The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set Read Online Free PDF

home she put a lot of money into. Monica too, was a high school teacher, but lived modestly, and between her husband and herself they did well. Her mom, on the other hand, didn’t have much, but she had a house, and Jay was an airplane mechanic.
    But still, knowing the sacrifices they would all have to make for her, it humbled her. Tears were beginning to form again. She would prove her innocence and the bond would be returned. She would ensure that. She would have her day in court, and somehow, everything would all work out, she prayed.
    She forced her mind to focus. The judge was speaking again, explaining how to pay the bond, and explaining the terms of her release if the bond could be raised.
    Whispering behind her distracted her. It was Monica. “How much will you need?”
    The voice that answered turned Ronnie’s blood to ice. “My brothers and I agreed, we would take 10%, so 25,000 thousand dollars. We would also need the title to Lou’s house.”
    Ronnie’s head, of its own volition, turned to the sound of the husky voice she recognized. Nikko! Oh my God! She hadn’t even noticed him sitting next to Monica. His eyes met hers and the blue glittered hard. The smile he gave her was just as dazzling as she remembered, but it was forced. The dimples in evidence. She swiveled back to the judge, as he called forcefully to her to give her his attention.
    “Do you understand the terms of your release, Miss Sears?” he commanded.
    She hadn’t heard a thing. Her mind was a whirl. She nodded blankly.
    The judge nodded at the bailiff who called for all to rise, and her guard, the deputy who escorted her in, began to approach.
    She heard Ana. “Here is a check, Nikko. When will you have her out?”
    “In an hour, or two, maybe four. It just depends on how many are being processed today. You never know. I’ll handle the paperwork, no sense you all waiting around. Plus,” he whispered softly to just Ana and Monica, “Mrs. Russell doesn’t look well. But, I’ll need the title for the house? Does she have it?”
    “I have it,” Ana stated. “I also brought my checkbook.”
    “Great. Then you all shouldn’t wait here. As I said, it may take a while,” he muttered. “I’ll call when I have her out, and I can even drive her home. I’ll have paperwork to file with the county where she’ll be residing.”
    Ana was whispering Nikko’s instructions to Jay and heard his firm agreement. He turned to Lou who tried to resist the orders to go home her new husband was giving.
    *     *     *
    Her mind was numb. Her mom’s house! Nikko’s confident voice giving them all directions. Her heart was racing. His was a face she thought she would never have to see again. Mortification set in, and not just because of her current situation, even though that should be enough.
    The bailiff announced as the judge left that there would be a short recess before the next hearing. As Ronnie turned in the direction of the door she had entered from, photographers began to snap pictures again, and the flashes temporarily blinded her. She gave her mom, Jay, Ana, and Monica a smile.
    “A few hours, baby,” her mom whispered through her tears. Ronnie nodded, and caught Nikko’s smirk.
    He added, “Yes, I’ll get you . . . out.” His eyes barely hinted at the significance of the slight pause. She saw humor there too, eyes crinkling in his tanned and sharply angled face before she turned and was lead through the door.
    Just before the door closed she heard Nikko again. “I’ll drive her home. Lou, Mrs. Russell, you look exhausted. Take her home, Jay,” he directed, “and as soon as I get all the paperwork done, we will be on our way.”
    “Thank you,” she heard her mom murmur, and then there was the silence of the long hallway that would lead her under the street and back to her cell with nothing but time, until Nikko came for her.
    *     *     *
    The wait was longer than she expected and she was able to grab