When He's Dirty, стр. 42
“Is that a threat?” he demands.
My lips quirk. “It’s just me stating a fact.”
Now, he leans back just a bit, obviously fighting the urge to put space between me and him. “Twenty years is not an easy deal.”
“He won’t take that,” I say, straightening. “Obviously Savage wasn’t clear on the cost to you, so I will be. Waters will kill you before he signs the deal and uses everyone he offered up to you as a suspect that offers him cover. After all, he’s in jail.”
“You don’t know that,” he argues. “You’re jaded from your time with him.”
“You’re right. I am. But I know him. I know him well. Exactly why I’m your star witness. Are you willing to risk your life on me being wrong?”
His lip thin. “What do you want?”
“For him to go to trial.”
“Bodies are dropping,” he argues, his voice spiking. “I’m trying to stop the bloodshed.”
“Including your own?” Pri challenges. “Because if you think this deal saves you, Adrian already told you it doesn’t.”
“And we can solve that problem anyway. We’re going to catch the assassin. I’m going to go with Pri to see Waters. I’m going to tell him there will be no deal.” I glance at Pri. “I’d leave you out of this, Pri, but you’re already on Waters’ radar and I don’t trust Ed to face Waters and not wet himself.”
“That’s uncalled for,” Ed growls.
“I’m not here to bolster your ego,” I say. “I’m here to save your life, and most likely your career. You’re going to back-up our claim of no deal.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I disappear again. And you don’t want that to happen.”
“I’m not feeling convinced of that,” Ed snaps.
“Well then, let me change your mind. Without me, coming at you is his best chance of walking free. With me in the picture, it’s not enough to end the trial and you. Another DA might or might not take the case. I will always step up to testify or to kill him, whichever comes first. If I’m here, he has to focus on me, not you. Convinced you need me yet?”
His jaw tics. “What keeps him from going after both of us?”
“He could,” I say, “and will, but he’ll focus on me first. Savage will remain your keeper until this is over.” I lean back on the desk. “Let me be crystal clear. If I find out you made a dirty deal with Waters, I’ll come for you. And I will make you pay.”
“Are you threatening my life?”
“No,” I say. “I think you being in jail and enjoying the benefit of so many new, close friends, would be a better punishment.” I turn and motion Pri to the door, opening it for her before I turn back to Ed and say, “Waters told me a joke once, the only joke he ever told. How are an apple and a lawyer alike?”
“Are you serious?”
“How are an apple—”
“I have no idea,” he snaps. “How?”
“They both look good hanging from a tree. I’d sit tight if I were you until Savage gets here.” I pull the door shut and eye the text message on my Apple watch, grimacing as I do.
“What?” Pri asks urgently.
“Pitt left with Josh but came back. He just got off the elevator from the lobby. I don’t want to run into him and have to answer a million questions. Go to your office and get your things. You won’t be back today. There’s a black SUV waiting on us downstairs. Meet me there.” I start to turn and she grabs my arm.
“Be careful. Please be careful.”
I step into her and cup her neck. “I have a reason to stay alive now. You. I’ll see you in five minutes.” I lean and kiss her hard and fast before I force myself to release her. “Five minutes,” I promise again and then force myself to turn and walk away.
And I have no idea why it’s so insanely hard to leave her. It is just for five minutes.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
PRI
I cannot believe Adrian’s setting himself up as bait.
He matters to me. He really, really matters to me and I have this horrible feeling he’s going to get hurt and I don’t know what to do about it.
I’m all kinds of nervous as I enter the hallway outside of Ed’s office area, but nevertheless, my pace is slow—steady, even—as I start my walk back to my office, intentionally pacing myself when I could easily run. I need to talk Adrian into anything but this insane plan of his that doesn’t even make sense. What changed from this morning to now? It’s still just morning.
Fortunately, I manage to find my way back to my office without interference, but as I’m packing up, Cindy pokes her head in the door. “Well? And who was that hottie that walked through the offices and disappeared into Ed’s office area?”
The hottie must be Adrian because my God, he’s gorgeous and confident, and the way he controlled Ed, who controls everyone else, was powerful. But I’m not talking about Adrian to Cindy so I say, “No deal,” already thinking of ways to make my case for Adrian to go back into hiding, and my mind is on Waters’ ex-girlfriend. “Any luck reaching Zara Moore?”
“None. She didn’t just leave protective custody. She disappeared.”
I set my purse on the desk. “Why do I feel like she’s dead?”
“That’s my fear, too,” she says. “She tried to save herself by backing out of testifying and she never really had the chance. Speaking of which, Josh was just here. He and Pitt were trying to find out if you had already hired outside security for the witnesses. You didn’t, right?”
“If I did it wouldn’t be anyone connected to this office.”
“In other words, you did.”
I stand up and slide my purse to my shoulder. Grace pokes her head in the office. “Hey. Josh says he’s