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I squeezed his hand. “Rest. I’ll be back in the morning.”

21 LA’BELLE EVANS

Two million dollars.

That’s what I had between my portfolio and savings. I kept about twenty thousand in liquid assets and the rest in diversified stocks. If I sold them off, I’d still have over a million left.

But the greedy part of me, the part that had been silent since I made the decision to stop running game on Dez, started asking me what was fair about gutting my accounts when Cardez had so much.

Seven hundred thousand wasn’t shit to him.

It was everything to me.

There were no guarantees that we’d last. He’d brought up marriage once, and I’d been on high alert ever since. If this fell apart, I’d still have to take care of myself. And I didn’t even want to think about how long it would take me to rebuild that kind of money.

Once I looked at it like that, the choice made itself.

I’d have to steal from Cardez again.

I was willing to part with two hundred thousand, then two hundred and fifty thousand would come from Cardez’s shell companies. I would still be three hundred short and wasn’t silly enough to think Gideon would be satisfied with that, but something was better than nothing.

I was getting between four to six hours of sleep because rest was something my body had stopped being interested in as the deadline loomed over me. Every night, I lay in the dark staring at the ceiling, running the numbers over and over like a different solution was possible.

I sighed, watching my bedroom get lighter through my windows as the sun came up. It was a little after 6 a.m. I needed to get my life together. I had to go in to work today. Tank was starting to side-eye me, and while I didn’t necessarily need the job, I didn’t want to add unemployment to my list of problems.

I rolled out of bed, made coffee and stood at my living room window watching the city wake up below me.

My phone vibrated on the counter.

Cardez

Morning, Princess. Sleep okay?

My throat tightened as I read his message. Why did he have to be so damn caring?

I slept okay. How’s your dad doing?

Cardez

Better. They’re releasing him today. He’s been pissing off the hospital staff.

I laughed despite myself. I was about to respond when another text came in from him.

Cardez

I miss you. I know you’ll think I’m corny for saying that, but I don’t care. Sorry I haven’t been around much. This shit with my pops and work has taken up more time than I thought.

I set my coffee down and leaned against the counter. Fuck. He wasn’t making this easy for me.

You are corny, but it’s okay lol. Stop apologizing. Take care of your business. I’m fine.

My phone rang immediately after the message went through.

“Needed to hear my voice?” I quipped.

Cardez’s deep voice came through the other end. “You’re supposed to say you miss me too, you know.”

“I didn’t realize you were so needy. But fine. I miss you too, Papa,” I said, softening my tone.