5. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
A dley settled into her favorite chair for reading and watching shows. It was the perfect Friday night. It had been two weeks since she’d had the scare at the Arboretum. She and Macy had returned home Sunday night. She hadn’t seen anything strange, and she had her alarm system.
Now it was time to relax. She had sweet n’ sour chicken, chicken fried rice, lo mein noodles, and crab rangoon. She had her show ready to watch and a new ebook from one of her one-click authors .
It was her favorite way to relax on a Friday.
If her sister wasn’t out of town, she’d be right beside her.
Macy had tried to convince Adley to wait to watch their show, but nope, nuh-uh, Adley wasn’t waiting.
Macy had watched the newest episode of another series they loved and then told Adley about it before she could watch it.
She adored her sister, but sometimes, she jumped on Adley’s last nerve.
Macy was in Denver for the weekend but would be back on Monday.
Adley wasn’t waiting four days when she was positive Macy would watch it tonight.
Maybe the amazing food, books, and show could keep her mind off Justice. It was like the man had Adley-radar and showed up wherever she was.
But honestly, it wasn’t just his thick arms and tattoos, nor his wearing that baseball cap backwards with his white T-shirt and his cut, which should send her running for the hills. It was the sweet and goofy smiles he gave his son and the way he cared for his mother.
After her excitement at the Arboretum, she’d pushed him from her mind.
But now, just sitting here two weeks later, all she could think about was his freaking tight jeans hugging every thigh muscle and cupping his oh-so-perfect butt.
The hat on backwards as he cuddled his son and sang Fat Bottomed Girls was just one more facet to Justice that had her ready to drop her panties and tackle him.
If she was going to ever get to have Pit’s KC Barbecue and her favorite sticky sweet sauce with brisket and ribs again, she would need to get herself under control .
And she, her sister, and Mom knew better than anyone that looks could be deceiving.
Her mom’s husband had been handsome and could even show the world a calm personality, but once the clubhouse doors closed, it was a nightmare.
Adley had seen more blood, sex, abuse, and drugs in her young life than any child should.
Macy was two years younger than Adley and luckily didn’t have quite so many vivid memories as Adley.
She flicked her show on and grabbed her food. She needed to get lost in her show and not in the nightmares of the past. She wanted to be able to sleep tonight, and reminiscing about the past wouldn’t make for a restful sleep.
She would be forever grateful to the figure who rescued them.
After Adley received her bar license and started representing clients, she’d received an email.
The words , Those who are given a second chance owe a debt to make the world a little brighter .
Adley had known it was from their rescuer of years ago.
She considered it a small price to pay to represent whichever client came through the email.
Every single one that had been requested had been in horrible situations and deserved to be free.
Adley considered it paying it forward to help someone else out just like she had been all those years ago.
Her second chance was a debt, and Adley didn’t believe she could ever completely repay it.
If they had stayed, Adley was positive her mom would have eventually died trying to protect Adley and her sister.
At ten, Adley hadn’t understood the looks from the men, but as an adult, she understood she and her sister were in danger of having their innocence stolen from them.
She’d escaped with her innocence, even though she was a little scarred.
Her phone rang, and she smiled at the ringtone, Unstoppable.
Her mom had told them as they got into high school that it was their job to use the chance they’d been given and become unstoppable.
Adley knew that was the only ringtone that fit her mom because, despite what her mom had been through, she’d carved a life out for her girls and herself.
“Hey, Mom, how are you?” Adley asked.
“Good. Just wondering if you were in the mood to come for lunch on Sunday?” she asked. “I know you were just here recently, but darn it, the house seems so empty with you girls not here this weekend.”
Adley loved seeing her mom, and if she was cooking? Bonus! Even though she’d just spent time there two weeks ago, she was more than happy to spend more time with her mom.
“Of course. Do you want me to bring something or get there early to help?”
“Well, you know more time with my girls is always welcome. Macy texted, and she’s catching an early flight Sunday morning so she can do a noon lunch. See you at eleven?” her mom asked.
A beep had Adley looking at her phone. “I’ll be there. I need to go. I’ve got another call, and it might be a client.”
“Love you, baby.”
Adley clicked over. “Adley Pearson, how may I help you?”
