“All right… yeah, okay… well, I’m not happy about it… how is she? Okay, bye.”
Dylan placed his phone on the counter with a sigh. He glanced at the ring then at her.
“It’s real, isn’t it?” she asked.
“Yep.”
“He sent a ring worth over a million dollars through the mail?”
“Yep.”
“Why?” she asked with frustration.
“Because the Vipers gave it back to him as compensation.”
“Compensation?” she asked.
“For their role in trying to overthrow him.”
“So that makes everything all right?” she asked. “That makes it okay that they hurt Miller?”
“No, but it does mean that he could negotiate her safety. No one will touch Miller. Apparently, Rogan’s been in meetings for the last few weeks making sure that some sort of peace is maintained. This is the agreement that was reached. He wouldn’t retaliate, and in return they gave him compensation, the ring and guaranteed Miller’s safety.”
“So why give it to me?”
“Because it’s yours.”
“I can’t keep it,” she said. It was tainted now.
“The band is original,” he told her.
“What about the diamonds?” She couldn’t keep them. No way.
“Maybe you could find something good to do with them. Take them out, put fake stones back in and do something good with the money.”
Tilly thought about that for a long moment. Javier had made her life hell for two years, but she’d gotten out. Maybe she could help other women in a similar situation.
“You’ve had an idea,” he said.
“I have. I think I’ll donate it to a shelter for battered women.”
Dylan kissed her forehead. “I think that’s a great idea.”
“Yeah, and it would really piss Javier off.”
He let out of a bark of laughter. “There is that as well.”
She slipped her arms around his waist and held tight. “Dylan?”
“Hmm?”
“Do me a favor?” she asked.
“Of course.”
“Tell Rogan thanks for the gift but that I hope it’s the last one I ever receive from him.”
Dylan chuckled. “I’ll tell him.”