Page 86 of Blackout-

Confused, Bianci pointed a finger at Schwartz.

“So, what the fuck is he doing here?”

“I have an hourly rate,” Schwartz added, tapping his index finger against his Rolex. “Time is money.”

Ignoring him, I looked back at Bianci. It felt odd confiding to a man I never bothered much with over the years. Still, the more I told him, the more I realized he was the best person for the job. He likes to pretend like he’s a changed man, a reformed criminal, but that shit lives and breathes inside of him. If anyone could understand being torn between the woman you love and a lifestyle you can’t escape, it was him.

The guy had been in my shoes, he left the woman he loved and went to jail for his father-in-law. Sure, there were differences. He took the rap for something he didn’t do, and Adrianna wasn’t pregnant when he had left, but in the end, they made it. He got out, reclaimed his woman and they’ve got a beautiful family.

If he could do it, so could I.

That’s where Schwartz came in.

“They’re looking to try me on two counts of murder,” I informed him. “They’ve got an unregistered gun with my prints on it and two dead bodies. They also got a witness—one of the members of the Cartel who named me as the killer.”

Cocking his head to the side, he smoothed a hand over his tie and glanced at Bianci.

“Surely, we can do something about that, no? Isn’t that your expertise?”

Bianci’s expression remained neutral as he crossed his arms against his chest. I knew he’d make that motherfucker disappear—no questions asked, but he’d have to do it on his own accord. I wasn’t dragging him to hell with me.

He sliced his gaze back to me.

“What are you trying to make happen here, Blackie? You’re not retaining a lawyer to bury a witness. Give me the plan.”

“You said you saw Ritzer filing for a warrant,” I started. “That leaves Jack free to take care of Reina and Danny and able to find out who the fuck is responsible for running them off the road. But it also leaves my wife without me and our kid without a father and that ain’t fair,” I said, diverting my eyes to Schwartz. “I got less than eight months until my kid is born. Knowing everything I just told you, can you get me off?”

He slid a hand into the pocket of his perfectly tailored pants and squared his shoulders back before he flashed me a cocky grin.

“I don’t come cheap,” he said. Keeping my eyes locked with his, I reached behind me and pulled out a key ring. I worked the small silver key off the ring and chucked it at him.

“That’s the key to a safe deposit box in Richmond County Savings Bank. There’s fifty grand in cash in that box. Get me home to my wife and every cent is yours.”

Seemingly impressed, he arched an eyebrow and slipped the key into his pocket. In a chapel with dozens of lit candles and God bearing witness, my cocky lawyer turned to Bianci and ordered him to get rid of the witness.

There was a plan in motion and still, I didn’t feel an ounce of relief. Probably because I knew my wife wouldn’t understand. Part of me wanted to tell her what was going on, but I feared for her health.

Now, here I am standing in front of her, holding a pink teddy bear as I watch her sleep in a plastic chair in the waiting room. She looks so fucking peaceful…so goddamn perfect. It kills me to know I’ll miss even a second of her body changing as she goes through the pregnancy. That I’ll lose out on watching her become even more beautiful than she already is. I hope she takes a lot of pictures and I pray she keeps all those black and white grainy sonogram photos safe. When I get home, those photos are going to keep me busy.

Crouching down on one knee, I run my fingers gently down the side of her face. She stirs at the touch, but those big brown eyes don’t open.

Glancing down at the teddy bear in my hand, I smile slightly as I touch the ear. As soon as the gift shop opened, I went downstairs to grab Lacey some magazines. I got her whatever they had and as I stood on line to pay, I spotted the display of stuffed animals. It took me five minutes to decide which one, knowing it was the first thing I’d ever purchase for my kid.

Pink or blue…

Girl or boy…

I don’t know when I became partial to girls, but suddenly I found myself purchasing the pink bear.

Lifting the bear, I press it to my lips and tuck it against Lacey’s side. I stand, pass another hand over her head and touch my lips to her forehead.

“Forgive me,” I whisper hoarsely before I leave her alone in the waiting room.

Please, forgive me.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Blackie

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