Chapter 38 Oak #2
“You had a mission and decided to take matters into your own hands. You decided to go against command. You decided to push your unit ahead. And you led them to death, Ethan.”
My vision begins to blur as I start to feel myself lose control. My mind is slipping. It’s dangerously trying to drag me back to the past.
Their screams I hear first. Their deafening screams filled with terror. It’s all I can hear repeatedly.
Deep breaths, Oak. You’re here, not in Iraq.
I take deep breaths but I still don’t feel in control.
Fuck, I’m going to lose it.
“You honestly think you weren’t in the wrong?”
“Astrid,” Travers’ voice strikes hard like a lash. “That’s enough.”
“I’m doing my job,” she insists harshly.
“No,” he disagrees. “What you’re doing is triggering this man into a fucking panic attack. Stop.”
“I’m trying to get him to do the right thing. I’m trying to get him to confess!”
“At what cost? This man’s mental health? And for what? A man who brutally raped a woman and left her to rot on the side of the street?”
“Whose side are you on here, Liam?”
“If you keep going down this path not yours.”
“I’m doing my job! He’s a criminal. A killer! Involved with countless illegal activity.”
“He isn’t Jason Chen, Astrid. Vipers MC isn’t the fucking Triads.” He’s struck more than just a nerve; he’s hit her where it fucking counts.
She squeezes her eyes shut as she swallows thickly. Her hands form into fists, her muscles tighten. “They’re both organized crime. Violence is what they do best and they’re killers. That’s enough similarities for me.”
He sighs disappointedly. “The fact that you can’t see they aren’t the same means you’re too far gone to see past your own shit.”
“I’m not having this conversation here, Liam.”
“And I’m not going to be partners with someone who can’t differentiate her personal vendetta and doing her job.”
“That’s enough! If you don’t like my methods then leave. No one is stopping you.”
Before either one can get another word in edge wise the door bursts open with Nico entering the room and commanding everyone’s attention.
He’s dressed pristine in a luxury three piece suit with no wrinkle in sight. His black wavy hair is slicked back, styled with his signature wet gel that makes him look he stepped straight out of the ocean. Honestly, Nico looks more like a model than a lawyer.
Even I can admit the fucker is too good looking for his own good. If he wasn’t such a god dammed good lawyer I would say his charm has won him his cases.
Liu turns her anger towards him and bites out, “We are in the middle of an interrogation here. Who the hell are you?”
“Nico Santiago, Ethan “Oak” Barrington’s lawyer. You are not to question my client any further and he is not to answer any questions unless I am present.”
“Be that as it may he has no bail set and will have to spend the weekend in custody until a judge has one set.”
He flashes her a megawatt smile, showing his brilliant white teeth. “Understood. If that is all I would like a moment alone with my client.”
Begrudgingly, Liu rises from her chair and before leaving casts me a glare.
“For what it’s worth,” Travers says, eyes on me, a sympathetic smile adorning his face, “I’m sorry.”
“Have you been mistreating my client?” Nico asks, lawyer mode fully on.
Liam shakes his head. “You seem like a really good guy. I just don’t think you belong here.”
“Does that mean you’ll drop these ridiculous and false charges?” Nico presses with a charming grin.
He doesn’t say anything. He does, however, take the key and un-cuff my hands. My wrists cry in relief. It’s only when he leaves the room I rub at my wrists to bring back circulation.
“Five hours, Nico?”
He unbuttons his suit, taking the seat Liu was in. “I came as fast as I could. We both know I’m a very busy man.”
“On another case or another woman?” It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve interrupted Nico in the middle of sex.
He places a hand over his chest. “You wound me, Oak.” I raise a brow at him. “I was actually working on your woman’s case.”
One of which I’m more interested and concerned than my very own. “How is it going? Will she be granted full custody?”
His brows furrow. “You don’t want to discuss the charges you’re facing?”
“I want to discuss if Grace will finally have the custody of Connor of which she rightfully deserves.”
He settles back in his seat. “You really are a good man, Oak.”
Not necessarily. “I’m a man in love, Nico.”
“Which means she is your number one priority,” he says understandingly. “Well, to kill your worry her case is very strong. And I have gathered witnesses to come forward against Steven to support Grace’s claim. He won’t be practicing after I’m finished with him,” he tells me confidently.
The worry inside me settles. If there is one case I want him to win it’s hers. “And she’ll have custody of Connor.”
“Yes, she’ll have full custody of Connor,” he confirms. “The court date isn’t until two months. If her mother awakes I will rush to have it sooner.”
“Thank you.”
“No need. Always glad to help a friend.” His smile is genuine. “Now, speaking of you, please tell me you kept your mouth shut.”
I nod. “I did.”
“Good. What they really need is a confession, one of which you aren’t going to provide.”
“Nothing to confess to, Nico,” I smile. “I didn’t kill him.”
“I feel like a proud father,” he quips and I let out a chuckle. “I just love it when my clients don’t make my life difficult.”
“You love anyone who doesn’t challenge you.”
“Not true, otherwise I wouldn’t be a lawyer.” He has a point but we both know that’s not what I meant. “Over the course of the weekend I’m going to get them to try and drop these charges. In the meantime you need to keep your mouth shut.”
“Meaning I really do have to spend the weekend here.”
“Unfortunately yes. If the charges are kept a judge won’t do a bail hearing until Monday. Then we go from there.”
“I trust you.”
“Well, it would be a fucking pain in my ass if you didn’t. From here on I expect full cooperation. No doing shit without talking to me first.” He lays down the law.
“Understood.”
He nods his head. “Anything you need from me?”
“Yeah, I need a favor.”
“That is?”
“I need to make a phone call.”