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He pulled the ring from his pocket and slipped it on her finger. “I’ll buy you a big diamond, if that’s what you want.”
Ainsley shook her head, staring down at the green stone. In some ways, it felt familiar, like seeing an old friend again. “No,” she said. “This is perfect.” Santiago had put a lot of thought into picking this ring out, and even though she’d initially worn it as a prop, it had made her feel connected to him. It seemed fitting to use it as a symbol of their commitment now, since the marriage retreat had brought them together again.
Santiago glanced at her monitor. “Going to adopt a dog?”
Ainsley smiled. “That’s the plan.”
Emotion flickered in his eyes. “Any other adoptions in the works?”
She sucked in a breath. “Maybe,” she said, drawing out the word. “Is that what you want?”
Santiago smiled. “I want to be with you, and for you to be happy. I told you before I don’t have to be a father. But if you want to be a mother, I am one-hundred percent on board.”
Ainsley’s heart swelled as his words sank in. She opened her mouth to respond, but her phone buzzed on the desk, interrupting their moment. Santiago glanced at the display. “It’s your brother,” he said.
Ainsley bit her lip, feeling torn. “Answer it,” Santiago said gently. “I’m not going anywhere.”
His words warmed her from within, and she picked up her phone. “Ace? Did you get my message?”
“Yeah, I did.” Ace sounded bone-tired, and she couldn’t blame him. The ballistics report had come back on the gun found in Ace’s condo: it was the same weapon that shot Payne.
“We need to talk about your statement,” she said. She put him on speakerphone. “I’ve got Santiago here with me now. Can you come to my office? We can go over the details and walk you through what’s going to happen next.”
“Now’s not really a good time for me,” Ace said.
Ainsley exchanged a look with Santiago, a kernel of worry forming in her stomach. “Ace, this is important.”
“I know, Ainsley. But I’m a little busy at the moment.”
“Ace,” Santiago said. “The police are going to arrest you soon. You don’t want them to come after you. It will look much better for you if you meet us here at Ainsley’s office. Then we can all go to the police station together.”
“I’m sure you’re right, but that’s not going to happen,” Ace replied. “Look, I’ve got to go. Ainsley, I want you to know I appreciate everything you’re doing for me. I love you.”
Alarm bells started clanging in her head. “Ace, please don’t do anything stupid,” she pleaded. Santiago placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed in a silent gesture of support.
“I’ll try not to, but you know me. Can’t be helped.”
“Ace—” she said, but the line went dead before she could get another word out.
Ainsley hung up and turned to Santiago. “What is he doing?” she moaned. “This will only make things worse.”
Santiago rubbed her back. “It’s going to be okay,” he said. “We’ll clear his name and this will all blow over.”
“I hope you’re right.”
The phone rang again, and this time, Spencer’s name flashed across the display. Ainsley answered it, putting the call on speaker once more.
“Hello?”
Spencer didn’t bother with the niceties. “Where’s your brother, Ainsley?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
Her cousin sighed heavily. “You know why. We need to arrest him.”
“Go ahead. I’m not stopping you.”
“He’s not here,” Spencer said wearily. “His condo is empty. No sign of him. It looks like Ace has skipped town.”
