27

“That women couldn’t be president of the United States given our weakness. When I asked him what that was, he said it was our sex. That we used our beauty to lure men in instead of our brains to beat them in anything worthwhile, including all aspects of business. Then he told me that I would make a pretty good beauty queen and could likely find a decent enough husband. But that if I worked on myself, including spending more time in the gym, I could improve my odds.”

“Your father was an asshole.” What the hell was she trying to tell me?

She laughed. “Yes, he was. But what that heart to heart did for me was put a fire in my belly. I went on to get a full scholarship to Columbia where I excelled. On the day I had to bury my father, I stood over his coffin and told him that I would be president one day. Then I laughed. I haven’t been back to the gravesite since. But I thank him every day for being such an abominable man. And do you want to know a little secret?”

“Sure.”

There was something strange about her that sent fear trickling down my spine.

She turned slowly and I wasn’t certain I even recognized her any longer. “I was the one who put him in his grave.”

As she took a deep breath, her sense of satisfaction in having done so was horrifying. “Why are you telling me this, Christine?”

She walked to my desk, slamming her palms on the surface. I’d never seen her like this before and I was angry as well as shaken. What had become painfully clear was the message she was sending was that she suspected I wasn’t on my game. Or the detectives I’d come close to harassing had called and complained. Was that all or did she know about my affair? The uncertainty was damning.

And terrifying.

“Because you’re just like me. I sensed that the very first time we met. The drive. The passion to shove aside the fact you’re a woman. The need and hunger to excel in everything you do. That’s why I took you under my wing teaching you everything I knew, all the tips and tricks of getting a conviction. You excelled beyond my wildest expectations, convicting a few people who had decent alibis. Amazing work.”

“They were guilty.”

“Most were, yes. And I know how much it hurt when you lost the single case. Damien Duncan.”

Why was she bringing that up now? I swallowed hard, nodding. The woman never did anything without a reason. What could it be, other than to remind me I wasn’t infallible? Another series of cold shivers rushed down my spine.

“Plans are being put in place so that kind of thing doesn’t happen again. He should have been convicted.”

“His alibi was strong,” I said, surprised I was defending the bastard.

“Alibis are just one person’s word against another. That’s something you should clearly know.” She smiled, her expression terrifying me.

“What are you saying?”

“Only that our office has become highly respected in the state and beyond. That’s because of hiring people like you, incredible women powerful like Amazons. We deserve to be running this world. I knew you would succeed in as many ways as I planned on doing. There’s nothing wrong with having a protégé as long as you can trust that person. And as you might imagine, there’s always someone else waiting in the wings, prepared to jump in if the opportunity arises. Do you know what I’m saying?”

Yeah, I did. She was issuing a threat. I was replaceable. “True, Christine. However, what I’ve learned in my few years of practicing law is that sometimes you don’t actually want what you think you want. You can get locked inside a prison cell within your own mind, fearful of venturing out for even a single taste of something else.”

She pulled back, lifting her head. The look was unreadable, but I had no doubt she was trying to figure out if I was on her side or not. “Perhaps, but it pains me to remind you that one must be careful in the choices we make. They can lead you to significant success or damnation. There is no in between.”

“Understood.”

“I hope you do. And I hope I didn’t make a mistake with you. Sometimes erasing mistakes can be very painful.”

Erasing mistakes? Another cold chill drifted down my spine.

She walked slowly to the door, opening it as if she was doing so with Pandora’s Box. “Incidentally, I have it on my calendar next week to finalize you becoming District Attorney. As you might imagine, it comes with a significant pay increase, amid other perks. That’s what happens to those considered team players.”

I sucked in and held my breath. I’d never felt such an icy chill coursing through me. “That’s amazing. Thank you.”

“No, thank you. You’ve been a very good girl, a magnificent team player. So you know, Selena, the court date for the James trial has been determined. It’s one week from today. As you might imagine, the mayor, the chief of police, and the lieutenant governor are eagerly waiting for you to put this heinous criminal away. It will bode well when November rolls around. I do hope you’re ready to face your opponent. While I understand that Mr. Joshua James is as merciless as he is charming, you can’t allow his charm or appeal to sway you. That wouldn’t bode well for our office or for your career. I’m certain you can understand that.” She turned her head slightly, the same maniacal smile crossing her face.

“Of course, Christine. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize anyone’s budding career.” Good girl? That sounded condescending as fuck. No, worse than that. It sounded…

Like a clear and undeniable threat.

“No, I didn’t think so. Youarea team player.”

Translation. She thought of me as her cloned puppet, someone she could manipulate.

Only when she walked out, closing the door with a soft click behind her, did I take a deep breath. The lieutenant governor was a woman. This was all about political gain.

