Constantine’s voice warmed as he added more details of his plan. “So we offer the guy a deal. Pretend that we’re going to trade you, Jacqueline, for some cash.”
She took a tiny step back.
“Notgoing to happen,” Remy swore.
Constantine didn’t let him go. His grip tightened on Remy. “Of course, not. That’s why it’s a con. Just gives us a chance to get an up-close and personal visit with Preston Guidry. You know, allowing us to ever-so-easily slip past all the guards he has. We get close to him, we potentially help the Feds with their money laundering issue, and we make Jacqueline’s problem vanish.”
Remy turned his head to look at his friend.
“Youdowant the problem to vanish, don’t you?” Constantine pushed.
Remy swallowed. “You know I do.”I want him vanishing permanently.
“Then let’s make that magic happen. You know we can do it. A team-up just like in the old days.”
Not like theolddays were ancient history.
“Remy?” Jacqueline crept toward him. The wood creaked. “Do you really think we can get Preston locked away?”
Locked away. Buried in the ground. Sure. Something along those lines. Preston needed to understand exactly who he was facing. This wasn’t amateur hour. And Jacqueline wasnothis obsession any longer. “Absolutely.”
“Then I’m in.” A brisk nod. “I’ll find a way to repay you both, I promise. But if we can get this mess to end, if I can get my life back…”
Her safe life. Her quiet life. Her lifeaway from me.
“I want to do it,” she finished in a rush.
Constantine released Remy. “Excellent. I’ll put in some calls, make sure we have support waiting in the wings, and we’ll bring this bastard to his knees. Sound like a game plan to everyone?”
It sounded like Constantine was skipping about a million details and giving Jacqueline a majorly abbreviated version of events. Remy wanted to talk to her, alone. But first… “Mind if I talk to my partner for just a bit?” Remy asked her. “You can go ahead and get ready. Grab any supplies you need from inside. We’ll want to leave in the next thirty minutes.” The sooner they got moving, the better.
Instead of rushing inside, Jacqueline hurried forward and gave him a hug. “Thank you,” she murmured. “I will never be able to repay you.” She pulled back. Stared up at him. “You are seriously my hero.”
The hell he was.
She let go. Gave Constantine a quick, slightly awkward hug. Thanked him, too. Then hurried inside. Since the door was broken—courtesy of Tim’s clumsy kicks—Remy could watch her as she rushed up the stairs.
“Hero.” Constantine seemed to taste the word, though he kept his voice very, very low. So low it would only carry to Remy’s ears. “That’s a new one.”
“I’mnottrading her.”
“Oh, clearly. Not ever gonna happen. Because you’re as obsessed with her as this Preston jerk appears to be.” He propped one shoulder against a post on the porch. “Though I wonder if it’s for different reasons or for the same reason.”
“Don’t dance around with me. You got something to say, say it.” In the past, they’d always been blunt with each other. Honest as hell.
“Fine.” Constantine continued to relax against the post. “You using her for the twenty million?”
His eyes narrowed. “That what you think?”
“I think you’re fucking her.”
Remy took a hard step forward.
Constantine’s hands flew up. “Easy. Not looking to fight, though, the last time you came at me, you did save me from a bullet so…thank you.”
“When you’re around me, bullets will always be coming at you.”
“Oh, right. Like you get to be the only one to enjoy an adrenaline rush. Asshole, do me a favor and stop blaming yourself for my choices.”