Chapter 7 - The Mistress's Bargain
Vanessa wasn't smiling now.
She held the ledger against her chest.
Vincent's security stopped her several feet from the vehicle.
"I want immunity."
Rebecca stepped outside.
"For what?"
"Everything I know."
Vanessa looked at Bonnie through the glass.
"Especially what Ryan did."
Bonnie exited.
Vincent remained beside her.
"Talk."
Vanessa revealed she had worked for Edward before meeting Ryan.
She'd been placed inside Wexler Development to monitor him.
The affair hadn't been part of the plan.
That had happened later.
"Did you love him?" Bonnie asked.
Vanessa hesitated.
"I thought I did."
Bonnie almost smiled.
Ryan apparently had a talent for that.
Vanessa admitted increasing the insurance under Edward's orders.
She claimed she hadn't understood why until later.
"When I realized, I tried to stop it."
"By laughing at me?"
Vanessa looked ashamed.
"I needed Edward to believe I was still loyal."
Bonnie shook her head.
Everyone had explanations.
Everyone had reasons.
And Bonnie had been the person paying for them.
"Give Rebecca the ledger."
Vanessa did.
Federal agents entered the building.
Hale was arrested trying to leave through a service exit.
Edward disappeared.
Ryan was found alive.
When he emerged, he looked at Bonnie.
She looked back.
Nothing remained between them except history.
He approached.
"I'm sorry."
Bonnie said nothing.
"I know that doesn't fix it."
"No."
"I did love you."
"Maybe."
Ryan looked surprised.
Bonnie continued.
"But love without respect isn't enough."
His eyes lowered.
She turned away.
Vincent stood nearby.
He hadn't interrupted.
Hadn't claimed her.
Hadn't used Ryan's weakness to elevate himself.
Bonnie appreciated that.
Days passed.
The divorce agreement was suspended.
Rebecca filed claims concerning Bonnie's stolen ownership.
Authorities opened investigations.
Ryan cooperated.
Vanessa entered protective custody.
Edward remained missing.
Bonnie returned to work.
Vincent didn't appear unexpectedly.
He texted once.
Coffee?
Bonnie replied.
Hospital coffee?
His response came immediately.
I'd rather not repeat the quality.
She smiled.
They met at a small café.
No bodyguards at the table.
No declarations.
Bonnie asked him directly.
"Why future wife?"
Vincent looked embarrassed.
It was unexpectedly charming.
"I panicked."
"You?"
"Yes."
"The terrifying Vincent Moretti panicked?"
"I wanted Ryan to understand you weren't disposable."
"So you proposed to a stranger?"
"Technically, I predicted."
Bonnie laughed.
For the first time in weeks, genuinely.
"Don't do it again."
"I won't."
They talked for two hours.
Vincent told her about his mother.
His father.
The legitimate businesses he'd spent years separating from the criminal legacy attached to his family name.
Bonnie didn't romanticize it.
"You've done bad things?"
Vincent considered.
"Yes."
"Illegal?"
"Years ago, yes."
"Recently?"
"No."
"Would you tell me if the answer were yes?"
"Yes."
She believed he believed that.
Trust would require time.
Vincent seemed willing to give it.
When they left, Bonnie noticed a man across the street.
Older.
Gray coat.
Watching.
Vincent saw him too.
Security moved.
The man ran.
He escaped into the subway.
But he dropped an envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Bonnie and Vincent leaving St. Matthew's Hospital six years earlier.
Separate exits.
Same morning.
On the back:
THIS WAS NEVER AN ACCIDENT.
Bonnie looked at Vincent.
"What wasn't?"
His phone rang.
He answered.
His face became expressionless.
"Where?"
He listened.
Then looked at Bonnie.
"They found Edward."
"Alive?"
May you like
Vincent didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "He's asking for you."
