Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank (Finlay Donovan, #3.5)

by Elle Cosimano

Any idiot can spot a window of opportunity, but it takes a unique brand of idiot to fall through one.

Assess the situation, identify the problem, then figure out how to fix it. Easy.

Her mother was a tiny whirlwind. A five-foot-two-inch wrecking ball of unfiltered honesty and brutal determination. She was unstoppable, like the Terminator,

“I’m not stupid enough to repeat my mistakes.” “Is that what we were to you? A mistake?” “I wasn’t the one who walked away,” she reminded him.

What happened to your scholarship? I thought the university was paying for everything.”

“There is no scholarship. Not anymore,” she said bitterly.

“Are you okay?” She knew that tone. Knew that she could scream and holler and spew out horrible things to him in a flash of hot temper, and his voice would only get softer. Because he knew she was not okay.

“V, look at me.”

“You know you don’t have to go through this alone, right? Ramón and I … we’ll help. Whatever you decide to do, V … whatever you need, we’ll be there for all of it. Fuck that asshole! I should have broken both of his legs while I had the—” “Jesus, you too? I’m not pregnant, Javi!

“Then why’d you quit school? Ramón said you were doing really well. That you joined some sorority and you were really happy.”

The hotheaded rebel who’d shown her how to throw a punch, had taught her how to drive before she legally could, and had gratefully and thoroughly stripped her of

her virginity when she’d offered it was the same boy who’d give her the shirt off his back, no questions asked. Another thought occurred to her. She might not need Javi’s money, but she did need something else.

For twelve years of selfless service to this bank, I received a lousy plastic statue. That’s it! Not a generous bonus or a paid vacation. Not so much as a gift card to take myself out to dinner. And certainly not a promotion.

We can promote you to head custodian.”

My name’s Finlay, by the way.” She extended a hand. “Finlay Donovan.”

A photograph in a romance novel. A woman hiding behind dark sunglasses and a wig.

“It’s nice to meet you, Finlay. How quickly can I start?”