27. Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Anson
" W e can't keep this under wraps," Kiefer Coughlan, the Chief Financial Officer for Larue Homes, said.
I stared at what he had put in front of me. I'd just been thinking about going to Savannah so I could spend time with Nova. I hadn't expected that I'd find her caught in the trap I'd laid when we first started the project.
"That's one hundred thousand dollars missing from various accounts we set up for Sentinel Heights," Kiefer continued.
I sat motionless, my heart hard as stone. I trusted her. I believed in her. How could this be happening again?
"We have to take this to the authorities. We have government funding for Sentinel Heights. This is stealing government money," he concluded.
"Are you sure about this?" Diego asked as he looked through the evidence Kiefer had handed us.
I felt a heavy weight settle in my chest. I forced myself to focus on the papers in front of me again. The logins, the transfers—all pointing to Nova. Her login was used to move the money.
"I can't believe it," I muttered, more to myself than to anyone else.
"I don't believe it," Diego said confidently.
Kiefer sighed. "Whatever the situation, I have no choice, because of the state government funds, to hand this over to the DA in Savannah." He got up and looked at me. "I'm sorry, Anson. If she's innocent, the police will find out."
"And if she's guilty?" I couldn't believe this. Apparently, the funds had been moved surreptitiously, in small amounts, to avoid triggering any of our failsafe measures.
"They'll know that, too," Kiefer said blandly. "I'm just hoping we can recover the money. I have a request, please don't call anyone at Savannah Lace."
"This will fuck up Nina's reputation." I ran a hand over my face. This was hell. This was worse than last time.
"That’s Nina's problem," Kiefer shrugged.
"Nova didn't do this," Diego said confidently.
"How do you know?"
"I know her. People like us, Anson, we work hard, we don't steal."
"People like you?" I raised an eyebrow.
"People of color," Diego explained.
"Everyone steals, regardless of color." I had given myself to her again. I'd believed her that Pete had something to do with what went down seven years ago. But this time…there was no reprieve, no doubts. I'd set the login for Nova, and only she had access.
"I'm going to Savannah." Diego rose.
"Why?"
"Because I'm going to be there for her."
"You heard Kiefer. Let Savannah PD handle this."
"Are you fucking kidding me? You're really not going to give her a heads-up? Not tell her to get a lawyer?" Diego was furious.
"She has access to lawyers. She has friends. She'll be fine. Her kind always is." I should've never let her back in. "Let's talk about—"
"I'm taking the day off." Diego marched out of my office.
I sat, dropping my head in my hands, feeling my world collapse around me.
"Anson?" Kiefer asked, concerned.
I made a swift decision. "Make it go away."
"What?"
"Make it go away. I'll pay the hundred thousand myself. Just…make it go away."
Kiefer stared at me like I'd grown horns.
"I can't…I can't see her in jail again. I just…make it go away, Kiefer."
He sighed. "It's out of our hands, Anson. I'm sorry."
"Fuck!"
"Look, maybe we can set it up so you pay any penalties, and it'll go easier for her. How about that?"
I nodded. "Do it."
"You really want to save her? After all this?"
"I love her," I whispered. "So, yeah, I'll save her."
"So, when they say love is blind, they actually mean it's fuckin' stupid?" Kiefer mocked.
"Somethin' like that," I agreed somberly.