by Maria Dean
He nodded, rubbing his thumb over the ridged handle of his fork. "If you don't mind me asking, why do you choose to continue your relationships with us?"
Caught off guard, Astrid frowned and set her fork down. Part of her wanted to complain that they wouldn't leave her alone. No matter the Russo, one of them always found a way into her life. But a relationship always went both ways. "It's been a while since I've had people I can really talk to," she admitted. "Lorenzo might be a nihilist, but he saw the other side of humanity the way I do. It helped he wasn't what I assumed a wealthy artist would be like. And Christian's just a breath of fresh air."
Giovani resumed his meal. "I see. And Matilde? Or Irene?"
"Irene seems like a genuine friend," Astrid replied. "But you're wrong about Matilde. At least, I don't actively choose to be around her. She shows up when she pleases and threatens to kill me."
Her dinner companion chuckled, covering his mouth with a napkin to hide his grin. "That does sound like my sister. I've always had more in common with her than with Christian or Lorenzo. And Christian's my twin." Astrid could see it. Giovanni was cunning, like his sister, and lacked the youthful humor his brothers had. Lorenzo could at least crack a joke every now and then.
"And what about me?"
She should've been more prepared for the question. "What about you?"
"You've spent more time with my brothers and Matilde." Giovanni looked her over, making her squirm in her seat. "We have little to no connection. And though I understand you're staying to be polite, you could leave whenever you want."
So, you want to play that game, huh? Astrid had to give it to him. He didn't mess around with fancy words and bullshit. "What's your angle?" She said, breaking eye contact. "With the Davidson case. Small scale, alternative medicine company paying you a lot of money to win. And your record is too perfect for you to willingly throw it."
"You did your homework," Giovanni remarked.
Astrid shrugged. "I went on a date with a guy who was banned from your firm because he tried to set fires in protest of that case." To Astrid, it was a casual topic of conversation. She failed to notice the dark look that flashed across Giovanni's face. Being the fool she was, even if Astrid had noticed, she would've pinned it on the fact her date tried to set his firm on fire and not the potential she was dating other men. "Keith Davidson's Como Apothecary is one of four strange alternative healing businesses with death records, not to mention they're all linked to VidaCo."
He whistled. "You really did do your homework." There was a certain sense of pride in his voice that made Astrid perk up. "Legally, I cannot confirm or deny I threw the case. As another lawyer you understand that." Giovanni picked up his empty plate, then grabbed Astrid's, and set them both in the sink. "Come, sit. You might want to get comfortable for this."
They retired to his leather couch, which Astrid soon realized was less of a couch and more of a loveseat. It was small, though very comfortable, and Astrid found herself nestled against Giovanni's broad frame. "So," she said, doing her best to hold her composure, "the Davidson case."
Nodding, Giovanni stretched his arm out behind her and let Astrid lean back against him. "Originally, I wasn't supposed to work that case. It was offered to one of my coworkers, Natalia, who turned it down. I accepted it and, soon after, I noticed Natalia was acting strangely. Along with another Dragonshifter, the Yuma of Russo and Yuma, I searched her home while she was out. Not only did we find evidence of alchemic tampering, the fools had left behind one of their branded 'Como Apothecary' pens in the house."
"You couldn't let them win," Astrid concluded. "But what about your record?"
"Everyone has one failure they'll never live down," Giovanni sighed. "I'd been saving mine for a rainy day."
Don't laugh at his privilege. Astrid laughed anyway. "What do you mean, saving yours?" She snorted. "Do you get to pick and choose which ones you win and lose?"
"Astrid," Giovanni chuckled, a hand snaking up and tangling in her curls, "surely you know I'm not the good guy my twin brother is." His breath was hot on her neck. "Don't get me wrong, I'm good at what I do. Sometimes I'm given a little incentive. Sometimes the judge is instead."
"Aren't you a criminal defense lawyer?" Astrid shot back. "Isn't that a little illegal?"
"Only when they're truly villainous," he said. "Regardless of what my brothers say, I don't get murders off. Nor do I protect rapists and child molesters. Drug lords and some of my dear friends in the mob, however, do get that privilege. I purposefully tanked the Davidson case because he deserved it." Giovanni wound a curl around his finger and let it spring forth, mesmerized. "What else is on your mind?"
