“Baby, I’m going to India and picking Sanjay up personally. If Devek wants to remain alive, he won’t fuck with me. This time, I promise you I won’t miss.”

“Are you really going?”

“I promised Sanjay’s … guardians … a big final payout. Until I get the boy in my hands, they won’t get it.”

“Thank you for everything, Christopher. I can’t tell you how much …” I smiled through tears. “Can I come with you?”

“Absolutely not!” Chris snapped back. “I’ve got contacts there, but I’m still a stranger in a foreign country. If those guys get their hands on you, they’ll bleed me dry.” He got up. “The lawyers are going to be here in a few hours. They’ll explain everything.”

“I’ll write down any questions I have.”

“You can write whatever you want, but you have to sign this contract. I can’t go back and start renegotiating anything. It’ll just delay things and piss people off. If I fucked something up, you’ll have to live with it. I did the best I could.”

“Thank you again.” My voice was still quiet. “Chris?”

“What?”

“Why didn’t you ever remarry?”

He regarded me as if I were an alien. “I’ve got a vault filled with cash, I’ve got the best business in the world, I’ve got pussy and ass whenever I want and however I want, I’ve got all the toys and shit. Why would I marry some whiny-ass bitch who’ll take my money and give me headaches?”

I said, “There are a lot of nice women out there.”

“I’m sure there are. I’m not interested in nice.” A pause. “No putdown to you. You’re very nice.” He furrowed his brow. Then he said, “I think you’re asking me if I could ever love another woman. The answer is no. One love of my life is enough, thank you very much.” He looked at me pointedly. “With you, I don’t have to explain myself. Which makes you easy.” Another pause. “You’re also … I shouldn’t tell you this. It’ll swell your head. But you’re good in bed.”

That was a first. Never heard that from him before. Not that he ever complained.

His eyes got far away. “I’ve been with a lot of women.”

I raised my eyebrows. “I’m aware of that.”