“Until the Italian showed up.” But Lisa swore that Biondo had said he wasn’t going to kill her. Wouldn’t it have been easier to kill her there at the restaurant? Why take her somewhere else? He’d certainly been close enough. Why had he told her he wanted to talk? What did they have to talk about?

“Big Tag has way better contacts in that world than I do,” she admitted. “I’m better with the crooks in suits who pretend they’re not criminals. Anyway, I actually think you find yourself in a standoff. It’s obvious they don’t want to rock the boat with Taggart. They’ve managed to get the case shut down for now. I would let Taggart figure out what’s happening with Biondo, but I think once they figure him out, your girl is probably okay to come home. She’s in a cushy place because no one on Vallon’s side wants to piss off Taggart’s Russian in-laws.”

She could go home soon? Would she rush off the first moment she could? Would she hop on a plane and never look back?

He felt his hand tighten around the phone as though he could crush the fucker and not have to listen to another moment. “Yes, we’ll reevaluate after Taggart finds Biondo. Thanks, Maia. I’ll let Big Tag know he owes you.”

She was quiet for a moment. “And I’ll be better behaved this time. Remy, if you want that girl, tie her up and don’t let her go. She’ll get used to it. If you let her come back, she’ll get used to that, too, and you’ll lose her. Sometimes you have to take the bold path to get what you want. That’s my two cents. And I’ll keep my eyes open here. If I can prove someone’s messing with cases at the feds, I’m a shoo-in for a federal judgeship. Once I get there, I’ll start using all those secrets I have because I’m going to be the hottest Supreme Court justice in history. I will rock that robe. They think RBG was notorious. Wait until they meet me.”

He feared for a world where Maia had all the power, but for now he had other things to worry about. “Thanks, and give me a heads-up if you hear anything else.”

She hung up and Remy wondered how long he had with Lisa. It wouldn’t be enough. She’d just started fitting in. No one in Dallas knew where she was, but if Maia was right, she might be willing to risk it if Will could be convinced they were at a standoff. She would want to go home to her family.