Linc (Thorne Brother #1)
CHAPTER ONE
Linc
“T he jury finds the defendant not guilty,” the foreman reads the verdict from the official document. The courtroom erupts in cheers as Judge Smith bangs his gavel to regain control of the room.
I can’t help the smirk on my face as I pat my client on the shoulder in congratulations. His case has taken me a year to get to this victory and it wasn’t an easy one.
As one of the top attorneys in the country I pride myself in having a winning record. I’ve made a name for myself over the years and am sought after by everyone. My clients range from celebrities to CEOs to anyone else who can pay my exuberant hourly fee.
“Better luck next time, Buttons,” I say to the district attorney, Burt Buttons, after the judge has left the courtroom and we’re all gathering our materials up.
“You know what, Linc? I hope you and your brother are proud and sleep well every night after defending some of the worst people to walk our streets,” he sneers.
“I’m just doing my job,” I respond. “If you’d do a better job at bringing evidence then maybe you’d win one occasionally.”
His face flushes red and I can see his frustration seeping out.
“You know as well as I do that your client was guilty and deserves to be behind bars.” He takes a step towards me.
“Even if I thought that was the case, which I don’t, every person has the right to counsel and a fair trial,” I tell him, matching a step toward him.
Burt Buttons and I went to law school the same time at Yale. We didn’t run in the same circles but he was always trying to outshine me for some reason. Burt thought he was the smartest person in every room he entered and I took great pleasure knocking him down a peg or two throughout those years.
I lost to him for the very first time right after I started my own firm. The next day, he took out an entire page in the paper boasting about it, trying to make me look like a fool. That was five years ago, and the last time he ever won against me or my firm.
“What is that now, Burt, fifty-eight to one?” I brag because I can’t stand this bastard.
I can’t prove it but I’m sure he has falsified some evidence to try to win a few cases against me over the last five years.
I might take on some rough clients but like I said, everyone deserves to have the right to a fair trial and counsel.
His eyes narrow, “One of these days I’m going to best you, or that snot nosed brother of yours, in the worst way and there will be nothing you’ll be able to do about it.”
“I look forward to it,” I challenge. What I really want to do is knock his teeth in for even mentioning my baby brother Levi. If there is one thing in this world I protect at all costs it’s him and has been since we were little.
He turns on his cheap loafers and storms out the swinging wooden partition that separates us from the gallery.
“How long do you think the DA’s office will continue to keep him with his losing record?” I hear Olivia, one of my partners at the firm, ask.
I turn as she holds out my briefcase for me to take. “For his sake and my ego I hope they never get rid of him.”
“Well, you sure stuck it to him,” Kevin Jenkins pipes up with a big smile on his face.
Kevin has been part of the firm for almost a year. He’s been a real go-getter since joining. The last few months, he’s taken on more and more cases as he shows us how capable and smart he is. His win record is higher than most of the office. It’s impressive for someone who just came not long ago.
“The guy was a prick back in law school and hasn’t changed at all since then,” I say.
“I’d love to try my hand with him,” Kevin boasts, still reeling from the win of our case. He’s pretty cocky, like most new guys, and I think it gives him the edge our firm has.
“Linc refuses to let anyone ride solo against Burt. I think he’s made it his personal mission to always be the lead chair with cases against him,” Olivia states as she checks her phone.
“Damn right I do,” I say.
“PR just sent over the talking points for the media circus outside.”
I pull out my phone and see the message. Looking over the email I make a mental note on which ones I want to speak on. I’m riding on the winning train when I decide to let Kevin have a small piece of the attention. He was the one who did all the grunt and leg work helping with this case.
“After I finish speaking on the talking points, why don’t you answer some of the reporter’s questions,” I offer to the young associate. I watch Olivia raise an eyebrow, shocked I’d let someone else take over the spotlight on such a big case.
“Really?” he looks like I’ve just handed him a million dollars. “That’d be great.”
“Don’t make me regret this,” I tell him, then check my watch.
After I make sure the team has everything, we walk out into the hallway.
The media is expecting a news conference that we’ve already prepped for and will be making shortly.
Our client has already been ushered out through the backdoor and is on his way out of the country for a while until the news dies down.
In the hall, we start to make our way toward the front of the building, when I catch sight of the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen turn the corner.
She’s holding a piece of paper in one hand while looking around at the different doors and signs.
My feet physically stop and I feel someone bump into me from behind.
It’s like the world took a pause when our eyes connect.
Something in my stomach twists and a tingling shiver crawls across my arms and shoulders.
Her chocolate brown hair lays in soft curls below her shoulders as her hazel eyes take me in.
She has the perfect bow shaped mouth and the cutest button nose.
“Lincoln, are you okay?” I’m being asked but I don’t dare take my eyes off the angel in front of me, for fear she might disappear.
A light pink blush caresses her cheeks and she turns her eyes from mine. Well, that won’t do.
I walk around the team in front of me and stride over to the woman who physically takes my breath away. In the distance, I vaguely hear my name being called.
“Do you need some help, angel?” I hear myself ask.
