Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Luca
We stayed in all night, cooked dinner together, watched a movie, made love, discussed the case, and then drifted off into a deep sleep. I found that when I was with her, everything bad in my life disappeared. The only thoughts that ran through my head were about her and how I'd ask her to be mine once all this was over, and I was found not guilty.
We got up early, showered together, and then headed to the courthouse for jury selection. I’d never thought in a million years that I’d be sitting in that same spot letting twelve strangers decide my fate. The judge made it very clear to both Ariana and Wendy that they would have a jury picked by the end of the day. Judge Kingsley was tough, and he didn’t play around. The two things he hated more than anything in his courtroom were games and chaos. He didn’t have time or patience for bullshit or friction between the district attorney and the defense lawyer—namely me. I wreaked more havoc in his courtroom than any other lawyer, and he took great pleasure in holding me in contempt and fining me whenever I gave him the chance.
Jury selection was over in five hours, and Ariana did an amazing job. Watching her up there talking to the jurors the way she did impressed me. I was overly concerned about a couple of jurors she picked, but she told me she had an eye for detail and not to worry because she saw something I didn’t. I wasn’t sure if I trusted her decision, and it bothered me.
We headed to my grandfather’s house, and when we arrived, we were seated in the living room where we waited for him to come down.
“Hello there, son.” He smiled as he wheeled himself into the room.
“Hello, Grandfather.” I gave him a hug.
“How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay.”
“Ariana, good to see you, sweetheart.”
“Good to see you too.” She smiled and kissed his cheek.
“Now, what’s this I hear about you wanting Luca’s file? That doesn’t have anything to do with this case. I honestly think it would be a waste of your time to be looking through that.”
“I do respect your opinion, Franco, but it’s just something as a lawyer to my client that I feel I need to see.”
“All right. Didi,” he called out.
“Yes, Mr. Russo?”
“Will you escort Miss Williams to my office? You’ll find the file on my desk, Ariana.”
When she and Didi walked away, I got up and poured two glasses of scotch.
“Luca, I’m concerned.”
“About what?” I looked at him.
“About Ariana’s defense strategy. Looking at your file is a pure waste of time.”
“She obviously has her reasons, Grandfather.”
“Explore all options if they are available to you,” Ariana spoke as she proudly walked into the room. “Someone is framing Luca for murder. Who knows, maybe it could be someone from his past having to do with this case?”
“Nonsense. He was fifteen years old. He didn’t have any enemies,” my grandfather spoke.
“Maybe he didn’t, or maybe he did, but it doesn’t hurt to check out everything. He’s being indicted on two counts of murder. We can’t afford not to explore everything.”
The three of us sat and had dinner together and then it was time for us to head home.
“Thank you, Franco.” Ariana smiled as she took hold of both his hands.
“You’re welcome, my dear. If you need anything else, call me. “I’ll be staying in the city during the trial. Is it okay if I stay with you, Luca?”
“Actually, you can have the whole apartment to yourself. I’m staying with Ariana for the time being. The reporters outside my building won’t give up.”
As we drove home, Ariana studied my file. Every time I looked over at her, I couldn’t help but smile. She was sexy, intriguing, intelligent, very focused, and she was everything I knew I always wanted in a woman if I didn’t let my fears take over.
“Find anything yet?” I asked as I glanced over at her.
“Not yet.” She smiled. “I’ll let you know if I do.”
When we arrived back at her apartment, I changed into my pajama bottoms and climbed into bed with my laptop while she went into the bathroom and washed her face.
“She had two phones,” she spoke.
“What?” I asked as I responded to an email.
“Gina had two phones. The one she pulled from her purse the day of the murder was not the one the police took.”
“How do you know that?”
She changed into her nightshirt and climbed on the bed with her phone.
“I viewed the security tape from the hotel today, and at approximately three-thirty, she pulled this black phone from her purse. The one the police have is a white iPhone with a case on it. I think this was her client phone. Which leads me to believe she was meeting a client that day. I checked her calendar, and the only thing she had on it was the hotel name and check-in at three p.m.”
“If she had that phone on her that night or even up in her room, then where the hell is it?”
“Exactly. I’m having Sheila try to trace the number and get the records.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this yesterday?”
“I didn’t have a chance.” She smiled. “I only got as far as telling you about the client list I found, and then you distracted me with multiple orgasms.”
“And this morning?” I raised my brow at her.
“We had jury selection, and then we went to your grandfather’s.”
“I don’t like you keeping information like that from me.”
“I’m preparing your case. Let me handle the details.”
I stared at her for a moment, and then my eyes traveled down to her bare legs, which were stretched out on the bed. I set my laptop down, rolled on my side, and ran my hand up her thigh until I reached her panties.
“Are you up for a couple more orgasms?” I smirked.
“I’m always ready, but this time, use your mouth for one of them.”
Instantly, my cock stood at full force.
“It would be my pleasure to satisfy you with my mouth.”