Page 139

It’s risky, but it’s my one shot.

It’s a Thursday night, and I’m at Savannah’s house. It’s my first time here, and I don’t know what funds she’s using to pay for this place, but I’m guessing it’s either a friend’s place or it’s paid for with money that doesn’t belong to her.

She’s got her hands in a lot of different illegal activities, but she’s smart. She had both Jack and Luke Dalton paying her off for years and years, so maybe she invested some of that money to live the lifestyle she wants.

Or maybe she’s committing other illegal activities to come by the money to pay for a place like this. I wouldn’t doubt that for one hot second.

Unlike the Dalton brothers, at least I’ve managed to keep my money in my own account—for the most part, minus the legal fees Richard Redmond is getting from me that involve her.

Well worth the expense, by the way.

She’s popping popcorn that she’s never going to get to eat, and I’m pretending to drink a glass of whiskey I haven’t touched yet as nerves light up my chest and my eyes dart toward the clock.

One more minute.

And then, right on cue, the doorbell rings, and my heart stops.

This is it.

We’ve planned the last two weeks for this moment.

I’ve faked my way back into her life. I’ve pretended I’ve been warming up to her, to the idea of us again. I’ve put on quite the performance, and right now is the payoff for all of it.

Her brows dip as she glances over at me, and she shrugs as she makes her way to the door. I stand and walk behind her because fuck if I’m missing a front row seat to this party.

She opens the door, and two police officers stand there. “Good evening, gentlemen,” she says, immediately turning on her weird brand of sultry charm. “What can I do for you?”

“Savannah Buck?” one of them says.

She nods.

“You’re under arrest.” He twists her around and cuffs her, and I can’t think of a more satisfying moment in my entire relationship with her.

Her eyes are wild as they find me, and I must be smirking without even realizing it.

She turns a glare on me. “You,” she hisses. “You did this.”

I laugh. “No, Savannah, you did this. And it’s time you finally pay for all of it.”

“What are you arresting me for?” she shouts at the officers.

“There are a multitude of charges against you, ma’am,” one of them says. “But we’re arresting you today on charges of extortion.”

My jaw slackens as the word hits my ears and my brain takes a second to understand it.

Wait… extortion ?

Breaking probation, sure. Blackmail, bribery, stealing court documents, yes, yes, and yes.

But extortion?

I guess it’s one step further than blackmail. Does she literally have zero conscience?

The police officers haul her away, and I watch as they place her in the back of their car and recite her rights to her.

Her eyes are on me the entire time. They move from angry to pleading, as if I can jump in and save her from this…but I’ve been manipulated quite enough by this woman.

The officers close the door and drive away, and I watch the car until it turns the corner. I’m half-tempted to follow them all the way to the station just to ensure she’s actually taken there.

I head inside, turn off the television, shut off the lights, lock the front door, and click the garage button before I run out, making sure it’s closed behind me before I drive away, sagging into the driver’s seat of the car I rented with a hearty feeling of relief.

It’s done.

I have no idea what comes next for her. Prison time, hopefully. Fines, probably.

I decide to call Richard on a whim, and he picks up right away. “Is it done?”

“It’s done. They took her in on charges of extortion. Know anything about that?”

“I do. Some of it is confidential, but new information came to me earlier today, and I acted quickly. Combined with the photos you sent me when you were looking for evidence on her, she’ll go away much longer with this extortion case than she would have with our blackmail charges,” he says. “There are twenty-three counts against her.”

“What about stealing the records?” I ask.

“It’s Chicago’s jurisdiction, so if they press charges, it’ll be handled separately. But extortion while you’re on probation isn’t a good look. With twenty-three charges at two or three years apiece…” He trails off.

“Do you really think she’ll get forty or fifty years?” I ask.

“Nah,” he grunts. “She’ll be found guilty, sure, but she’ll go away maybe ten, fifteen years max.”

“Thanks for all your help, Richard.” My simple thanks can’t express how thankful I am, but the check I have to write him to pay my bill sure will.

“Any time, Higgins. Stay out of trouble, okay?” he says, and I chuckle.

“Will do. Keep me updated if you hear anything. I’m catching the red eye back to the Midwest.” I pull into Travis’s driveaway and cut the engine.

“Safe travels. You’ll be the first to know when I get word.”

“Thanks.” We end the call, and I have to remember to send Jack Dalton a thank you card for hooking me up with the best lawyer in Vegas.

I head inside Travis’s place.

“It’s done?” he asks, standing when he sees me.

I nod, and he walks over, pounding me with a soft fist on the back.

“Congratulations, man.”

I give him a bro hug. “Thanks. For everything, man. Seriously. It’s been a strange few weeks, but I appreciate you opening your house to me even though I wasn’t always quite myself. And all the whiskey, of course.”

He laughs. “The door’s always open, but maybe BYOB next time, yeah?”

I grin, an idea already formulating in my mind of sending him a pallet full of whiskey along with a subscription to some whiskey of the month club. I’ll pull it up while I’m at the airport waiting for my flight.

We say our goodbyes, and he tells me to go get my girl.

I don’t know what’s waiting for me back in Iowa, but I do know one thing.

It’s time to go home.