And I’d been used as a scapegoat as well.

Fuck that. No one was going to use me.

Including Joshua.

This changed everything.

Joshua

Succulent fruit.

That’s what I’d been thinking about since walking into the diner, finding a seat without being asked. I’d ordered something from the menu that had absolutely no taste because I’d been spoiled by the juice flowing from the woman who’d gotten under my skin. Selena had triggered something in me that couldn’t be undone, even though the situation couldn’t be any closer to utter disaster. My father would call me a fool. My brother would laugh in my face.

I’d seen the way every man had looked at her, as if they longed to consume her in exactly the manner I’d done. That made me jealous and angry, possessive in a way that shouldn’t be happening, yet it was something I was completely unable to control. I noticed Mikey’s approach from the entrance, his face pensive as he came near.

“And?” I asked as I sat back in my seat.

“You want to know what I found, boss? Nothing. There’s no other organization coming into Louisville, St. Louis, or anywhere else close that I can determine,” he said as he slippedinto the chair opposite me. He’d always had a flair for the dramatic, which normally amused me, but not on this gloomy, dark day. “I checked the South Americans, Russians. Hell, I checked the Cosa Nostra, using every connection I had. There’s nothing on the horizon.”

I glanced over at Zephyr, who I’d tasked to remain by my side as I handled some research on my own. “Please tell me you found something worthwhile.” I twisted the plate of food in front of me, suddenly no longer hungry. Maybe it was the gray day that had soured my mood, or the fact Selena had left without saying goodbye.

Perhaps I was such a control freak I’d needed her to ask my permission. However, what I’d learned was that she wasn’t the kind of woman to be broken easily. Maybe my behavior with her had been too soft, too romantic. Her actions and need to escape me would no longer be tolerated.

“Nothing you want to hear,” Mikey added. “The prosecutor has no skeletons I could find either.”

“Everyone has something to hide, my friend.” I wholeheartedly believed that, but I wasn’t unhappy that mycheriewas as innocent as I’d believed her to be. Still, the situation was becoming more unnerving. I wanted to spend hours with her and nothing more.

Passion wasn’t on my agenda for the day. Breaking heads was, only if Mikey was right, there was no one to take out my anger or my vengeance on. I flagged down the waitress, ready for a single drink. That’s what happened when I was out of my element.

“I did hear Liam Voltair has been rallying his troops,” Zephyr said.

“That’s to be expected,” I told him.

Maybe my mood also had to do with the fact Baron had called letting me know the trial had been set for a week from now. Ordinarily, that would please me so I could get back to my life. Instead, that either told me that mycheriewas a consummate liar, or someone was pulling her strings. Either way, the railroading of my life was continuing with plans on prosecuting me to the letter of the law.

That would mean a life sentence without the possibility of parole, an appeal then taking months. I knew that trials of this nature usually took months to get on the calendar. Only my blushing cherub, the single weakness I’d welcomed into my life knew the truth.

And perhaps the answers.

That meant I’d need to take a stronger tack with her, requiring her full surrender in more than one way.

“It means exactly what I’m saying. There’s nothing evident going on, no wars between entities we haven’t heard about, no sense that you’ve been a target. There’s no one talking except Liam Voltair, who has all but come out and demanded your death.”

“Did you encourage folks to talk?” I shot him a look, doing my best to keep my voice down.

He held up his hand, highlighting his bruised knuckles. “Yes, sir. Just like I usually do. No one faltered at all. They might be scared from what happened. I don’t know.”

I thought about Mikey’s statement and had a sense of what I needed to do, drumming my fingers on the table. “Set up a meeting with Liam tomorrow. Make it a public location.”

The shock and awe were apparent by my Capos’ lack of verbal agreement.

“Is there a problem, gentlemen?” I drifted my angry gaze from one to the other just as the waitress approached.

“Yes, sir. What can I get you? A to-go box?” She was far too eager until she really got a good look at my face. Now she was terrified.

“Just take this away but we’ll have a round of scotch. Neat. The best liquor you have.”

She frowned, her face paling.

I leaned forward and she almost jumped out of her skin. “Don’t worry, Jodie,” I said after reading her nametag. “I really don’t bite. All I want are the drinks. Understood?”

Christ. I’d been painted as a bloodthirsty monster. I’d seen the looks on faces as I walked the street, heading for the diner. I’d seen the updated news report, linking me to two other crimes that I couldn’t have had any involvement with. The near hysteria was getting ridiculous. The worst part was that I doubted there was a way to clear my name. I knew no one of influence other than the lovely Selena Barrios, although now I was forced to question her credibility. That pained me. Fortunately, there was a single exception.