Her expression changed. Softened. “Sorry. I didn’t—”
“Don’t worry about it. Name’s Link. I’m the club president.”
“And you’re in need of legal assistance?”
I nodded. “My sergeant at arms is in jail for attempted murder. Attacked the wrong dumbass… some mayor’s kid.”
Her eyes widened. “Mayor Kinlan’s son? Your friend’s the one who put Noah Kinlan in intensive care?”
“Yeah.”
“Sorry, not interested.”
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. I was running out of time. I hit the door-close button and turned to face her. “You haven’t heard the full story,” I blurted out. “I came here because people say you’re fearless and persistent and you always ferret out the truth. That true? Or is it bullshit?”
She folded her arms across her chest and said, “You have one minute. Talk.”
I took a deep breath and let it all out, “My club brother, Havoc, stopped off at The Line to have a drink. After his beer, he went out back to light up a smoke and finds this girl screamin’, skirt hiked up around her waist and some asshole plowin’ into her as she’s begging him to stop. We don’t put up with that shit, and Havoc jumped in and beat the punk to a pulp before two of the bar’s regulars came out and interfered. They called the cops and Havoc got thrown in the slammer while this shithead is plastered all over the papers like some goddamn hero.”
“Wait.” Her eyebrows had crept half way up her forehead. “You’re telling me Noah Kinlan was raping someone?”
“That’s exactly what I’m tellin’ you. The papers sure as hell aren’t saying it. It’s like it never happened. Like Havoc snapped and tried to kill him for no good reason, but I’m tellin’ you I know my friend. No doubt in my mind that he lost his shit and tried to kill the asshole, but he wouldn’t make up some story about a girl getting raped.”
Expression still stunned, she shook her head. “But what happened to the girl?”
I shrugged. “No fuckin’ clue. My guess is that the mayor paid her off or made her disappear or something. Havoc said he saw her being loaded into an ambulance, but I haven’t been able to find hide nor hair of her.”
“What about witnesses? The bar regulars?”
I shook my head. “I went back to the bar and asked around, and nobody’s sayin’ shit.”
Emily snorted. “This is crazy. You can’t find the victim, you have no witnesses, sounds like some sort of nonsense you cooked up to get your friend out of jail. You expect me to believe this? Your time’s up.”
She pushed the button to open the doors and stepped out of the elevator.
“No,” I replied, following her as I pulled a sheet of paper out of my pocket. “I don’t expect you to believe anything. If you’re half the lawyer I suspect you are, you’ll figure out the truth for your damn self. Havoc’s real name is Marcus Wilson.” I handed her the paper as I lengthened my stride to keep up with her. For only being about five-and-a-half feet tall, she had a fast gait. “Here’s everything I know about the case. It’s not much, but please, at least look into it.”
A couple passed us, and then Emily paused, looking at me as she stuffed the paper into her purse. “You were in court all day today, weren’t you?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t see any other way to get to you. I’d do it again, too. I promised Havoc I’d help him outrun the demons he picked up while in the service. He was getting his shit together until he saw that girl bein’ raped. He might have gone a little overboard, but he did the right thing—protecting someone who couldn’t protect herself—but because this Noah dickwad has a powerful daddy, Havoc’s rotting in the county jail for it. You seem like a nice woman and I sure as hell don’t want to drag your ass into this mess, but quite frankly, you’re the only lawyer with the balls to do it.”
Lips pursed, the slightest tinge of pink coloring her cheeks, she stared at me for a couple of beats before asking me for a dollar.
“A dollar?”
“Yes. There needs to be a monetary transaction so I can honestly say I’ve been paid to represent Mr. Wilson before I go speak to him.”
She was going to talk to Havoc. Relief threatened to cripple me, making me want to lean against the wall for support. It had been five sleepless nights since Havoc had been locked up and I finally had the barest glimmer of hope. Pulling out my wallet, I handed her two crisp one hundred-dollar bills instead.
She arched an eyebrow at me in question.
“It’s a retainer,” I replied.
“I’m not promising anything. Said I’ll talk to him, not that I’ll take the case.”
Folding her fingers closed around the bills, I nodded.
“I’ve read all about the clients you take on, and no way you’re gonna let some asswipe get away with raping a girl while you can do something about it. My contact info’s also on that paper. I look forward to hearing from you.”
She stared at me for a beat before shaking her head and cracking a smile. “Still not promising I’ll take the case, but after my meeting, I will go talk to him.”
