by Harley Stone
Jayson put a hand on his hip and a lifetime worth of sass into his expression. “I don’t understand why you think having backup is a bad thing. Everyone knows you’re a badass, Em. You wouldn’t lose one ounce of street cred by having a motorcycle club watching your back.”
“I’m not worried about street cred. I’m worried about professional cred. Do you have any idea how hard I’ve worked to get the men in this profession to take me seriously? They can’t see me hiding behind some biker and his club.”
He snorted. “You could lawyer circles around any one of those cunt nuggets.”
“Lawyer circles?” I asked.
“Yeah, argue, find facts, all that shit you do. You do it better than all of them. Why do you care what they think about you?”
His compliment caught me off guard. I wanted to argue that I didn’t care what they thought, but I did. For all my hours of hard work, I still felt like Seattle’s legal scene had me sitting at the kid table. I worked my ass off, and I wanted them to finally recognize that and take me seriously.
“The PI still can’t find either of the girls Noah assaulted,” Jayson said, his tone suddenly somber. “What if he did something with them? What if he tries to do something to you?”
“What’s he going to do? I’ll be at Il Porto, and not even the mayor would be stupid enough to attack me in Abrianna De Lucca’s restaurant.”
“So, you’re trusting the mobster to help you with the politician? Do you hear how bizarre that sounds?”
“Yes, but here’s the thing. Mobsters have a code. Politicians don’t.”
“You have a disturbingly valid point,” he conceded. “But you need to tell Bull what he’s walking into, so he can be prepared.”
I slipped into my coat and grabbed my purse. “I’ll take your advice under consideration, but trust me, Jay, what I need is to draw very firm boundaries with Link. He needs to understand that he cannot affect my job. He has to know and respect that I’m a strong independent woman and I got this shit handled. You need to know and respect that as well, and—”
“Then take me,” Jayson blurted out, interrupting my girl power moment.
“Why?” I asked.
My well-dressed assistant had many qualities. He was an excellent editor and proof reader, he could accurately type faster than anyone I’d ever met, he screened crazies so they never got through to me, and he was loyal. But he didn’t exactly look mean, menacing, intimidating, tough, or any of the other traits a typical bodyguard would employ in their protection tactics.
“Because I’m resourceful,” he replied. “Do you know how to get out of handcuffs, Em? Because I do. Trust me, if you get kidnapped, you’ll need my impressive bondage skillset to help you get free.”
I knew I shouldn’t ask, would most-likely regret it, but couldn’t stop myself. Especially not after my own brief experience with bondage had been such a turn-on. As a self-proclaimed control freak, I never would have thought I’d be into that sort of thing.
But my God, I had no idea it would be so amazing.
I needed to talk about it with someone, and since I didn’t have any girlfriends and Jayson clearly had experience with the matter, I opened my big, fat mouth.
“You like being tied up?”
His eyes went all dreamy. “Oh, honey, tied up, spanked, cuffed, whipped, blindfolded, gagged, hair-pulled, nipple-clamped, pinched, plugged, poked, and prodded is how I roll. Nothing in the world hotter than a man who knows how to dominate and really work you over.”
Yep, I definitely shouldn’t have asked, but at least now I knew my desires were normal. Well, compared to a man who painted his body gold, strapped a unicorn horn on his head, and biked around Seattle naked every year.
“I see what you’re doing here,” Jayson said, grinning.
Did he know about me and Link? Had I been that transparent. “You do?” I asked.
“Yes. Now, quit trying to change the subject. If you don’t take me to this lunch, I’ll march out there right now and tell Bull who you’re meeting.”
“Fine,” I conceded, relieved he hadn’t called me out about my sudden interest in bondage. “Grab your coat.”
That’s how I ended up at Il Porto with not one, but two boy wonders.
The restaurant was immaculate, from its sparkling clean windows to its freshly polished wooden floors. Il Porto was Abrianna’s pride and joy, the project her husband had given her to salvage, and she had turned it into a booming success.
