Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
Adrian
“ D id you get the job done?” Leo’s deep voice asks over the speaker in my car.
“Not yet.”
I hear him say something to his wife, likely telling her that I didn’t blackmail the judge yet before I hear him also tell her that she is not going to fly to New Orleans nine months pregnant. “Do you need me to come down?” he asks when he gets back on the phone.
I can’t help but be amused by their situation. Leo was a made man before he met Val, and now the woman has a death grip on his balls. Not that I think he minds. It’s obvious he’s completely in love with her. And now she’s carrying his child.
Something warms my heart at the thought of Madi being pregnant. Her stomach swollen with my child. I like the image, but I shake it from my brain as I focus on the task at hand.
“No.” I turn my car onto Tulane Street. “I’m doing it right now.”
“Good. Let me know when it’s done.”
I end the call right as I find a parking spot outside the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. The lot attendant greets me with a wave as I pass through. I’ve been in this courthouse thousands of times, representing a variety of clients, but today feels a little different as I pass by the familiar faces and make my way through the building.
I know from the judge’s schedule that he’s free right now. I storm past his receptionist, who tries to shout at me not to enter the judge’s chamber, but I don’t pay her any mind.
Entering the space, I’m pleased to find him at his desk, looking up at me with shock as I shut and lock the door behind me. He looks me up and down. “Adrian Russo?” He says my name like a question. “Why are you barging into my office?”
“We need to have a talk.” I move forward, taking the seat across from the old man. Judge Langston has held his post for a long time, and now he sits across from me with wrinkled skin and graying hair.
“You couldn’t have made an appointment with my secretary?” he asks, gesturing to the door where his assistant sits outside.
“This is an urgent matter.”
“This isn’t how that works-”
“Listen.” I wave my hand, cutting him off. “This is about Samuel Costello.” The judge pauses upon hearing his name. Everyone in New Orleans knows that name. The smart ones steer clear of the Costello business, the greedy ones run toward it, and then there’s the legal system - the ones who should be fighting that family. They try, but most of them are corrupt or on the family’s payroll.
I know where Langston’s moral compass lands, and it’s normally on the right side of justice. He’s not one to fall for bribery. Maybe that’s why I feel bad for blackmailing him. But it doesn’t matter, because I know justice will be served if I get Sam out of prison.
“What about him?” Langston asks, swallowing thickly.
“You’re going to dismiss his case.”
“I will do no such thing.” Anger coats his words and his hand slams down on the desk.
“You will. Because if you don’t…” I slide a manila folder across the desk. Langston looks at it for a long moment, like the contents might bite him, and I wonder if he knows what’s in it before he even opens the thing.
Slowly, he flips it open, revealing a picture of a little girl around three years old with curly pigtails and his bright blue eyes. His eyes. He winces, closes his own blue eyes, and drops his head before he can continue looking through the evidence.
Alessio did a good job putting the file together. There’s a birth certificate for the girl, copies of text messages between the judge and her mother, bank transactions showing payments to the mother every month. To the rest of the world, Judge Langston is happily married to his wife of over fifty years, with three kids of their own. A picture-perfect family. But right here in this room, we both know the truth. His five-year affair led to the birth of that little girl, the one he’s been keeping a secret by paying a hefty sum to her mother each month.
Suddenly, he flips the folder closed, pushing it toward me like it’s poisonous. He stands from his chair, turning to face the window while he drops his head in his hands.
I let him have his moment.
Finally, he turns around with a solemn look on his face. “This scandal will hurt her as much as me.” His eyes go to the file on the desk. He’s right. This scandal will haunt that little girl. She’ll forever be known as the judge’s bastard child.
“And it will end your career,” I add.
“That too.” He scrubs a hand over his wrinkled face. “Okay,” he relents, clearing his throat. “I’ll have the case dismissed.”
He doesn’t look happy about his discussion, but I whistle as I leave the courthouse, texting Leo and John to let them know the job is done.