I Sent the Mafia Heir to Prison, and He Came Out Wanting Me novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: The Bait

The porch light on Russ Odom's bungalow went off at eleven twenty.

Ben pressed the binoculars harder against his eyes.

He was kneeling on a dusty floor in an empty second-floor flat in Oak Lawn.

The little brick house with the green awning stood across the street.

The window was open two inches.

Dario had found the flat on a rental listing, typed the lockbox code with one finger, and said nobody would ask.

"That's breaking and entering," Ben had said.

"It's a rental. We're prospective tenants."

"At eleven at night."

"We're very keen."

The crock sat in the corner on a folded coat.

They had gone back for it at dawn, in and out of the warehouse in four minutes.

Ben had held it in his lap all the way to the motel.

"Anything?" Dario said.

He stood behind Ben, close enough that the heat of him lay down Ben's whole back.

"He's packing. There's a suitcase on the bed, and the closet is open." Ben lowered the glasses. "He's running."

"Not before nine."

"You think he'll wait?"

"You told him you forgave him."

Ben's mouth twisted.

He had typed that message at dusk on a cheap burner phone, with a tight chest.

*I'm ready to come in. Dirksen lobby, Wednesday, nine. Bring my file. I forgive you.*

Russ had answered in under a minute: *Good boy. I'll be there.*

Ben had thrown up in the motel sink.

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