Abrianna met me right inside the door. From her long dark curls to her red carpet worthy floor-length, shimmering gown, the mafia princess could only be described as lavish. She had to be in her fifties, but the beauty and power that radiated from her was timeless. If she’d held out her hand to me, I probably would have kissed her ring.
Instead, Abrianna embraced me.
I introduced her to the guys, and then the three of us followed her deeper inside the restaurant.
“Emily, dear, you weren’t very forthcoming about the danger level of this particular situation, so I took it upon myself to put safety precautions into place.” She led us to a table and added, “This is where you’ll sit. Will Bull and Jayson be joining you at the table?”
“No,” I said, at the same time they both said, “Yes.”
Poor Bull looked stressed and confused as he stepped closer to me. “Safety precautions? Emily, what’s going on?” he asked.
An amused smile played over Abrianna’s lips. “I’ll give you a moment,” she said, stepping away.
“It’s nothing to be concerned about, really.” I patted Bull’s arm reassuringly. “As a criminal defense attorney, I sometimes have to meet with less than savory characters. When that happens, I schedule the meeting here because Abrianna is a friend and she enforces the peace in her establishment.”
“Will you be in danger?” he asked, his phone already in hand.
“No. Not here. Nobody in their right mind would ever insult Abrianna’s hospitality by causing trouble. Anyone stupid enough to do that would be in real danger.”
“True,” the mafia princess said, rejoining us and continuing her rundown. “You and your guest will sit here, Emily, and your associates can have this table. I’ll have family positioned here and here.” She pointed out tables with reserved signs. “Of course, every member of my staff is trained and ready to handle any situation that might arise.”
Of which, I had no doubt. I thanked her, and she drifted off once again, leaving me to the glare of Bull. His phone vibrated in his hand and he read the screen.
“Who are you meeting with?” he asked.
The question I’d been dreading. I wasn’t about to lie to the kid. This wasn’t Bull’s fault—he was only taking orders—but those boundaries I’d told Jayson about desperately needed to be drawn. No time like the present.
“Tell your boss I said it’s none of his damn business who I’m meeting with.”
Bull’s expression struggled between frustration and respect. I couldn’t tell if he wanted to pick me up and carry me out of there or pat me on the back for standing my ground.
“I’ll tell him,” Bull said, his thumbs flying over his phone. “He’s not gonna like it, but I’ll tell him.”
Seconds after Bull sent the text, my cell phone started vibrating in my pocket. I turned the ringer all the way off and sat at the table Abrianna had directed me to. The mayor wasn’t scheduled to meet with me for another ten minutes, so I started answering emails on my cell phone, occasionally swiping left to reject Link’s incoming calls.
Five times he’d tried to reach me. He was going to be pissed.
No matter. Boundaries were healthy, and I didn’t need a dictator in my life.
Besides, the idea of the blowback I’d face set my girly parts a tingling. Maybe he’d tie me up again. Why was I even thinking about that?
A waiter brought me water, and two sets of hulking men wearing suits filed in from the back, nodded at me, and sat at the tables Abrianna had r
eserved for them. She’d called them family—which I’m sure they were—but if they showed up on my doorstep, I’d hide and call the cops.
Thankfully, they were there for my protection.
Mayor Kinlan arrived right on time. He walked through the door, and I waved him over. Two men—most likely his driver and his bodyguard—peeled off and stood by the door, watching us. Mayor Kinlan headed straight for my table, and I rose to greet him.
Shaking my hand, he said, “It’s great to see you again, Ms. Stafford. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”
Although we were no more than acquaintances, I’d spoken with the mayor at a few of the city’s events and charities. Nothing major, just small talk about the city, but I was surprised he remembered that we’d met.
“Of course.” I gestured at the table. “Please, have a seat.”
He opened by asking me for my take on an upcoming festival while we perused our menus. The waiter took our orders, and he steepled his hands and frowned at me.