Astrid had a lot of questions, though it was hard to think while Giovanni had her completely enthralled. "Lorenzo is the neutral one and believes humans should be separated from Dragonshifters. Christian, though well-meaning, believes Dragonshifters are superior and would rule humans in a perfect world." She adjusted herself so she wouldn't have to look at his face when she said, "Is it safe to assume you believe Dragonshifters need to exploit humanity's weaknesses?"
Giovanni let out a hearty laugh. His body shook underneath Astrid, reverberating with his laughter. She'd never heard something so warm. "Forgive me," he said through a grin, "but I'm merely impressed with how spot on you are."
Thank you, sir. There was a part of her mind that wanted to purr in a submissive response. Astrid wanted to bury that part of her mind six feet under the ground.
"You must understand, I don't intend on acting on anything. Dragons were not meant for this world, though. If we had to, we could control the world. Humans are much weaker than us. No matter how many slayers, hunters, or alchemists are in the world, we'll always outlast them."
Astrid didn't want to nod in understanding. Giovanni was just as bad as his brothers. Even if they weren't serious, there was something worrisome about all of their perspectives. Removal from society would be complicated, and both ruling and destroying humanity didn't sit well with Astrid. You know, as a human, she didn't like either idea. But there was a strain in Giovanni's voice, a lilt when he mentioned 'If we had to', that made her wonder what else was going on.
"You don't sound too convinced," she said. "Are you sure that's what you want?"
She'd stumped him. Giovanni's hand went slack, falling back onto her shoulder. "I don't necessarily want to destroy everyone," he finally said after a moment of thinking. "What is difficult, however, is my people are dying out. I'm worried we might not survive any longer if we have to continue living in this environment. Expansion would be the only real alternative, unless we could find another way."
Without thinking of the implications, Astrid asked, "Can't you interbreed with humans?"
Wait a minute, Astrid's internal monologue said. Was that really a smart thing to say?
If Giovanni was at all preceptive to the implications of that statement, he was doing a good job of hiding it. "It is possible. But we're prideful, you know. We ideally like to keep it in the families as to not clue in outsiders to our secrets." A hand ran up the inner hem of Astrid's jeans, warmth spreading up her thighs. "Why do you ask?"
Oh, he definitely knew what you were asking. "You don't--I wasn't asking that. I've already had to talk to Lorenzo about it. Not that way, hold on."
Giovanni chuckled, rapping his knuckles on her knee. "I'm sorry, Astrid. I couldn't let the opportunity slide. Although I'm fascinated to know why you spoke with Lorenzo about that, and not the brother you've actually had sex with." Astrid tensed. "Christian shares everything with me, Astrid. He thinks it's a twin thing." Getting closer to her ear, he added, "I do not believe it goes the other way."
But after all his teasing, Giovanni removed his hands. "You're tired and I don't want to put too much stress on you. We still need to investigate your random ability to portal without a shimmer."
He was already ushering her off the couch and into the sleek bedroom down the hall. "We?" Astrid questioned.
&nb
sp; "Both of my brothers are away and Matilde isn't too keen on helping you," he explained, shoving the covers back and motioning for her to lie down. "We can call Irene and see what they know in the morning." He turned to his dresser and grabbed a large black dress shirt, offering it to her as a pajama shirt. When she accepted it, he smiled. "I'll see you in the morning," he said before disappearing out the door.
Astrid stared at the space he'd left behind. Rubbing the shirt material between her fingers, Astrid couldn't believe the situation she'd got herself into. She'd had senseless hookups before, and bizarre sleepovers, but never once had her partner given her a silk Armani dress shirt to sleep in.
Rich people, she thought to herself as she slipped out of her day clothes and pulled the dress shirt over herself. Astrid only bothered to button it up to her chest. She though if she buttoned it up to her neck and she would've looked like a nun.
Giovanni was rummaging around in the living room, just outside her door. There was no way he would fit on the couch comfortably. Rolling off the bed, she padded over to the doorway. "You're not sleeping on that," she said sternly. "I've had enough of you and your brothers sleeping in dumb places for me."