“Ms. Pearson, this is Pit Lawson. Justice has been taken in on charges, and the club would like to retain your services to defend him,” Pit said .
Adley was stunned. Why would Justice have been taken in? She didn’t want him in jail, but if he’d done something immoral, she couldn’t represent him.
“What are the charges?” she asked.
“He’s wanted for questioning in the death of Gina Brown, the woman who had Ian. He’s not guilty,” Pit said sternly.
“Well, I’m happy to meet with him and take his case if I believe he’s innocent,” Adley said. Though from what she’d heard about Gina, the world was probably a better place without her.
“Thank you. Let us know where to send the retainer, and we’ll get it to you,” Pit said.
“I’ll call you after I meet with him. Text me the station he’s at and who took him in. I’ll get changed and head there,” Adley said.
“Thank you,” Pit said, hanging up .
Adley stared at the phone. How the hell was she going to keep her distance if she was his lawyer? Sitting beside the man and having his scent wrap around her. Close enough for his eyes to stare into hers.
Adley grabbed the food and slid it into the refrigerator, already thinking through what all she needed to meet her client. She needed time to put her armor on and be the fierce attorney, not the woman with the wet panties wanting to lick every inch of the biker.
Justice sat leaning against the table. Detective Stanza had brought him to the interrogation room they used for violent criminals.
Stanza had re-cuffed his hands in front of him so he could cuff Justice to the table.
Justice was a big guy, and the detective had cuffed him tight enough that Justice’s hands were getting numb.
His right hand was starting to turn a little blue.
After Detective Stanza had cuffed him, he’d asked one more time if Justice wanted to talk. Justice had replied that he wouldn’t be speaking until he was given access to his lawyer.
The door opened, and Detective Stanza walked back in. Justice didn’t wear a watch, and without his phone, he wasn’t sure how long he’d been waiting.
“Well, Zane Lawson, it looks like you’ve been a very bad boy, and it’s time for you to pay. Now, let’s talk about Gina Brown and your relationship with her,” he smirked and stared at Justice.
Justice stared blankly back. It wouldn’t do for the detective to realize how much Justice despised the man.
“Awww, big tattooed biker isn’t talking. Hmmm, maybe you should reconsider because it can be easy or hard. I have the power to make this easy for you if you cooperate. But then again, maybe I should just tell your club you talked and then see what happens. Now…”
Before Detective Stanza could continue, yelling from outside the door caught his attention.
“I hope you aren’t trying to question my client after he has requested a lawyer and are keeping him from said lawyer!
But hey, if you want a media feeding frenzy, I’d be happy to call the news and let them know what is happening to a veteran and a lawyer who routinely does cases pro bono! ” Adley yelled.
The door opened. Justice recognized the precinct captain with Adley.
“Detective, Ms. Pearson would like access to her client.”
Justice couldn’t wait to see how this played out.
Adley walked in. “Detective Stain, I’d like time alone with my client.”
“It’s Detective Stanza, and you fucking know that, Adley.”
“I apologize. It’s just you’re a stain on the justice system, and the name fits you so much better,” Adley said, with a smile on her face.
Could Adley get any hotter to him? He really didn’t appreciate his cock thickening in his jeans when he was cuffed to the table. Adley glanced toward him, and her eyes widened.
“Captain, could you come in here?” Adley said, walking closer to Justice and pulling out her phone. She took multiple pictures of his hands, specifically his right one that was a deeper shade of blue than before.
“Is this how the Kansas City Police Department treats people? What happened to innocent until proven guilty? If Justice suffers nerve damage from the detective knowingly tightening the cuffs past the recommended tension, there won’t be a big enough rock for you all to hide under,” Adley said.
“Detective, remove her client’s cuffs.”
“But, Captain, he’s guilty.”
“Detective, remove her client’s cuffs. I’m sure Justice will behave. Now give them their time alone,” he said, waiting until Justice was uncuffed and not leaving until the detective left the room.
~**~
Once the door closed, Adley turned toward Justice, smiling.
“This is definitely an unusual way to get my attention for a date,” she said, sitting down and opening her briefcase, pulling out a notepad and her pen.
“I feel like you’re enjoying this,” Justice grumbled.