Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cassie
“Miss Beillo, can I have a word?” The woman stops at my side as I wait for the elevator up to my office.
“Sorry, I’m late for a meeting.”
“It’ll only take a second.”
She doesn’t look dangerous, but I always have my guard up when I’m dealing with strangers. “You have until the elevator gets here.”
“I want to talk to you about Vance Roderick.”
It’s hard to hide my surprise over that. Usually I’m good at masking my emotions but when it comes to that prick I struggle.
I eye her again, she looks professional in dark blue slacks and a white blouse, she’s the same height as me but wearing flats where I have heels on, and her red hair it thick and bouncy with large curls. Everything about her screams expensive.
“I can’t discuss an ongoing case,” I tell her, pressing the button for the elevator again, even though I hate it when people do that shit because it doesn’t make the damn thing come any faster.
“Why are you defending a man like him? You know what he’s been accused of.”
The automatic response is to lash out in a scathing way leaving no room for her to counter. Now that I’m paying attention, I know who she is. War did it, he got her involved, I can’t let on I know who she is or I’m going to give her anything to help her case.
“There are proper channels for the press to go through. Accosting me outside of my offices isn’t one of them. Miss…”
One of her brows arches and she nods. “Mia Quinn.” She holds out a card I refuse to take.
“You’re not affiliated with a publication?” I say in my best bitchy tone.
“Freelance.”
“You sell yourself to the highest bidder?”
“You’re better than this Miss Beillo,” she cocks her head and studies me. “Or maybe not, given the person you’re representing. If we can even call him that.”
God, if only I could tell her I agree with her, that she is here because I orchestrated this. My heart is beating even faster now because Mia Quinn is fully on board with this. I don’t know what War told her, she wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t researched Vance Roderick.
“I have nothing to say to you, Miss Quinn, and I will tell security you’re not allowed to enter the building.”
The elevator arrives and the doors swoosh open, I step inside and turn to look back at her. The doors close on her tight expression and I swallow hard once she is out of my sight. She thinks she got to me.
This is what I want. This is what he deserves. It didn’t cross my mind she’d go after me. It makes sense, hell it’s why I was put on the case in the first place. Have a powerful, attractive woman representing the man accused of assaulting, stalking and mentally torturing an innocent woman.
I can take it. If in the long run it helps Cara’s case, I will be the bad guy in the story.
Once I’ve filled security in on the interaction and that she is not to be allowed entry to the offices, I go to my own and ask not to be disturbed unless it’s urgent.
I’ve researched Mia Quinn extensively after what she previously did for the club. She is a successful investigative journalist. This is the first step to getting Cara the defense she deserves.
A couple of hours later, a sharp knock precedes Harry entering the room. I look up from the papers I’m working on and hold back the sarcastic comment about him coming right on in.
“We have a problem.”
“What kind of problem?”
“Kroeger, Saville and Wheeler.”
“The law firm? What about them?”
“Dempsey switched attorneys. Not only did she retain one of the hardest firms to beat in this state, she’s got Kroeger representing her.”
Holy shit. The shock on my face is for an altogether different reason to his. The Devil’s Chaos can do a lot of things but this is impressive. Three days since I asked War to help, and he’s got one of the biggest law firms involved.
“When did this happen?” I ask, sounding suitably concerned.
“We got notice this morning. How the fuck did she manage to pull this off? Do you know how much it costs to get someone from their firm, never mind one of the fucking founding partners?”
He’s pacing now and looks on the verge of losing his shit. It makes me feel a little bad I’m the one who caused this, but I won’t forget why I did it.
“How am I going to tell Vance?”
“Harry, it’s not the end of the world okay, we can figure this out. Yes, they’re a better law firm than the ones she already retained, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to lose now.” I sure as shit hope it does. “Where do we stand on opposing the change?”
“She has done everything above board, Cassie. How the fuck did she do this? How is she paying them? She has no fucking money, what the hell is happening?”
“Harry, take it easy, sit down. We can figure this out.”
“You don’t understand,” he puts his head in his hands. “I’ve gone up against Kroeger before and lost, badly.”
“You seriously think we’re going to lose this now, don’t you?” I ask.
“No, no,” he shakes his head. “I’m sorry, I’m stressed, there are so many things going on right now, with this case, the others I’m working on, and Briana is having trouble at school. If anyone can figure this out, it’s you Cassie.”
