“No, I didn’t. I had the DA get involved and told him about an incident with Lainson. All of his cases have been handed over.”
“An incident?”
“It doesn’t involve you. What matters is that your case was given to a different judge because of it. A judge who happens to be on your payroll.”
I’m silent, searching his gaze for honesty and that’s exactly what I find.
Walsh looks over his shoulder, down the deserted hall and a look of shame is barely registered on his face. “I did what I had to do. You don’t have to like me; I don’t have to like you either. But I’m very aware that you and the brothers are the fastest way for me to get what I want.” He looks past me, not able to see much at all in the room and then meets my gaze. “Get her, and get out. I’ll get Walters for you since you seem to have a preference.”
He doesn’t fail to remind me, “Remember this, King. You owe me.”
I only nod in agreement. That I do. For the first time since I met this asshole, I’m grateful for him.
“As a show of good faith,” he says and looks as if he’s debating something but decides to say it, “the evidence I have on you and Jase, it’s in the mail.”
“You have backups.” It’s not a question. Any smart man would.
“Had,” he corrects. “I don’t think you realize what he did to me. All I want is Marcus. None of this matters and I’m willing to risk a lot to ensure Marcus and I meet sooner, rather than later.”
“Why do you want Marcus so much?” I have to ask. He’s gone out of his way to help me… all for Marcus?
His lips set in a straight line and he stares at me for a moment. “A while ago, he let things happen to a woman I cared about. He knew she was at risk, and he allowed them anyway.” The last bit morphs into a harshly spoken whisper. He nods, staring at the crack in the door rather than at me. “She forgave him because he saved her from the end. But he was never held accountable. He believes every action has a consequence. He needs to have his. She forgave him, but I didn’t.”
Laura
“You’re on the DA’s watch list. Stay here. Stay low. That’s my professional advice.” The lawyer is a no-nonsense man. In a sharp suit and with even sharper deep brown eyes, he’s laid out everything for Seth and me.
“I understand.” Seth’s response is professional even though he’s dressed in plaid flannel pants and a white t-shirt, both of which he slept in, and his lower right jaw is still bruised. The two of them are at complete odds in appearance, but one hundred percent in agreement on what happened.
I was meant to be leverage to get an in for the judge to take down the Cross brothers. They didn’t care about the cop. This wasn’t the first time the cop cut through red tape and was caught doing things he shouldn’t have been. They knew. They withheld information in order to charge me.
My mind has wandered most of the meeting. It’s late and I’m still tired. I don’t think I slept for very long in that room with Seth. I’ve never been one to be happily woken up from sleep but hearing Seth tell me softly that we could leave? My eyes jolted open at that and I got my ass moving, still half asleep, just to get out of there.
“Always a pleasure,” Seth says and the two men stand, the lawyer giving a polite laugh to the joke. They’re shaking hands by the time I stand up and I reach out my own. Mr. Grayson’s hair is swept back on the top and short on the sides. He has a look to him that’s nothing but clean cut. He even apologized to me when he used profanity.
I don’t know how he got involved with the Cross brothers and Seth, but I’m grateful for him and his insight. There’s no way the case will stay open. He’s sure of it.
Seth’s arm wraps around my lower back as he walks the lawyer to the door, smiling while the lawyer insists that I’ll be fine now that the investigation regarding the cop truly has no legs to stand on. It seems easy enough, case closed, but from the look in Seth’s eye, the way the smile on his face is only polite like the lawyer’s laugh, he’s hiding something. And the second the door closes, I turn in his embrace, take a step back and question him.
“Why is he saying it’s over and done, yet you’re acting like it’s not?”
Seth’s jaw is lined with a rough coat of stubble. It’s dark and combined with the bruise, his charming look is gone. He’s rough and deadly but even still, the smirk he gives me and the gentle peck he places on my lips make him nothing but the man I remember him to be.
I’m a hair’s breadth away from laying into him for not answering me, but he does. Honestly, and it makes a part of me wish he had lied. “Because it’s not over.”
“Legally—”
“Legally, we have nothing to worry about,” he agrees with me, cutting me off and using his other arm to pull me into him. As if this one will be more effective than the last. And truthfully, I don’t want to fight him. I don’t want to leave his hold so long as he’s giving me what I need. Right now, that’s information.
“The guy I killed wasn’t only a crooked cop. I think he–and the rest of them—worked for Marcus and I think whatever they started, isn’t over.”
“The mention of that name…” I trail off as chills flow from the base of my skull down my spine. The name elicits fear because it comes from years of whispers and authority.
“He’s only a man.”
“Why though? Why would Marcus want anything to do with me?” It doesn’t take more than a second of staring up at Seth to know that he’s the reason why. I am only a pawn. “What did you do?”
“I’m not sure it’s him. When I know, I’ll tell you.”
It’s silent as we move out of the foyer but then I remember something.
“Delilah wrote a lot of things in her books; some were about cops. She was a lawyer, you know. She knew things.” I wish I were rested and had a better memory. I can’t for the life of me recall a single name or anything specific about the men Marcus ‘worked with.’ “Maybe something useful is in her notebooks.”
“Declan’s looking,” is all Seth responds but it’s enough to ease my worry… some.
“You really think it was Marcus?” I question him. There was never a time in my life where I thought, I’m going to be on the end of that man’s wrath. I never even wanted to see him. I wanted to pretend he was only a myth. Seth is right though; Marcus is only a man.
He’s one I’m terrified of, though. And now he has men working for him. Which is the first I’ve ever heard of this.
“I don’t know,” Seth answers me grimly, taking his time to sit on the couch and instead of retaking my seat on the chair where I was during the briefing, I settle down next to him. I can’t explain it, but right now I have to be touching Seth.
It feels too lonely, too cold when he’s not right there. Not only that, but I’m still scared. I know I don’t have to be. I’m safe here, but it’s easier to not be scared when someone’s holding your hand.
Just as Seth is holding mine now. He lifts my hand in his and stares at it when he talks. “I’m going to lay low but do some digging. I want you to stay here.”