Chapter Twenty-Five
Cash
“I THINK HE’S GETTING READY to flee,” I lamented to Ivy as I paced outside the Belles’ home, anxious that Sabrina was inside without me. The only reason I felt even the slightest bit comfortable about it was because I knew Izan was in town being tailed by Agents Todd and Randall.
“I agree with you, darling. According to Agent Todd, he’s just withdrawn a substantial amount of cash from the local bank. Izan was quite upset that they wouldn’t allow him more. Apparently, he started to make a scene before he thought the better of it. Not a good call for someone who should be trying to keep a low profile. Something or someone has him spooked. Perhaps it’s you, love. Maybe your screwup was exactly what we needed to catch this miscreant.”
“If that’s the case, we need to search his room for the diamonds. He won’t leave without them. We will all be at a ‘first look,’ whatever the hell that is, in just over an hour. That should give Agents Todd and Randall time to do the search. You’ll have to bypass the security system. The side-door entrance will give the easiest access and the most cover.”
“Look at you with your head in the game,” she mocked. “You know, if we find those diamonds today, you’re out of there. The FBI is on standby.”
“I’m well aware,” I gritted out.
“There is no saying goodbye to her,” she reminded me. “You will disappear like before.”
I stopped pacing and looked toward the house. The thought of leaving Sabrina and never seeing her again felt like a crushing weight on my chest. I was in no way prepared to leave her or for these overwhelming emotions. The intrusive feelings almost made me wish I could just disappear like last time and not face her. How did you say goodbye to someone you loved? I might be a near genius, but I was clueless when it came to matters of the heart. And I didn’t give a damn what Ivy said—I would say goodbye this time, even if the thought killed me. Sabrina deserved at least that. Afterward, I had no idea what would happen. Even if I decided to leave the intelligence world behind, there was no way Hugh would let me go without a fight. In a sense, he owned me.
“I got it,” I snapped.
“Very good. Now be a good little spy. Izan is on his way back to the resort and should arrive any minute now.”
“You know, sometimes I despise you.”
Ivy laughed. “Darling, that only means I’m doing my job. Ta-ta for now.”
I hung up and shoved my phone in an inside jacket pocket, waiting for Izan to arrive. It didn’t take long for the scum to show up in his BMW 7 Series. He was showing his true colors with the car that was popular in Spain. While he had good taste in cars, he really was an idiot for being so careless about sticking to his Soren persona. It made him more dangerous.
Izan glared at me as he drove up to the house.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and shrugged so he knew his ire didn’t faze me. He’d wanted me there, and now he had me. To tick him off more, I waited on the cobblestone path for him, pretending to enjoy the temperate day and the sunshine that glistened off the lake. No way would I let him leave my sight while Sabrina was inside.
Izan grabbed a satchel, probably stuffed with cash, before exiting the car and making his way toward me. Some of the trepidation he’d displayed the night before was gone, and that wasn’t a good thing. His red eyes and mussed hair made him look unhinged. He marched up to me as if that would intimidate me, but I could’ve had the drop on him in a second flat if I’d wanted to. He bravely got in my face by standing on his tiptoes. I couldn’t help but laugh. Didn’t he realize that not only did he look ridiculous, but it put him at a severe disadvantage, being off-balance like that?
“Hey there—stand down, little man. What’s your deal?” I played aloof.
His unnaturally sculpted face burned brighter. “Who do you work for?” he demanded to know.
“Strategic Investments,” I answered casually.
“Who do you really work for?” he spat.
“Listen, buddy, I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you need to back off. Why do you care so much who my employer is?”
“You know why.”
I shrugged. “Are you in need of a business analyst? If you are, I’m your guy.”
Izan spit on the ground. “You’re no business analyst. You’re one of his goons. I know he’s watching me. He did something to my laptop.”
I had to keep from smiling, and I would have to thank Ivy later. “Who are you talking about?” I was hoping he’d divulge the name of this he . I assumed it was the person he was selling the diamonds to. My guess was that Izan believed I was a hired thug for whatever organized crime ring he’d gotten involved with. Getting a name now would make my job so much easier and save the FBI from having to interrogate it out of him. Although my people had narrowed their search for the lapidarist who’d cut Lexi’s diamond. With any luck, that would lead us to the crime boss Izan was dealing with.