“That’s all I’m askin’,” I said. “Thank you.”
Then I got another eyeful of Emily’s round ass as she turned on her heel and walked way. She glanced over her shoulder at me one last time before turning the corner.
I smiled to myself, knowing I’d see her again.
READ MORE HERE
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Special Forces: Operation Alpha World
Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold
Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey
Shauna Allen: Defending Danielle
Shauna Allen: Rescuing Rebekah
Shauna Allen: Saving Scarlett
Shauna Allen: Saving Grace
Brynne Asher: Blackburn
Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine
Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei
Julia Bright: Rescuing Amy
Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage
Victoria Bright: Going Ghost
Victoria Bright: Jostling Joker
Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Barbie
Kendra Mei Chailyn : Pitbull
Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth
Melissa Kay Clarke: Safeguarding Miley
Samantha A. Cole: Handling Haven
Samantha A. Cole: Cheating the Devil
Sue Coletta: Hacked
Melissa Combs: Gallant
KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina
Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah
Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery
Jordan Dane: Fiona’s Salvation
Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia
Riley Edwards: Redeeming Violet
Riley Edwards, Recovering Ivy
Riley Edwards: Romancing Rayne
Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria
Nicole Flockton: Guarding Erin
Nicole Flockton: Guarding Suzie
Nicole Flockton: Guarding Brielle
Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska
Casey Hagen: Shielding Harlow
Casey Hagen: Shielding Josie
Casey Hagen: Shielding Blair
Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie
Kathy Ivan: Saving Sarah
Kathy Ivan: Saving Savannah
Kathy Ivan: Saving Stephanie
Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor
Jesse Jacobson: Fighting for Honor
Jesse Jacobson: Defending Honor
Jesse Jacobson: Summer Breeze
Silver James: Rescue Moon
Silver James: SEAL Moon
Silver James: Assassin’s Moon
Silver James: Under the Assassin’s Moon
Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia
&
nbsp; Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava
Heather Long: Securing Arizona
Heather Long: Guarding Gertrude
Heather Long: Protecting Pilar
Heather Long: Covering Coco
Gennita Low: No Protection
Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse
Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck
Margaret Madigan: Buck the System
Margaret Madigan: Jungle Buck
Margaret Madigan: December Chill
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Bride
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Twin
KD Michaels: Saving Laura
KD Michaels: Protecting Shane
KD Michaels: Avenging Angels
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound 2
Wren Michaels: Shadow of Doubt
Wren Michaels: Shift of Fate
Wren Michaels: Steeling His Heart
Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi
Mary B Moore: Force Protection
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Goddess
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Vixen
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Heartbeat
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty
MJ Nightingale: Betting on Benny
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Secrets
Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty
Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa
Lainey Reese: Protecting New York
Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily
Jen Talty: Burning Desire
Jen Talty: Burning Kiss
Jen Talty: Burning Skies
Jen Talty: Burning Lies
Jen Talty: Burning Heart
Megan Vernon: Protecting Us
Megan Vernon: Protecting Earth
Fire and Police: Operation Alpha World
KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen
Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma
Barb Han: Kace
Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane
As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)
Rescuing Aimee (novella)
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily
Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie
Rescuing Wendy
Rescuing Mary
Rescuing Macie (April 2019)
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie (FREE!)
Justice for Mickie
Justice for Corrie
Justice for Laine (novella)
Shelter for Elizabeth
Justice for Boone
Shelter for Adeline
Shelter for Sophie
Justice for Erin
Justice for Milena
Shelter for Blythe
Justice for Hope
Shelter for Quinn (Feb 2019)
Shelter for Koren (June 2019)
Shelter for Penelope (Oct 2019)
SEAL of Protection Series
Protecting Caroline (FREE!)
Protecting Alabama
Protecting Fiona
Marrying Caroline (novella)
Protecting Summer
Protecting Cheyenne
Protecting Jessyka
Protecting Julie (novella)
Protecting Melody
Protecting the Future
Protecting Kiera (novella)
Protecting Dakota
SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series
Securing Caite (Jan 2019)
Securing Sidney (May 2019)
Securing Piper (Sept 2019)
Securing Zoey (TBA)
Securing Avery (TBA)
Securing Kalee (TBA)
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.
If you enjoyed this book, or any book, please consider leaving a review. It’s appreciated by authors more than you’ll know.
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Rescuing Mercy (Special Forces: Operation Alpha): A Dead Presidents MC Spinoff Page 19