Page 118 of Three Steps Behind

“It’s a welcome home party.” Dalton smiled.

How could his smile look so genuine? It was like the man had two lives, or two different personalities.

“Come in, my dear.” He led her inside.

Everyone’s gazes shifted to her—the guests and Dalton’s staff. . . . Many of whom she recognized from the restaurant. If she could just speak with them. She hoped the FBI would do something to help them when the raid came.

“This is lovely. You shouldn’t have.”

“Anything for you, my love. Shall we dance?”

“I’d love to, but I need to use the ladies’ room,” she whispered.

“Of course. I think the downstairs ones are occupied. Go use mine.”

“Thank you.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek and tried not to be sick.

He smiled. “Hurry, my love.”

Oh, she’d be hurrying.

Taking the stairs nearly two at a time in heels, she miraculously made it up without twisting her ankle or falling on her bum. Anything to get this over with. She couldn’t stand another minute in this house or in Dalton Shaw’s arms.

Closing his bedroom door behind her, she locked it and hurried for his secret office.

Moving straight for the safe, she slipped a pair of gloves out of her clutch and set to work. It’d been a while since she’d broken into one, but she hoped it was like riding a bike—the skills would come right back. And the saying proved true. She had it open in under a minute.

Seeing the contents, she smiled. The ledger and the cash. The cash going into evidence was a waste, but it was nothing compared to what she’d taken for the ladies. She’d already worked with the bank in the Caymans to have all the money transferred into a fund for them with explicit instructions on how it would work, even if something should happen to her.

She quickly flipped through the ledger, curious if she could learn more about the man above Dalton. She found it in the Vegas transactions, noted with the town’s name along with E. M.

It couldn’t be. She swallowed. Not Elliott Maxwell. Please, no. Let it be anyone but Big Max.

She relocked the safe and called the team in. “I’ve got the ledger.”

“Where’d you find it?” Baxter asked in his grumpy tone.

“Sitting on a desk in his bedroom.”

“On a desk.”

“Yes, sir. It’s just sitting there.” At least that’s where it was now, and there was nothing to say otherwise. Aubry would want to ask her more about it later, but unfortunately, there wouldn’t be a later for them.

Sounds of the FBI raid roared below. She decided to remain upstairs until the commotion settled, which she hoped would mean Dalton had been arrested and was in the back of one of the cars. Miquel too. While she waited, she set up an Uber to take her back to her apartment and her car. Not that she wanted to be anywhere near that place. She was done with it.

Taking a steadying breath, she headed downstairs and smiled at Aubry as she caught sight of him standing over Dalton.

“You okay?” Aubry asked.

“Fine. Just waited for the commotion to end.”

“Smart choice.”

Dalton looked up at her from the chair he sat in, arms behind his back, his wrists in cuffs. “Don’t tell me you did this, Bri?” Disappointment mixed with fury filled his gaze.

She remained silent.

“Why?” he asked. “I thought we cared about each other.”