“So, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying… if you see the gray, if you’re open to the fucking rainbow that I see… then I’m happy to take you under my wing. But I need to be sure you can handle this. Things can seem bad, but I promise I only fight for good people. We might do some crazy stuff to help those good people, we might bend those goalposts to get the win, but if you’re not afraid, then I’ll bend the rules for you too, Jovie.”
She’s so fucking inspiring.
I want more than anything to see the Slavers wiped off the face of this earth, whether by incarceration or something even more permanent.
Whatever that may be, I want a hand in it.
If Sadie can bake her cookies with one hundred percent rainbows, then fuck the gray. I can go into this looking at the clients with one hundred percent rainbow colors too.
“I’m in. Kevlar and his kids mean so much to me. I don’t want to go into this without both of you knowing I’d do anything to protect them. Bend the rules, break the rules… I love the law. It’s there for a reason, but I also want vengeance. I want justice. I was good at what I did. I believe learning from you, Ms. Knight, I could be extraordinary.”
Whoa, where did that confidence come from? Her pep talk must really be working.
Finley smiles, opening up her laptop again, and she starts typing but doesn’t say anything.
My sudden rush of confidence is immediately shoved back inside the closet in deflation. She types frantically, then picks up her coffee, taking another long drink. I turn to Kevlar, who shrugs, obviously unsure as to what she’s doing like I am.
My foot begins to agitate on the spot, bouncing it up and down, nervously waiting for her to say something. Anything. Then, the email swish sounds again.
She places her coffee mug down on the desk and slumps back in her chair, folding her arms over her chest. “I just sent a very favorable email to the dean of admissions. I went to college with her, and we do yoga three times a week. I also got her son out of an extremely tricky situation without it ever getting into the court system. The woman owes me. I’ve requested an application for you to receive credit for the subjects you’ve already completed at St. Mary’s, and also mentioned you will be working here under my employ as a paralegal twice a week with me as your mentor. Any questions?”
My eyes shoot open wide. “Y-You’ve already sent it?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“So, this is going to happen?”
“Mm-hmm,” she repeats but slower this time.
I stand abruptly because I can’t keep still. I let out a loud laugh, bouncing on my toes. “Holy shit.” I slap my hand over my mouth. “Fuck, sorry! Shit, sorry…” I take a breath. “Sorry! I’m just so grateful!”
Kevlar smiles wide as Finley shrugs. “Wish I had someone looking out for me when I started in the industry. But this won’t be a free ride, Jovie. You’re gonna need to work hard. I won’t accept complacency or anything less than brilliance from you.”
“Brilliance. Got it!”
“I’ll inform you when I hear back from the dean, but as for your job here, you start in a month. I’ll give you time to settle into the club properly. Spend the time with your new family. Get up to date with the legal system. And Jovie… there is a dress code here.”
I glance down at my simple tee and jeans, then grimace. “I know. I would have dressed for this, but I honestly wasn’t aware this was happening. I was kind of ambushed.”
“It’s my fault, Fin—”
“Don’t care what you look like right now, honestly, but when you come in here to work, you will be impeccable. We have a reputation to uphold,” she interrupts Kevlar. “And absolutely no swearing in front of clients… unless they’re bikers.” Did she just make a joke? “Now get out of here, I have a meeting in half an hour, and I need to prepare.”
I walk over to her desk placing out my hand for her again. “Thank you… honestly… thank you.”
She relaxes her stature a little and shakes my hand. It’s much softer this time. “You’re welcome… now don’t make me regret this.”
I let go, standing a little taller. “I won’t. I promise.”
Kevlar bobs his head. “Appreciate this, Fin.”
She waves her hands through the air, then she turns her head back to the laptop. “Go, go, go. Get out!”
Kevlar grabs my hand, and we head for the door. Just before we exit, I turn back. She’s working on her laptop, but she’s smiling. Warmth fills my chest. I think half of it was for show—the tough attorney act. I honestly believe once I get to know her, she’s going to be a nice person.
Bossy, but lovely.
I close the door behind me with a gentle click. Kevlar turns to me, my eyes widen as I mouth ‘oh my God’ to him, bounce up and down on my toes, and he pulls me into a tight embrace.
“I knew you could do it! I’m so proud of you, sunshine!”
I squeeze him back with all the gratefulness I have. “Thank you. Without you, this wouldn’t have happened.” I pull back, gazing into his gorgeous hazel eyes, the flecks of gold shine so brightly against the deep dusky shades of green.
“This is all you, Jovie. You put in the hard work to get here. I just found the right person to help make it happen. You are an amazing woman to do all this. Take on school, a job, the club, my family... I just hope it’s not too much.”
My hands run up to the side of his face, caressing his cheek. “I didn’t know I wanted a family until I became a part of yours… mine was always so torn apart. I had no clue this, with you, was what I was craving, what I needed. Kevlar, I don’t want to be anywhere else than at the club with you and the kids.”
A low growl emanates from his chest. He wraps his arms around my waist and starts pushing me backward.
I giggle, moving with him. “What are you doing?” I whisper under my breath.
My back hits something, and he leans in pressing his lips to mine. Being here with him in this moment means so fucking much to me, and I can’t help but get lost in it. His hand leaves my waist, fumbling with something on the door. It clicks, the door flies open, then he pushes me backward into a small copy room and shuts the door behind us flicking the lock.
I widen my eyes. “Kevlar!”
He brings his finger to his lips, gesturing a ‘shh’ motion as he swoops in, his hands shifting to my ass, hoisting me up. My legs wrap around his waist as I bite down on my lips to keep myself quiet. My heart races frantically while I take a look at the place, where I will spend a lot of time.
He moves us to an island bench, where I imagine I will be collating many legal documents, and he backs me up against the edge. He swipes what’s on top to the side while I let out a giggle.
“This is bad. I haven’t even started working here, and already I’m defacing property,” I whisper.
He waggles his eyebrows. “Oh, sunshine, I haven’t even started defacing you yet.”
JOVIE
Kevlar stalks closer, slowly making my stomach flip at the hooded look in his eyes. “I want you to think about me and what I’m about to do to you every time you come into this room.”