"Then where do you suggest I sleep?" Giovanni asked.
Astrid gave him a blank, annoyed glare, before looking back at his bed. "No normal person owns a king-sized bed and assumes that two people can't share it," she said. "Come on. Get even with Christian or something."
Implications, Astrid. Think of the fucking implications. Astrid shook off the last logical thoughts she had left as she climbed back into bed.
Giovanni followed her back inside, still appraising her curiously. "You truly want me to share a space with you?" He asked, toying with his top button.
"Yeah." Astrid replied. "I trust you."
He said nothing else, choosing to just slip out of his shirt and change into his pajama pants. Black, silk, and probably Armani. Giovanni got into bed next to her, still glancing at her curiously. "You're not what I expected, Astrid Pfeiffer," he murmured.
The Dragonshifter radiated heat. Tired, confused, and cold, Astrid crossed the gap in the bed and curled up next to him. "Good," she answered. "I like keeping y'all on your toes."
***
Astrid woke up the next morning to find Giovanni's arms wrapped around her. For a brief, fleeting moment, she felt safe.
***
It was a chilly Monday morning. Not out of the ordinary for Minnesota weather, but still annoying when it came in the middle of a warmer weak. Giovanni insisted he drove Astrid to her office to further their investigations. For a moment, Astrid forgot Giovanni was another high class lawyer with more connections than Sally. It wasn't until her good friend saw the handsome Dragonshifter follow Astrid inside that Astrid's entire world collapsed around her. Again.
"Astrid!" Sally gasped, clutching the office phone against cheek in pure awe. "You never mentioned your Russo friend was the Giovanni Russo!"
"Mhmm," Astrid frowned, furrowing her brow. "Yeah, I think I did. I said something about the fact Giovanni Russo would never throw a case." Which was a lie, she thought. He did.
Giovanni waltzed up to the receptionist desk and handed Sally one of his business cards. "It's wonderful to finally meet you, Miss Stannis. Clearly Lionheart wouldn't be the same without you."
Sally's jaw dropped onto her desk. "You know who I am?" She squeaked.
Winston and Tom chose this moment to stride in, arm in arm. "Whoa, what's got her in a fuss?" Tom asked. "Astrid, I thought I told you holding Sally's mistakes over her head was grounds for a report to HR. Just because she ruined your sex life doesn't mean you can guilt her for it."
With a cough from Giovanni, Tom's gaze snapped from Astrid to the tall, handsome Italian man next to her. Tom squinted, straightened his back, and whispered to his loving partner, "Shit. They are hot."
"Mother of... can people who are not involved in my sex life please stop bringing it up in public?" Astrid groaned. She ignored her boss's obvious ogling, which pleased Giovanni a little too much, in favor of returning to Sally. "Gio aside, I need you to do some favors for me. A lot of them."
Sally suddenly became very fascinated with her pen. "I can't do very much, Astrid. As an employee of Lionheart Law, I am legally obligated to abide by Minnesota State laws and..."
"...If I may," Gio cut in, "I have a potential collaborative project for our two firms. Astrid has presented me with some evidence for pharmaceutical malpractice and coercion. Typically, I don't prosecute criminals. I defend them. And from what I understand, Astrid and Attorney Majors," Winston flushed at the notion the hot man knew who he was, "are will executors. Perhaps if we filed a joint case, it could work. I have the resources to go forward with this."
At the mention of a joint case, Tom snapped out of his daze. "If we won that, it would do wonders for our media presence." To Astrid, he said, "how good is this evidence?"
Astrid fidgeted. She'd given Giovanni this angle that morning in the car, based on the notion she had proof the alchemists were in VidaCo. He promised her he'd do the rest, and now she was wishing she'd asked him for more specific details on his plan. "What I have is a good foundation. I need to make some calls to past clients and get reports, but I can do this."
Giovanni looked down at her, smiling. "I know you can. That's why I want to partner with you."
Validate me more, Daddy. Astrid needed to kick her inner monologue in the ass.
"Bring me a full report by the end of the week," Tom instructed her. "I want everything. Sally, if Astrid needs anything, get it to her." He and Winston began to head toward his and Astrid's shared office. With one last look, Tom said, "Astrid. This can't fail."