I watch as she stares up at my lips and I can’t help but smile down at her.
She’s even more gorgeous up close. I lightly place my hand on her upper arm and we both jolt from our skin touching.
A small gasp leaves her glossy lips from the contact.
Her skin is like silk on my fingertips, making me want to stroke every part of her delicious body.
She shakes her head slightly, “I’m looking for room,” she looks down at the paper in her hand and then back up to my eyes. “208.”
“It’s up the stairs and down the hall on your left,” I tell her, knowing this building like the back of my hand. “What are you here for?”
“I got a parking ticket,” her voice comes out low at first but then a little louder at the end. She takes her free hand and tucks some of her hair behind her ear.
“I can walk you over there and show you, if you want,” I offer then sweep my hand toward the stairs that lead up to the next floor. “Can I see your ticket?”
“Are you sure? Your group looks to be waiting on you,” she says then nods to over my shoulder.
“They can wait,” I say, not even bothering to glance their way, then place my hand on the small of her back, guiding her to the steps. She hands over the paper and I quickly scan the form. Everly Bryant. What a beautiful name.
“Do you work here?” she asks as we ascend the stairs. I catch her out of the corner of my eye checking me out.
“I’m an attorney,” I say and pass her back the paper.
“Ohh,” she comments but the way she says it makes me think I’ve said the wrong thing.
We stop at the top step and I watch her give me a once over.
I know I’m a good-looking fucker and have been gawked at most of my life, but seeing her look me over makes me start to think she might not like what she sees.
Not once in my life, have I ever had to question myself in the way I look.
I’m quite a cocky bastard but this woman might just give me a complex and makes me question everything I thought about myself.
Raising an eyebrow in question, she shakes her head, as if ridding something from her thoughts.
“You don’t like attorneys?” My mind races as my heart drops to the bottom of my stomach.
“No, no not at all, I just didn’t… I guess I can see it now,” she mentions as if talking to herself.
“See what?”
She smiles. “The confidence, or arrogance.”
“Wow, way to box me into the stigma of attorneys.” I try to sound wounded, making her laugh.
“Am I wrong?” She crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow, challenging me, and I’m here for her playfulness.
“You got me there.” My phone buzzes, and I reluctantly reach in my pocket to retrieve it. Being an attorney, and the boss, means I’m on duty twenty-four seven in case a client is sitting down at the police station after doing some dumb shit that put them there.
“What’s your name, angel?” I ask as we head down the hall and almost to the door she needs. I already know it, so I’m pushing to get more personal.
She places her hand on her forehead and rolls her eyes, “I can’t believe how rude I am. I’m Everly, sorry,” she says and holds her hand out for me to shake. “I’m usually not like this, you must think I’m scatterbrained.”
“Definitely not. You’re just so enamored by me that I took your thoughts and breath away,” I joke, encasing her soft hand in mine.
She giggles and its music to my ears.
“What are you doing later tonight?”
“You haven’t given me your name yet,” she sasses. “I’ve been schooled to never tell anything personal to strangers, especially the attorney types.” She slides her hand out of mine and my hand itches to latch it back and never let it go.
“You were raised right then, Everly. I’m Lincoln Thorne.” I reach into my jacket pocket and hand her my business card.
She puts her hand out to take the card and I make sure to brush my fingers against hers, feeling that buzz again when our skin touches.
“Thank you, Lincoln, for helping me find the right office,” she says as she places my card in her back pocket. “And I’m meeting with some friends at a bar tonight if you’d like to come hang out.”
“If you’re there then count me in.” She tells me the name of the bar and time she’ll be there just as my phone vibrates again. “Can I get your number and call you later?”
She shakes her head, “If you show up tonight then I might give it to you. I can’t be giving out my digits to strangers or possible criminals.”
That makes me chuckle.
“Angel, the only law breaker between us is the one who’s here to settle a ticket,” I say then lean in and give her a soft peck on her cheek. She smells like vanilla. “See you tonight, Everly.”
I turn and walk back down the hall. When I’m almost to the stairs, I stop and turn back.
“Do you want me to get you out of that ticket?” I call out right before she’s about to enter the room to 208.
Everly stops and looks up at me, “No, I did it so I need to pay the price,” she admits. “Maybe next time.” She laughs, then waves at me before she walks through the entryway and is out of sight.
I wait a few beats before descending the stairs, not looking back for fear I’d never leave her side if I didn’t get out of there soon. When I reach the bottom of the steps, I see my team still waiting on me.
“Everything okay?” Olivia asks as she approaches me with the oddest look on her face.
“Everything is perfect. Why?”
Olivia shakes her head, “You have the biggest smile on your face, and you were whistling.” Was I? “Who was that?”
I’m sure I’ve caught her off guard with my actions. I’ve never let anything interfere with clients or business before, so I’m sure I’ve thrown her for a loop.
I look back up toward the second floor where Everly is and can’t stop the smile from forming on my lips. My aunt always said growing up, “If you want something bad enough then say it into existence.” So, with every part of my being, I give it a try for the first time.
“That, my friend, was my future wife.”