Triple Jeopardy (Lawyers Behaving Badly Book 2)

by Cleo Peitsche

  “Because we told her we’d take care of it,” Ethan growled.

  Maisie suddenly remembered the night she’d babysat Davina, and how nostalgic Davina had been, talking about the blissful first year of her marriage.

  “She thought that weeks ago,” Maisie said numbly. “I thought she was just sad about the divorce, but it wasn’t that. She was sad because she thought…” Her voice trailed off.

  Davina had been sad because she thought Norm was going to die.

  Suddenly, Maisie didn’t feel so safe anymore, and a panicked feeling squeezed tight around her body, crushing her temples, her chest, her stomach.

  She plastered a hand over her mouth to keep from puking everywhere. The thought of hurling in front of Ethan two days in a row made a nervous giggle bubble up in her throat.

  That made the men look at her again, but she waved their attention away.

  Not that they were headed toward her. No, they were all staring at their phones.

  Maisie threw her head back and laughed.

  She couldn’t help it.

  She was aware of her bosses watching in alarm. “I’m fine,” she tried to say.

  A tear overflowed her eye and ran warmly down her cheek. Then she was sobbing, her chin and lips quivering.

  Alarm swept over Ethan’s face. “Why are you crying?”

  He looked far more horrified now than ever before, and as he exchanged a helpless glance with Trent, Raphael hurried over to wrap his arms around her.

  “Everything’s going to be fine, Maisie.”

  Ethan stood awkwardly and left the room, returning a moment later with a handful of tissues, which he set on the edge of the tub.

  Maisie dried her eyes. “Thanks,” she said, looking gratefully up at Raphael. “I’m fine.”

  He nodded.

  Glancing at Ethan, Maisie had a realization. Despite all his male stoicism, he didn’t know how to handle a crying woman. She smiled, because for the first time ever, she had an insight into Ethan’s behavior.

  And almost immediately, a second realization dawned on her. Ethan had saved her on the street. He’d saved the woman on the roof. He’d wanted to save Davina from her husband. Now he was protecting Maisie from the investigation.

  Ethan was driven by the need to save people. To help people. He was a goddamn knight on a white horse.

  She felt her face go slack in surprise.

  Raphael glanced at his watch and grimaced. “Good thing it’s just a motion this afternoon. I’ll see if I can’t get someone else to step in.” Phone in hand, he left the room.

  “We need to call Davina,” Trent said.

  “Not yet.” Ethan’s tone was final. He turned to Maisie. “Within the next hour, someone from the office will be calling, letting us know that the police are there. I’m officially retracting my offer of a job when this blows over. In fact, I never meant it.”

  “I understand. I guess I have to leave now.”

  He nodded. “Not immediately, but you can’t spend the night.”

  Raphael reentered the room. “It’s taken care of. I also set up a meeting with Davina. Maisie, you’ll have to leave.”

  “I know.” Maisie felt her guts twist with grief. “When will I see you again?”

  “You’ll see us,” Trent said.

  “And we’ve always got Plan B,” Raphael said. No one looked happy about that.

  “What’s Plan B?” Maisie asked.

  “Doesn’t matter.” Ethan moved the tissues and turned on the water in the tub. “We’ll take care of this, Maisie. What we have to do might not be legal.”

  “Yeah, I figured that out.” She smiled a little. “You’re awful lawyers.”

  “We’re great lawyers,” Raphael said, sounding offended. “We protect our clients when the law doesn’t.”

  Ethan raised a hand to quiet him. “Are you ok with this, Maisie?”

  She stared into his gray eyes, and she got the impression that he wanted her to say no. That he wanted her to refuse to take part.

  Too bad. They were in this together.

  “Yeah,” she said. “I trust you completely.”

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