"Right," Astrid muttered. "This can't fail." She could do this.
Sally tapped the top of the desk. "Which company are we looking at?"
"VidaCo," Astrid replied, snapping out of her daze. "I had a client pull out of a lawsuit against them, right before the Russo will. Jason Cooper's case. His mother died of cancer, and he was blaming it on one of VidaCo's miracle treatments. But then he called me and did a complete 180. I wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't the first time someone was pulled out of suing the company. Look for cancer cases specifically. No one should sell cures for cancer in a shady manner like that."
Giovanni retrieved his phone. Nodding to Astrid, he took a step out into the main lobby. As he left, Astrid could make out his greeting to the Russo and Yuma receptionist. "I need to pull up any firm report on VidaCo..."
"God, Astrid, I really don't know how you will choose." Sally was gazing after Giovanni, leaning on her elbows like a schoolgirl. "I mean, they're all beautiful. And they're all brothers! This is almost like my friend..."
"This is not the time for you to reference some television show or movie to make a point, Sally," Astrid scolded her. "Do you have the cases?"
"I have the cases and I've looked up all of the Russo brothers on LinkedIn. And the rest of the family. They all have very well-tailored LinkedIn profiles." Sally didn't break a sweat as she returned to typing. "Your case list should come up right about now. There are fifty-six cases that matched your qualifications over the past 10 years." The printer behind Sally whirred to life. The tiny blonde rolled her swivel chair back to grab the contact list and propelled herself forward to give it to Astrid.
"Sally, you're a godsend," the Astrid sighed. "I need y'all to help me ask around and see if any of these clients will talk about pulling out of the suit. Can you take one through fourteen?" Her friend nodded. Astrid sent a quick text assigning Tom and Winston the second and third chunks, and took on the fourth herself. Giovanni had already promised to get her the firing power from Russo and Yuma. She couldn't ask him to help any more than he already was.
But there were other cousins in the Russo family, and Astrid was tired of relying on men.
***
After working on the rest of the interviews with her team, Astrid hopped on the next bus to get her to Irene
's animal shelter. She'd already confirmed she was welcome to come over, and from her inflection on the phone they seemed eager to help take down the alchemists.
She wasn't the only one to arrive at Irene's shelter. Beatrice and Nicole, the eldest Russo cousins, sat on the floor of the main sitting room with cats curled up on their laps. At the sight of Astrid, Nicole bolted upward and swept her up in a hug.
"Thank you so much!" She exclaimed, straightening out Astrid's shirt after the hug. "If you hadn't been there to see those slayers at my house, I would've been attacked. Fate's aligned you with us, Astrid. Fate has blessed us."
Nicole was energetic for someone whose home was almost broken into. She pulled Astrid down to the floor with her and the kittens. Placing an orange cat in Astrid's lap, Nicole added, "I hear we need to help you make some calls. It's a good thing we're both businesswomen with resolves of steel."
Beatrice spoke, allowing a grey kitten to climb up her shirt. "That's one of Giovanni's favorite shirts," she noted. "I thought you were involved with Christian."
"No, I told her to go for Lorenzo," Irene called out to them from the dog room. She exited with Moon Moon the puppy in her arms, the Rottweiler from Hope's house trotting behind. "I wish he hadn't run off on you. He was down to earth and reasonable."
"Christian can be down to earth. He's also funny, and quite caring," Beatrice replied. "Sister?"
Nicole was now fawning over the Rottweiler. "Gio has my vote. He's the only one who Astrid wouldn't have to clean up after."
Astrid snorted. "I suppose so," she said. "I didn't come here to talk about the brothers, if it's all the same to you."
The three nodded. Irene pulled the list Astrid sent them out of their pocket. They placed it in the middle of the four next to a pen. "Let's all count off by four and keep going down the list."
"Remember, we need to get them to come meet me at the least. If they're even willing to talk about the experience, that's a win. I'll take the first one." Astrid began to dial the phone number in as her companions selected theirs. The phone rang three times, picking up on the fourth ring. "Hi, this is Astrid Pfeiffer, from Lionheart Law. I was calling about a cold case your family was involved in. Is this Hilda Juarez?"