“I was surprised to discover that you’ll be defending my son’s attacker,” Mayor Kinlan said, his tone heavy with disappointment. “Usually you and I are on the same side of the law.”
The mayor was a likable enough guy. He was coming to the end of his first term, and up for reelection in the fall. Before I’d taken this case, I would have voted for him again, but now there was something off and intimidating about him I’d never noticed before. It made me strangely uncomfortable.
Tamping down my personal reservations to remain professional, I replied, “I’m always on the side of the law.”
His lips pressed in a thin line. “Then I’m confused as to why you’re defending the man who tried to kill my son. Don’t you think the monster who attacked him deserves to be brought to justice?”
Monster? Sure, Havoc was big, but monster? And was he really trying to take me on a guilt trip for doing my job? I wasn’t about to put up with that, especially not from a politician I’d voted for who was sworn to protect the rights of the citizens.
“Let me assure you, Mr. Wilson is a human being and does have rights, like the right to legal representation,” I said. “If he’s guilty, I’m quite certain your attorney will present the evidence and the court will convict him. That’s the way the system works, Mr. Mayor.”
“I’m fully aware how the system works, but I thought you were above working with criminals. Shouldn’t you leave this case to a public defender?”
The mayor would like that. He could bully the crap out of a public defender and poor Havoc would end up doing life behind bars for trying to help a girl. Not going to happen.
“What about the girl who was attacked by your son? Doesn’t she deserve justice as well?”
His expression changed. Something darkened within his eyes and he let out a forced laugh. “What girl?”
The son-of-a-bitch knew. A small piece of me had doubted the mayor’s involvement, had wanted to believe that he wouldn’t stoop so low. I’d been hoping he had no idea what his son had been up to. Mayor Kinlan had lobbied for rape victims, for crying out loud. His strict no tolerance policy was one of the reasons I’d marked his bubble on the ballot. Yet he knew what his son had done and was protecting the asshole.
It made my blood boil.
“The girl your son brutally raped,” I replied.
His fake laughter vanished, leaving behind an eerie silence. Eyes narrowed, he leaned forward. “That’s a serious accusation, Ms. Stafford. The kind that could cost you your career if you’re wrong. Are you sure you want to make it?”
Too late to back down now. Even if I wanted to. “Like I said, I’m always on the side of the law.”
He took a sip of water, watching me over the rim. “Representing a criminal who’s so obviously paid off some girl to accuse my son of sexual misconduct is hardly staying on the side of the law.”
My turn for fake laughter. “Oh, I assure you, my client hasn’t paid off anyone.”
In fact, we had no victim, no witnesses, and no evidence. All I had was the promised testimony of Havoc’s club brothers that he was a stand-up guy. I had a little over four weeks, and if I didn’t come up with something soon, I may not lose my career, but my reputation would certainly suffer a black eye. Especially if the mayor decided to play up his son’s victim status.
“I’ll be speaking with my attorney tomorrow, and he’s going to submit a reciprocal discovery request.”
Great. Soon Mayor Kinlan and his attorney would know my case was a giant goose egg. I hadn’t even recovered from that bomb when he dropped the next.
“I also put in a request for the trial to be moved up.”
My heart dropped. “Why would you do that?”
“I see no need for my son’s suffering to be dragged out any longer than necessary. I’m sure you don’t care, but his condition has stabilized, and they’ll be releasing him from the hospital in a few days. He wants this nightmare to be done and over, so he can get back to his life.”
Something sparked in the mayor’s eyes. Triumph? He suddenly looked like such an arrogant son-of-a-bitch. He had to know I didn’t have the girl, or any evidence at all, so he was going to push this case to court before I got the chance to find anything.
“You know…” He stood, tossing his napkin on his plate. “I’ve suddenly lost my appetite. I’m sure you understand.”
He made for the door, but all four of Abrianna’s thugs moved to intercept him. Both his driver and his bodyguard reacted, but not before two more of Abrianna’s men stepped in. Then, Abrianna swept into the room, looking every bit the regal matriarch she was.