“We won’t give up Harry, this doesn’t matter. We’re still going to fight.” Just not for Vance…
“I’m relying on you, Cassie. You can’t let them win this case, okay.”
He walks out the door and leaves me staring after him as he hurries down the hallway and around a corner. I’ve barely had a chance to get my head around what just happened when my cell phone rings.
I’m not going to answer it, because I need to figure this out. Seeing Eli’s name flashing on the screen makes me pause. I shouldn’t let him distract me, but I can count on one hand how many times Eli has called me.
“Hey, sweetheart, sorry it’s during work hours but we need to talk.”
“I’m a little busy, Eli, can it wait?”
“Not really.”
My head tips back and I close my eyes. “What is it?”
“Don’t get too excited, it’s not a booty call.”
“Jesus,” I groan. And for a second think about it, but there is too much going on. “Did you really just say that?” He laughs and the sound of it has my insides doing a dance I don’t have time for.
It’s not only that it was dark and filled with promise, it’s nice. Hearing him laugh is nice. I’m so caught up in it I miss his next words.
“Wait, what did you say?”
“Try not to get yourself even more flustered, gorgeous. Mace will be there to get you in five minutes. Meet him outside.”
“God damn mother fucker.” I curse at the phone after he hangs up before I can argue back. I can’t walk out of here right now.
“Cassie? What the hell?” Laura looks in at me.
“It’s nothing, I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”
“Harry didn’t look fine.”
“No he’s not. I have to go.”
“You have an appointment in an hour. And Vance Roderick called, he wants a meeting today.”
“Put him off till tomorrow.”
“Do you know how difficult that will be? He was pissed.”
“I’ll get you tickets to the next Jersey Devil’s home game. I’m sorry, Laura I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
Laura is a sucker for a hockey match. She gets more excited about the fights than the actual game. She backs down, telling me she wants up against the glass seats by the goalie, and I add it to the mental list of things I need to do.
Avoiding Vance is at the top of the list.
Mace is waiting for me, like Eli said he would be. I blow out a breath as he straightens up and holds out a helmet with a look that can only be described as possessive.
“I’ll say the same thing to you that I said to Eli,” I take the helmet. “This doesn’t mean anything.”
He eyes my skirt and I look at my car, we could as easily go in that, or I could follow him.
“Not a chance,” he leans forward and grabs the bottom of my skirt and tugs it up.
I almost slap him but he doesn’t expose me, just lifts it so I can spread my legs enough to get on the bike. He straightens up until he is towering over me, still holding onto the fabric, his fingertips trailing over the skin of my thighs.
This isn’t the time, but I shiver as goosebumps rise where he’s touching me.
What’s worse, hearing Handlebar’s laugh full of promise and sex or the way Mace is eating me up with his eyes?
He gets on the bike and tugs me after him, holding my hand to help me. I’m getting far too good at this. He waits for me to put on the helmet and wrap my arms around him before he takes off.
Mace rides differently to Eli, he’s loose, like he is a part of the motorcycle beneath him. Has he had a woman ride on his bike before? Or was Eli anxious about making sure I was safe?
Mace didn’t offer any advice, or try to tell me not to worry about the ride.
I spend the rest of the time comparing the two of them, their strengths, and weaknesses, not that there are many of those and that turns to thoughts of their bodies.
Eli is the bigger of the two in the dick department, but that doesn’t mean Mace isn’t packing a decent size and he knows how to use it.
I’m shocked out of my thoughts when we pull up to the house I brought Mace to a few weeks back, his friend’s place. Where we first fucked. My cheeks flush as he stops the bike next to Eli’s. I get off, careful not to rip my skirt or show him how damn wet my underwear is right now.
Mace gets off and looks down at me.
“What’s your name?”
“You know my name.” He takes my helmet.
“I know your road name. I want your real name.” I can’t explain why but it feels important.
He stows the helmets, then walks to me and puts a hand on my back, turning me towards the house. I really don’t like being controlled, not like this. Pushing back, I stop and turn to face him. Behind us, the front door opens, but I keep my focus on him.
Mace shifts on his feet and I grab onto his cut to stop him pulling away.
He moves right up to me and grabs my hips, pulling me flush against him. “Dominic. Now get your ass inside, we’ve got a lot to talk about.”