Page 193 of Shared By the Highest Bidder

When I get outside of the bank, Bernadette is standing next to Nick.

“How?” I roll my eyes. “Ash called you.”

“I took a taxi right over.” She looks at my briefcase. “Are they really there?”

“Yes, sugar.” I steer her to Nick’s Tahoe, and inside, I pull her onto my lap.

“Wow, this got you hard?”

“Fucking over someone who tried to hurt you?” I kiss her. “You bet.”

“Show me. I need to know this is really happening.”

I hand her my briefcase. The look on her stunning face with happiness and relief is worth every day I worked to make this happen. I got how distraught she was the day we met. I completely reversed that. I said I’d get her designs back, and I did.

“The laptop wasn’t there. Or your supplies. But a hard drive was. I’m pretty sure it’s from the laptop with your designs formatted on the software. “

“God, I want you inside me right now.” She reaches under her skirt, but I stop her.

“I have to get back to court.”

“Too bad,” Nick says, reminding me I’m in his truck. “Did I mention I have a voyeur kink?”

“Eyes front,” I growl.

“Why do you have to get back to court?” Bernie asks, holding the drawings against her chest.

Her smile is so glorious that I’m tearing up inside. This woman cracked me like a fucking egg.

“I have a few more moves to make.” I kiss her and tell Nick to drop her off at my apartment. “Let’s go out tonight to celebrate. All four of us.”

IN THE JUDGE’S CHAMBERS, I come clean to her and Pratt Sterling about Michael’s blackmailing scheme.

“Today, I came to the conclusion that my client committed bank fraud.” I cite the ancient statute andput down the key. I take out my phone and show photos of the box and its contents. “This is stolen property. And I checked the date the box was opened. Kinsey confessed to me that he took these designs worth close to one million dollars.”

Nick took the hard drive to his office and confirmed, it’s from Bernie’s laptop. She’ll have to confirm the patterns are intact.

“You’re supposed to report crimes to the court, counselor.” The judge looks worried she’s about to have charges filed against me. “The original theft of this woman’s property is a crime.”

“Plausible deniability, your honor,” I argue. “Hetoldme he had them. Hetoldme what he did. It was hearsay. I had no proof. As soon as I figured out he was being truthful, I came right here. And...” I take out a piece of paper being faxed to Kinsey via the courthouse clerk from my assistant, time and date stamped. “As of an hour ago, he’s no longer my client. I notified him before I got here. So, I’m not violating any client privileges.”

The judge smirks behind her folded hands.

“Mr. Sterling, do you want to file additional charges?”

I glare at Pratt because I’m keeping his undisclosed informant a secret, something to use for later if needed. If he goes near Ash again. “Still want to take his plea,Mr. Sterling?”

“Yes, you’re honor.” Pratt smiles. “And, no, Mr. Montgomery.”

“Okay, then.” The judge slips her glasses back on. “You’re released, Mr. Montgomery.” The judge looks back at Pratt. “And you’ll be asking for a continuance until the accused gets a new lawyer?”

“Permission for a continuance.”

“Granted.”

I chuckle inwardly, leaving.

Bernadette’s shitty ex is going back to Rikers. And will be there for weeks trying to find a new lawyer.

---