Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
The day had worn on, turning to night, and Max still hadn’t heard from Dominic Crane’s lawyer. He sat at his desk answering emails, but his mind was really on Crane’s last conversation with Lana.
When they’d had that video conference with Crane and his lawyer, Sylvie had just discovered that the burner phone used to call Lana was connected to the Silverlake Syndicate. Max had been convinced that Crane was involved, despite the man’s claim that he knew nothing of any attempts to harass Lana.
Of course, now Max knew that Wayfair had been behind the whole stalker facade. But what was the Silverlake Syndicate’s connection? Was it just a coincidence, and that burner phone had ended up in Wayfair’s hands by chance?
Or did Wayfair really have help, and he’d hired someone inside the Syndicate to do it?
Max recalled Lana’s description of the man who’d been driving the car that chased her.
How she’d been sure that it couldn’t be Wayfair himself.
It made sense that the little weasel wouldn’t do his own dirty work.
He was a coward. So perhaps he’d hired a Syndicate enforcer to run around town for him. Make the calls, take the pictures.
Yet, as far as Max knew, Wayfair didn’t have a prior Syndicate connection. The man was scum, but he wasn’t a mob lawyer.
Max glanced at his phone again, which still sat quiet on his desk. If he could just get Sandford or Crane himself on the phone.
Crane had claimed to have real information. Max was no fan of the guy, but he doubted the former leader of the Syndicate would waste his time. Crane wanted to get a deal out of Lana, and he’d know he had to provide something extremely valuable in exchange.
If Max could get Wayfair’s enforcer to flip, testify against him, that would be huge. Lana could take that evidence straight to the appellate court.
And if I make it happen, he thought, then I’ll have fixed the whole shitstorm that I caused by losing my temper.
Max wasn’t above using this situation to score brownie points with Lana. He’d take whatever advantage he could get if it would make her forgive him.
Max’s phone rang, and he pounced on it.
But it wasn’t Crane’s lawyer calling.
“Lana?” he asked hesitantly.
“Hey. How’ve you been?”
A wave of emotions crashed through him. Joy to hear her voice. Regret over their last fight and all his mistakes. But most of all, longing. Her voice just made him yearn to have her in his arms again.
“I’ve been a wreck without you.” He figured it wouldn’t pay to be subtle about his feelings.
“I’ve been a wreck, too. I miss you. So much.”
He closed his eyes, just trying to breathe. “I miss you, too. I love you.”
“Same here.”
“I’m so sorry about everything.”
“I want to see you.”
Relief made him lightheaded. “That’s what I want, too.”
“So, we’re agreed?” she asked.
His mouth broke into a smile. “This has been a productive meeting.”
“If only all my conferences could be this efficient.”
Max got up and went over to his couch, switching the walls to opaque on the way. He lay down, tucking a pillow under his head. “Aurora came by to force me out of my funk. I told her about us. That I’m serious about you. She had some reservations, but in the end, she gave me her blessing.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I saw Devon this morning. He was helpful, too. Made me realize some things.”
“I told him to keep an eye outside your townhouse. I’m sorry for not asking you first.”
“Devon told me already. Thank you for the extra protection. But everything’s been fine. I mean, no one’s bothered me. I haven’t been fine. I keep thinking of those awful things I said to you.”
“Which were totally justified.”
“No, they weren’t. I called you egotistical.”
“Because it’s true.”
She pushed out an exasperated sigh. “Max, you’re so kind and giving that you feel guilty when you can’t give even more of yourself.
As if it’s some personal failing of yours that you have your own ambitions and needs.
But that’s the opposite of selfish. The idea of causing anyone else pain is so intolerable to you that you’ve chosen to be alone.
You’ve been so worried all these years about hurting someone else—hurting me—that you didn’t let yourself be loved.
But you deserve to be loved. I want to love you. ”
“I want you to love me, too. Tonight, if possible.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.” Max wanted to see himself the way she’d described. Generous instead of selfish. He wasn’t so sure.
“You gave so much to Aurora when she was growing up, but instead of feeling proud of it, you beat yourself up over having your own life. As if pursuing a career in the army, serving your country, was anywhere close to self-centered.”
“I guess.”
“Max, you told me you wanted me to know the real you. But I do. I know you. I fell in love with you because you’re a good man who takes care of other people. I stayed in love with you for the same reason. You’re the best kind of man.”
He closed his eyes. Too many things were bubbling up inside of him.
“Do you believe me?” she asked.
“I’ll try.” He was quiet for a minute or two, letting her words sink in.
“I got back to work today,” Lana said. “I went to see Wayfair at his office in L.A.”
Tension knotted the muscles at Max’s shoulders. “Alone?”
“No, Trevor came with me. I just wanted to see Wayfair in person, look him in the face. He had the nerve to deny everything about the stalker. He acted like he didn’t even know what I was talking about.”
Max pinched the skin between his eyes. “That’s surprising. The guy is kind of a coward, but he also struck me as someone who likes to gloat. I would’ve thought he’d be crowing about how smart he was.”
“That’s what I expected, too. Maybe he thought I was going to record the conversation. Who knows. All I can say is, I’m not backing down. I’m going to work with the DA’s office to put together our appeal. I’ll start on it first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Let me know what I can do. I’ve been waiting to hear back from Crane’s lawyer.
He couldn’t reach you, so he’s been trying me.
Apparently, the guy came back with some information.
I’m hoping it’ll help us prove what Wayfair did to you.
If we can build a solid case, then we can really make him squirm. ”
“I love the sounds of that. Let me know what Crane says when you find out.”
“Or you could be right next to me when he says it. Why don’t you come over, right now? You can pack an overnight bag and stay with me here tonight.”
“Just tonight? Why not two nights? Or three?”
“If it’s my choice, I’d say all the nights.”
Her voice softened. “I’d like that, too.” Then she made a sound of dismay. “Crap, Trevor is calling. I’d better see what he wants.”
Max sat up. Suddenly, the thought of being apart from Lana for even a minute more was intolerable. He had to hold her and kiss her and tell her everything he felt face to face, all over again. To make sure she didn’t have any doubt.
“How about you handle your phone call, and I’ll come to you? That way I’ll see you sooner. I can drive you back here.”
“How long will you be? Maybe ten minutes?”
“I’ve made it there in five. Let’s see if I can beat my record.”
He wanted to tell her a lot more, too. Every detail of his conversation with Aurora. About the new idea he’d just had about taking Lana on vacation to a beach in Mexico, a private one where nobody else in the world would bother them.
But first, he had to get to her.
Max grabbed his keys and ran for the door.