Page 29 of Benjamin and the Thief

“A word, officer,” Benjamin said and stepped outside into the corridor.

The guard closed the door behind him again.

“Yes?”

“I’d like to know which inmates were responsible for messing with my client,” he said.

“You know as well as I do that that’s not something I can talk about.”

“Then maybe Chief Donnelly from the SFPD can have a word with the warden,” Benjamin said calmly.

The prison guard hesitated for a moment, then relented. “I’ll get you a name.”

“I appreciate it.” He pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to the guard. “Send it to my cell or my email.”

The guard looked at the card. “Ah, Scanguards. I’ve heard of you guys. If you ever have any job openings…”

“Just send your resume to my email; I’ll forward it to HR.”

“Will do. Appreciate it.”

“When you send me the name of the bully, tell me which inmates are available for protecting my client. We pay well.” At least then Santiago would be safer while he was incarcerated—for however long he would remain in here. “And you’ll get a cut if you set it up for me. But it has to happen right away. I don’t want my client to go through another beating.”

The guard nodded. “Understood.”

Pleased, Benjamin shook the guard’s hand. Before he went back into the interrogation room, he sent a quick text to Anita, the Scanguards liaison to the SFPD.

14

Catalina felt she had to apologize to Benjamin. They were in the car on their way back into the city.

“I’m sorry that I had to keep this from you,” she started, casting him a sideways look.

“The security tape showing your brother stealing the necklace? Yeah, that would have been helpful,” he replied.

“Are you mad at me?”

He looked at her for a moment, then directed his eyes back on the road. “No. I get it. Certain things are hard to talk about, especially if they can change a person’s opinion drastically.”

She was surprised that he understood. She slid her hand onto his thigh, and he immediately placed his hand on top of hers.

“You’re a very generous man. I know you don’t have to do anything for me or my brother, yet you⁠—”

“You forget that you’re offering me sex pretty much whenever I want it,” he interrupted with a smirk. “I can hardly call myself generous, when I’m so amply rewarded.”

She smiled back at him. “I thought we established that the sex between us isn’t meant as payment for your help.”

“True. But wouldn’t you expect your boyfriend to help you when you’re in a crisis?”

Warmth spread inside her. Hearing him call her his girlfriend for the second time now made her feel safe and treasured. “Not expect, but hope.”

“Well, then you’re getting what you’ve hoped for.”

He lifted her hand and brought it to his lips, pressed a kiss on it, and placed it back on his thigh. She could feel his firm muscles flex under her palm. Emboldened by his words and deeds, she moved her hand to the inside of his thigh. A breath of air rolled over his lips, but he didn’t stop her from moving her hand up to the apex of his thighs.

“You do know that I’m driving on the freeway. In heavy traffic. Don’t you?” he pressed out.

“You shouldn’t have started talking about sex. It gets a woman all hot and bothered,” she murmured.