“Is Connor Jones even your name?”
He winced. “It’s Connor Maxwell. And you need to keep all of this to yourself for now.”
She’d kissed this man and she hadn’t even known his real name. She had to squash the pain that blossomed. Had that been part of the plan?
“How much was stolen?” she asked. Her lips felt numb. Sophie couldn’t meet her gaze, she was staring up at the ceiling, looking like she was in a coma.
“We think nearly five thousand dollars.”
What?
Ria stumbled back a little, as though she’d been physically hit. Holy shit. How long had Sophie been doing this for?
Connor’s hand rested on the small of her back, steadying her. As soon as she could manage it, she moved away from him to the end of the bed.
“It’s going to take me a while to pay that back. Maybe we can agree on some sort of payment plan. You could dock my pay a hundred bucks a week.”
It would hurt. It would hurt a lot. She’d be living on baked beans and ramen noodles for a long time but, if it would keep Sophie out of jail, it would be worth it. “Ajax, there’s no reason to call the cops. We both know that Sophie isn’t a criminal and she won’t do it anymore. If I pay it back no harm no foul, right?”
“Actually, there is harm,” Connor said slowly. “You’re forgetting about the money Roarke spent hiring Black-Gray.”
God, she hated to think how much that cost. She swallowed heavily.
Fuck.
“And it’s not your debt to repay,” Connor added almost gently.
She turned, glaring at him. This was his fault. Okay, she knew that wasn’t true, but she needed someone to blame and blaming the bruised and broken woman on the bed wasn’t going to happen.
Maybe you should blame yourself instead. You didn’t see what was going on and you’re supposed to be her best friend.
She ran her hand over her face. “Ajax?”
“It’s not up to him,” Connor told her. “Roarke’s going to get my report and it’s his decision.”
“Oh, God, will you please just stop?” She didn’t want to hear his logic anymore. “Ajax, please. You know she had to have had a good reason.”
“I haven’t heard what that is,” Ajax said slowly.
Sophie stiffened on the bed, her gaze hit his, and she flinched. She slowly sat up and this time he didn’t stop her. She winced, and Ria saw his body jolt, as though he wanted to touch her and had to hold himself back.
She looked over at Ria. “He’s right, Ria. It’s not your debt or your problem.”
“You’re my friend.”
Tears filled Sophie’s eyes. “I know. And you’d do anything for me. Hell, last night you blasted into my apartment armed with just a bat, dressed in nothing but panties and a T-shirt.”
Ria could feel Connor’s gaze on her.
“I’d do anything for you, Soph.”
“And I’d do anything for you. That’s why I’m not going to let you sink down with me. I did it. I stole the money.”
She held her chin up, and gazed over at Connor. Not Ajax.
Ajax stood and moved away from her. He pulled the curtain back and stared out the front window. His shoulders were tense. Sophie’s gaze followed him longingly.
“Why, Soph?” Ria asked. “If you needed money—”