Page 122 of A Real Good Bad Thing

“The cat?”

“The watch.” She beamed, thoroughly unremorseful and impossibly sexy.

Montez raised his face. “This watch is quite valuable too,” he said, then gave us a six-figure price that made my jaw drop.

“Thank you,” Ruby said, then deposited the watch in her purse with a satisfied, adorable smile.

Later, as Ruby popped into the restroom near the bar, I pulled Montez aside. “Did you bring it?”

“I did indeed. Is this for your sister?” Montez asked as he reached into his pocket and handed me a small pouch. I peeked inside, pleased at the contents.

“Nope. This one is not for my sister. But I’m glad we were able to do business together again.”

I shook his hand, then said goodnight.

* * *

Andrew arrived bright and early the next morning. He called as soon as he caught a cab, saying he’d be at the hotel in fifteen minutes.

“Great. Come to room 412,” I told him. “I am ready to hand these things off to you.”

“Can’t wait.”

Ruby smiled from the table where we’d been enjoying breakfast. “Ready to be done?”

“I’m ready for more time with you,” I said, and I walked over and gave her a quick kiss—a promise for more later.

Andrew’s taxi must have been zippy, because ten minutes later there was a knock on the door. I opened it with a smile that vanished instantly.

Monica stood just outside.

63

THE CIRCUS CAME TO MY ROOM

Jake

I slammed the door shut.

Blood pounded in my ears. Monica was fucking relentless.

“Who is it?” Ruby asked as she joined me in the entryway.

What the hell? What the fucking hell? We’d come this far, were this close to done. I absolutely, unequivocally, could not even with another complication.

I dragged a hand through my hair and blew out a long stream of air. “Monica.”

“Sex-toy Monica?” Ruby rushed to peer through the peephole. “Do you think she’s still after the diamonds?”

A loud rapping boomed through the room, followed by a don’t-fuck-with-me voice.

“This is Monica Potkin. I’m an investigator with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Please open the door.”

Oh.

Oh shit.

Did she think I was the thief?