“Mayor Kinlan, so nice to see you,” she said. “My husband sends his regards.”
The color drained from the mayor’s face as he scanned the room. Multiple tables were full of patrons, but nobody met his gaze. If you ate at Il Porto, you knew how to mind your own damn business.
“Mrs. De Lucca.” Mayor Kinlan swallowed. “You’re looking lovely as always.”
“I’m glad to hear that, because I feel… perturbed. My family is concerned that you ordered a meal, but now you’re bolting, sticking my friend Ms. Stafford with your bill. But I’ve assured the men that there must be some misunderstanding, because you are far too much of a gentleman to do such a thing.”
His head bobbed up and down. “Yes, absolutely. I was just so distraught about my son the bill slipped my mind.”
She flashed him a smile. “See? I told you all he forgot. Please, go see Tony at the register and he’ll help you settle up. But please, do remember that Ms. Stafford does have friends in this city.”
I was taking mental notes, because when I grew up, I wanted to be just like Abrianna De Lucca. Mayor Kinlan paid and left, and less than a minute later I heard the growl of a Harley right outside the restaurant.
My gaze snapped to Bull who shrugged in response.
The door opened, and all my attention went to the raging tornado that stormed in. His gaze landed on me, and I had to resist the urge to climb under the table and hide. Abrianna’s men saw him advancing on me and stepped in to intercept the threat he so obviously was. His eyes flashed, and I got the feeling he was sizing them up and weighing his odds. Fearing that he was just crazy and pissed enough to start something with Abrianna’s family I gave them all the brightest, non-terrified smile I could muster.
“Link. So great you could join us.” My voice only wavered a little. I pointed to the chair recently vacated by the mayor. “Please, have a seat.”
Link
I DON’T REMEMBER the drive to Il Porto, but I’m pretty sure I broke at least a dozen traffic laws. All I could think about was getting to Emily and making sure she was okay. Her smartass comment telling me it was none of my business who she met with had pissed me off, but not nearly as much as Bull’s text that Mayor Kinlan had shown up.
She was meeting with Mayor fucking Kinlan.
After the messed-up shit Candice had told me, I knew the mayor was every bit as sick a
nd twisted as his son, but smarter and more dangerous. I didn’t want Emily anywhere near him, but she wouldn’t answer her damn phone. Frustrated, I hopped on my sled and hauled ass to the restaurant.
“Please have a seat,” Emily said like she’d been expecting me. Like she hadn’t been ghosting my phone calls.
I gave the thugs on either side of me one last look before taking the seat she offered.
“Bull, Jayson, join us,” Emily gestured at the two open chairs.
One look at my face, and they both opted to keep their asses right where they were. Wise.
“Why didn’t you answer my call?” I asked Emily.
“I was preparing for a business meeting.”
“With a dangerous man,” I growled. Then I took a deep breath and tried to get myself under control. Emily was sitting right there, unharmed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were meeting with the mayor?”
Her forehead scrunched up. “Why would I?”
“Because, as I just said, he’s dangerous. You could have been hurt.”
She sat back and took her own deep breath, staring at me like she was trying to figure me out. I understood that look all too well.
“Do you think I’m stupid, Link?” she asked.
“What kind of bullshit question is that? You’re one of the most intelligent people I know.”
“So… it’s not my intelligence. Trust, maybe? You don’t trust me to safely set up a meeting with the mayor?”
“He’s powerful, babe. Connected.”
Her lips twitched, but her eyes remained hard and focused on mine. “Yes, he is, but so am I.”
Fuckin’ A. Only she had no idea how powerful she was. I’d never met someone who could turn me from pissed to horny so fast I was in danger of whiplash, but that’s exactly what Emily did to me. I didn’t know whether to bend her over my knee and swat her ass for scaring the hell out of me or fuck her right there on the table in front of everyone. Both. I wanted to do both.