Chances (Mystic Nights #1)(34)

“Tell them the flight was delayed. Whatever. Think of something. But, can we move the money, the rest of it earlier? Just in case.” He wanted the auditors to find the mistakes, make the accusations. Not the board and not him. Just in case this thing blew up, having the money sitting in Nassua would be his back up. His. Simon wouldn’t be around to share in that. The man was an idiot, and a loose end. Loose ends got cut.

“I don’t know.” Simon was shaking his head to an empty room. “Maybe we should just keep what we have and run.”

Peter let out an exasperated sigh. He needed to reassure the man. He couldn’t have him panicking anymore than he already was. He needed no slip ups now, when they were so close. “Listen Simon. Those millions are there as back up. The bigger pie for me is the casino. I want it all. The plan was to take them down. All of them. We need to keep him distracted. Just long enough to get what we want and take down those proud cocky Sassacus’s once and for all. So you just keep doing what you are doing. Stay the course. Move as much as you can and I will handle Jonathan.”

Simon swallowed the lump in his throat. He was terrified of being caught. “Okay. I will.”

“Good, good. Now call me if you need me. I’ll keep my phone close. Do the same.” Peter made sure he sounded confident. He didn’t want to spook Simon. God only knew what the man might do.

After saying goodbye, and to keep his chin up, Peter hung up and Simon mopped his brow once more. The plan had been foolproof, he thought morosely. Then Jonathan started checking the books himself. Stay the course! Fuck that! Well, he had a backup plan of his own.

Simon booted up his computer and opened the books. He clicked a few buttons and moved a bit more of the money. Another half million. Half into his account and half into Peter’s. Tomorrow he would do the same. By Tuesday he would have all four million transferred. Into his account. Then he was getting out of Dodge. Fuck Wednesday. And f*ck Peter.





Chapter 14




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After Aliya’s show, Jonathan was waiting in the wings. Again, he was exhausted, but after their earlier conversation and dinner together, he wanted to reassure her that he was there for her. He wasn’t going anywhere soon, if it all.

“Are you coming home with me tonight?” she asked shyly from underneath her dark lashes.

He sighed. Even though tomorrow was Sunday, he couldn’t. No days off for him until he figured out this mess in accounting. “I can’t. Wish I could. But I was hoping you would come up to my suite tonight. For a little bit anyway. I need to be here early. I’ve got a slew of accountants coming in tomorrow and I have to be here to greet them. It was something I decided at the last minute.” After Simon had left, he spent another two hours on the books and found more errors. Stupid errors Simon should have caught easily, especially if he’d found them. His ire had gone through the roof and he’d grown more than suspicious of Simon. He was beginning to think Simon was in on this. His nerves in their brief meeting had more to do with guilt than being embarrassed or sick. “They were originally coming Wednesday, but this just can’t wait. But I do need you with me tonight.” It would be her choice. He thought about asking her to leave some of her clothes in his suite, for nights like these, but did not want to push. Too soon, he thought. But in his line of work, he was lucky to make it to his own home four nights a week.

“Sure. I’d love to. Just let me grab my bag. I have some extra clothes in there.” The smile he gave her chased her fears away that she’d told him too much too soon. Yes, she was definitely falling in love with this man. He was easy to love, and she was happy she had taken the chance on him.

As soon as the door to the suite was open, Aliya’s senses were overwhelmed by the roses. They were everywhere. Pink and white roses in vases. At least a dozen bouquets were scattered about the rooms in crystal vases. Aliya twirled taking it all in. With the chandelier glowing softly in the center of the large room, the light glinting off the crystal dazzled her. He’d done this for her. Had been hoping she would come up. He cared. She felt a lump rise in her throat making it difficult to speak.

She also saw a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket by the bed. Two champagne flutes sat on the bedside table waiting to be filled. Next to them were strawberries covered in chocolate.

“For me?” she asked in astonishment.

Jonathan’s reaction was to laugh. “Of course this is for you. I wanted to show my girl how special she is. How special this is. What we have found together.”

Aliya ran the three paces it took to reach him. His arms were already open. She gazed into the eyes of the man she loved. So quickly she had fallen, and she had never felt so cherished in her life, in this moment and in this man’s strong arms. She pressed a kiss to his lips, eyes wide open. “Thank you, it’s . . . perfect.” It was the only word she could think to use. But it was true.

“You are perfect,” he replied and kissed her back on the tip of her nose. Pulling back slightly he gazed deeply into her almond shaped eyes, the pupils large in the dimly lit room. “Aliya. I’m falling so hard,” he admitted.

Falling. Like her. It just came out. “I love you, Jonathan. I know it’s soon. But I feel it. I really do.” She touched her hand to her heart. “In here.”

Jonathan’s answer was to claim her lips, and show her how much he returned those very same feelings. His lips crashed onto hers, and she opened for him. His tongue plundered her sweetness. And she was sweet. When her tongue tangled with his, he knew he was lost. Her hunger was as strong as his. He began to lead her towards the bed. When they got there, he broke the kiss and began to undress. Her movements began to mimic his. When she was standing before him in the purple silk panties and bra, he sucked in air like a drowning man. “God, Aliya you are so beautiful. So incredibly f*cking beautiful. And I . . . I love you too,” he ground out as he reached for her, taking her with him onto the bed.