Chapter 32

Adam

I had the private jet all fueled and ready to go this morning. My plan is utterly fucking seamless, and I know it’s perfectly on track. I gave myself plenty of time to intercept them.

Lacey shouldn’t be in any danger.

I left later than Denham and Lacey, but the jet flies twice as fast as the company plane. I should get there at about the same time, and that’s already the worst-case scenario. I’ll probably land before them.

That’s what I’m hoping for. I should be able to meet the plan just as it lands.

So long as Denham sticks to the plan we all agreed on, I’ll have no trouble intercepting. Then, dealing with him will be easy. I still haven’t quite decided how, but I’ll think of something.

There are so many things I’ve wanted to say to that asshole over the years.

Soon, he won’t be my boss anymore. I won’t have to hold back. If I have to wrap him up in duct tape and send him back to the States through FedEx that won’t be a problem.

The image of Denham trussed up like a pig makes me grin. What a fucking moron he is. I suppose it’s lucky for me he can’t think his way out of a wet paper bag.

I let my mind wander where it wants to go and think about Lacey. I can’t stop thinking about her rolling around in all that cash. She’s so amazing, the glint in her eye and the little smile she gives when she’s thinking dirty thoughts.

It makes me ache just thinking about it. I want her so much. I can’t think about anyone else.

I can’t imagine wanting another woman now that I’ve had Lacey. Nothing can compare to her. It’s not just her body or her insatiable sexual appetite.

It’s her heart. How warm and soft she is inside. She’s tough.

She doesn’t take anyone’s shit. But she’s compassionate and truly cares about everyone. She makes me want to be a better man.

We’ll just have get this hard part over and done with. Then, I can start making it up to her.

I feel awful that Lacey’s stuck on the plane with Denham right now. It really sucks. I’m stressing out about it.

But it couldn’t be avoided. It was the one part of the plan we couldn’t change. Denham would have gotten suspicious straight away if we considered moving the money differently.

We couldn’t change the plan this late in the game. It’s vital that Denham feels he’s in control of the situation. I know he wants Lacey, but I don’t know what he wants more—the cash or her.

I don’t think he’ll hurt her. She must be scared though.

I almost threw in the whole plan earlier this morning. I was so close to calling Lacey and telling her not to get on the plane. I don’t want anything to happen to her.

I’m at this point—really fucking stressed out.

In the end though, we planned for too long to let it go now. Lacey’s an amazing fucking woman. If anyone can handle this, it’s her.

I can’t sit down and just calmly let time go by. I pace a little, do a few stretches. It doesn’t really help me get the tension out.

I’m still pretty keyed up. I’d love some weights to lift.

I wish I could talk to her and let her know I’m coming for her. I can’t stand the idea of her being scared or thinking we abandoned her. I know what a fucking creep Denham is.

Who knows what he’s telling her.

Who knows what he’s doing to her right now. It gives me the creeps just thinking about it. If he even touches her, I’ll tear him apart.

I hear my phone ringing, and I pounce on my jacket, wrestling it to get my phone out. Maybe it’s Lacey. I’m in such a hurry I don’t even see the screen.

“Hello!” I yell into the phone.

It’s not Lacey’s sweet soft tone that answers me, but Charlie’s annoyed one.

“Where are you, Adam? What’s going on?”

“Nothing, man.” I let out a breath slowly, trying to sound cool.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m at the gym. Isn’t that what I’m usually doing at this time?”

“It doesn’t sound like you’re at the gym.”

“It’s just a rowing machine or something. Don’t worry about it.”

Charlie pauses. “It doesn’t sound like a rowing machine.”

“It’s a new one. Makes a rushing sound to get you all revved up. I’m waiting for my turn.”

“Are you going to be long? We should talk.”

“I’ll be here for a few hours. You know how it is. I don’t understand the drama, man. Seriously. You need to take it easy.”

“What’s going on with the plan?”

“Nothing. The plan is fine. All set. Perfectly on track”

“But the money. Where’s the money?” Charlie sounds worried.

“It should be where we left it.”

There’s a deep silence from the other end of the phone. Maybe he’s at work now and he knows the money isn’t there. But the only reason he would have to go checking it out is that he wants to change the plan.

Or maybe he has his own plan. Maybe he doesn’t trust us. Maybe he went to get the money for himself.

He might know that I’m planning to screw them all. It really doesn’t matter. None of them can stop me now.

“Where’s Lacey?” Charlie’s voice is hard.

“She’s fine.” My tone is just as hard. “Don’t worry about it. Everything’s just fine.”

“Adam, I don’t like this. I haven’t spoken to her for a while now, and I can’t reach her. Denham didn’t tell us when he was leaving—”

“Have you checked on the money?” I decide to put him right on the spot.

He goes very quiet for a second.

“Why would I do that?” Charlie asks carefully.

“I don’t know. You just seem to be asking a lot of questions. Don’t you trust me?”

“Where’s Lacey? What’s going on?” Charlie starts to get animated.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a mother of a headache coming on. Neither one of us is answering the other’s questions. I wonder where the fuck Sam might be.

Perhaps he’s scheming against me, too.

This is starting to look like a cluster fuck, but it seems like I’ve made the right moves. I’m going to intercept Denham, get Lacey and the cash.

“Just don’t worry, Charlie. I’m busy right now. I can’t talk about this here.”

“So, go for a walk. You’re only at the gym. Or so you said.”

“Yeah, look, I’m busy. Gotta go.”

“Damn it! Adam! Where’s Lacey? If you let Denham take her, I’ll—”

“Lacey’s fine! Everything’s fine! Now get off my back for fuck’s sakes!” I hang up, tossing my phone on to the seat.

I keep pacing for a few minutes, finally sitting down to stare moodily out the window.

We aren’t far from landing now. I brood a little about the guys and what plans they might have had. It really doesn’t matter.

I’m ahead now.

I buckle up as we descend. We land in the area of the airport reserved for private planes. I wait a few minutes for the jet to coast to a stop.

As soon as they open the doors and roll me up some stairs, I take a step two at a time.

I have no idea where to start looking. I know they should be here already or landing any minute. I turn back, thinking I’ll ask the pilot to check the landing records for this morning. Perhaps it was mentioned on their radio.

Somewhere behind me, someone calls my name.