Izan backed away and shook his head. “No one. You just stay out of my way and keep your mouth shut. If you say anything to Lexi and her family, people are going to get hurt—maybe even Sabrina.” He sounded more scared than threatening, but his comment didn’t sit well with me.
Without a thought, I wrapped my hands around his scrawny neck, applying just enough pressure to make it hard for him to breathe.
Pure terror filled his fake blue eyes.
“I don’t know what you’re involved in,” I lied. “But if anyone hurts Sabrina, it will be the last thing they do. Do you understand?” I let go of his neck.
Izan rubbed his neck and took a large gulp of air, backing away from me slowly. “I’m sorry,” he begged forgiveness. “I’m not sure what got into me. All I want to do is marry Lexi. That’s all. I don’t want any trouble. Please don’t say anything. All I want to do is marry Lexi,” he repeated. “I love her.”
It was the first thing he’d said that I had ever believed. I would admit to having a little sympathy for the guy and could even relate to him. He knew he wasn’t supposed to get the girl, but damned if he wouldn’t try. I was certain now that the only reason he was sticking around was for Lexi.
“Hey, man, do you need some help?” I offered, playing good cop, per se, wondering if maybe he would let something useful slip.
He steeled himself, and the darkness returned to his eyes. “I don’t need any help, especially from you. I don’t know who you are, but just let Lexi and me be.” He scrambled off.
No can do, Izan. You don’t deserve the girl. Maybe I don’t either.
Sabrina
I STARED AT LEXI’S ANIMATED reflection in her vanity mirror as Mia and I each wrapped strands of Lexi’s dark locks around styling wands, creating perfect loose waves. I’d brought Mia in for backup—I figured she could take a little break from canoodling with Drew in the stables. Besides, I’d missed her this week. Mia was my partner in crime, and if ever I needed one, now was the time.
“So, Lexi, why the rush on the first look?” Mia asked, annoyed.
It annoyed me too, but I was more worried about Lexi’s pricey Louis Vuitton luggage, all packed and ready to go. Lexi was more of a last-minute, make-everyone-late kind of girl when it came to these types of things. Growing up, we’d missed flights because of her poor time management skills and her whining that she had nothing to wear. Maybe she was just super excited about her honeymoon, but they weren’t supposed to leave until Sunday morning, the day after their wedding and reception. It was only Wednesday. Something seemed off. Was Cash right? Was Soren on the move? Would he take Lexi on the joyride from hell?
Lexi giggled nervously and bit her lip, adjusting her silk robe. “Soren just couldn’t wait to see me in my wedding dress.” She was totally lying.
“He couldn’t wait three days?” Mia rolled her eyes.
I wanted to ask if they would be here in three days.
“It’s romantic, okay?” Lexi said, defensively.
“If you say so.” Mia shrugged and grabbed another section of Lexi’s hair.
I glanced over at the luggage. “You’re already packed for your honeymoon?”
“Yep,” Lexi tittered, refusing to look at me in the mirror.
“Wow, it’s so unlike you,” I couldn’t help but say.
She didn’t like that and glared into the mirror. “Things change.”
That’s what I was afraid of. I set the curling wand down on the silicone mat resting on the vanity before placing a hand on Lexi’s shoulder. “Lexi, some things change, but how much I love and care for you never will.” My voice shook so much, Mia tilted her head, wondering what was going on. If only I could tell her. It was so outrageous, I didn’t even know if she would believe me. I hardly believed it myself.
Lexi turned her head, a sheen of moisture misting her eyes. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but then thought the better of it and pressed her lips together.
“You know you can tell me anything,” I encouraged her. I could feel in my bones she wanted to say something significant, perhaps even vital to her safety.
Lexi blinked several times before lowering her head. “I love you too,” she stuttered.
I squeezed Lexi’s shoulder. “Don’t forget to pack the locket I gave you.” I prayed she would. Maybe this way, I would know if she fled with Soren.
Lexi nodded, giving me a tiny shred of hope.
Have I mentioned that this wedding was way more than I’d bargained for?