go along with that dumb ass letter?”

“I’ll tell him to send those for your birthday” Alex says, then quietly adds, “From prison.”

I roll my eyes, then straighten. “Fine. Whatever. Take me home.”

He wouldn’t let me go to the museum anyway. He’s doing what Ben asked him to do.

“You’re not going to try to stop him?”

“No,” I say with the appropriate amount of emotion (which is once again none). “You’ve done your job. Don’t worry.”

He eyes me for a moment, but finally nods and leads me back to the RV. The drive is quiet except for my heartbeat thundering in my ears. When we pull into the lot in front of my building, I slide out and head towards the entrance with Alex in tow.

Paul Bearer is manning the front desk in his usual bowtie and a mug that reads, ‘Go away or I’ll fake a fall.’

“Hey, Paul,” I say. “Can you let Robyn know that I’m in desperate need of the extra peaty scotch tonight?”

Paul raises an eyebrow. Then nods once. Message received.

By the time Alexei and I make it up the elevator and reach my apartment, Robyn’s already inside.

And she’s holding her gun.

Alex stops cold in the doorway.

“Darlings,” Robyn greets us cheerfully.

Alex raises his hands as I snatch the RV keys from his pocket.

“What the hell is going on?” he demands.

“What do you think?” I ask. “I’m going to stop Ben. And you’re going to sit here with Robyn and think about what you’ve done.”

“No. Wait. You can’t,” he says high-pitched. “You don’t understand.”

“No,” I say, spinning to face him, “you don’t understand. He’s doing this because he’s a stubborn idiot with a hero complex and too many unresolved childhood traumas. And I can’t let that happen.”

“Well, yeah,” Alex nods. “That’s true. Although, to be fair, he does want you to be safe.”

“Yeah, and I want him to not rot in prison.” I toss Alex the crumpled letter. “Besides, the kids at the trailer park need him more than the local prison kitchen does.”

Alexei nods slowly. “Agreed. But you still don’t understand. I need the RV to get to the St. Clair’s estate. I’m supposed to rob them while Ben keeps them busy getting arrested.”

Robyn cocks her water gun with the kind of glee that makes me worry for anyone crossing her. “Sounds like to me, that you’re going to stop your dumbass boyfriend from sacrificing himself, and Alex and I are gonna rob a bunch of billionaires at the same time?”

Alex tilts his head, his eyebrows raised like it’s not the worst idea he’s heard recently. “I mean… I guess that could work?”

“I’m in,” she grins. “Gun’s already loaded anyway.

” Robyn grabs a glass from the table next to her and squirts an amber liquid into it, then downs it in one go and wiggles her head a little.

“I put the peaty whiskey in here. Didn’t know if you might actually need it,” she says in my direction.

“Anyway, you should go. We’ll be fine here.

We’ll use the Haven transport van. The one that takes people to their doctor’s appointments.

Guy can drive, Earnest can handle the security system.

Paige and Sienna can help with the loot.

And I guess Alex can be in charge of the snacks.

It’ll be like Ocean’s Eleven… but with more arthritis. ”

“Great,” I say, already heading for the elevator. “You do that. I’ve got an idiot to save.”

Alex calls after me. “You know, he won’t let you. He thinks he’s protecting you.”

I press the elevator button and pace on the spot waiting for it to arrive.

“I know,” I say softly. “Maybe now it’s my turn to protect him from himself.”

And then I’m gone. Out into the night.

Towards the museum. Towards Ben.

Towards whatever stupid, self-sacrificing plan he’s about to execute like a tragic Shakespearean side-character with a great smile and zero sense of self-preservation.

He thinks he’s the villain in this story.

But I’m not letting him write that ending without me.

Not when I’ve finally found someone worth stealing back.