19. Evgeny #3
Instead I drive to my office. I always keep a couple of spare suits there in case of an emergency, and I’d say this morning definitely qualifies as one.
I still have a couple of hours before my meeting with Mathis and Lang.
Plenty of time for me to make myself presentable, get Caleb up to date on everything, and get my ass to the courthouse so I can put an end to all this once and for all.
By the time I hear Caleb coming down the hallway, I’m dressed and looking like I arrived this way instead of doing it all here.
He comes in carrying coffee and the sight of it momentarily makes me forget that today is going to be both the best and worst day of my life.
I’m thrilled Sasha is going to be freed.
My whole life has been building to this exact moment when I can represent a family member and get whatever charges they’re facing dropped.
My whole purpose in life is to make sure no one in my family ever rots in prison.
I should be ecstatic. This is the ending I wanted, and it happened before we even had to go to trial.
It’s the best possible outcome, but all I can think about is Harper, how last night was the last time I’ll ever feel her body wrapped around mine, the last time I’ll get to watch her scream my name as she comes around my cock, and the last time I’ll ever walk out the door with her lying naked in my bed with Watson blissfully ignorant and snoozing by her feet.
“That’s great, Ev. Congratulations,” Caleb says once I’ve filled him in on everything that’s happened. “This is going to shock the hell out of Judge Mathis. I know Lang thought for sure she was going to win this one. Hell, I think most people thought she was going to win it.”
When I raise a brow at him, he grins. “You have to admit it looked bad. If it was anyone else, maybe it wouldn’t have felt so hopeless, but Sasha Melnikov? Come on, Ev. The man was born guilty of something.”
I muster up a half-smile, because he’s certainly not wrong about that one.
“I thought you’d be more excited,” he says, sounding disappointed in my lack of exuberance.
“Do I usually turn cartwheels in my office when I win a case?”
He snorts out a laugh. “No, but this is an unusual win. You have to admit that. The phone is going to be ringing off the hook when people get wind of this. Gertie’s going to be so pissed about all the extra work.”
“More like she’s going to be pissed she can’t sit around reading those smutty romances I know she keeps hidden in the bottom drawer of her desk.”
“Well, that too.”
I grab my briefcase, checking to make sure I have everything I need. “I’ll let you know when it’s done. Thanks for all your help on this one.” Grabbing the envelope that’s lying on my desk, I hand it over to him. “As promised.”
He furrows his brows, trying to figure out what’s going on, but then he opens it. His jaw drops open in surprise when he sees the first-class tickets inside.
“I’ve given you three weeks of paid time off. There’s two tickets if you want to bring someone with you. I’ve also booked you a cabana right on the beach. Food and drinks are included. Go have fun and come back with a hangover and a tan.”
“Holy shit, Ev,” he says, still eyeing the tickets. Yel and Val had taken an anniversary trip there a couple years ago and said it was a tropical paradise. I looked into it and saw that there’s a pretty lively nightlife on the island too. Caleb could use a little fun.
“I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
“Don’t start crying. It’ll just embarrass me.” I want to tell him that I might be gone when he gets back and that hiring him was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Instead, I say, “You deserve this. I hope you have a great time.”
I’ve already set up a fund for him and Gertie in case of my forced absence. They’ll both be taken care of financially, since my name won’t help them find new employment. When the truth comes out, it’s going to tarnish everyone around me too.
“I better get going,” I say, but when I try to walk past him, he pulls me in for a quick hug.
He looks embarrassed when he steps back. Running a hand through his hair, he gives me a sheepish grin. “Sorry. It’s just a very nice gift and I recently met someone. I’ve had to ignore her lately, but I think this might win me some serious brownie points.”
“If this doesn’t, nothing will,” I tell him.
He’s already pulling out his cell phone when I step out of the office and make my way past Gertie.
I catch her trying to stuff her old, dog-eared paperback into her drawer when she hears me.
I catch a quick glimpse of a woman in a very tight bodice with a long-haired man grasping her by the waist before the book is safely hidden away.
I laugh and shake my head at her. “Don’t let me stop you, Gertie. I bet you were just getting to a good part.”
“I was,” she admits, already reaching back down for the book. “I promise I’ll answer the phone when it rings.”
“What more could I possibly want in a secretary?” I smile at her so she knows I’m not even slightly irritated. She’s the best secretary I’ve ever had. If she wants to read erotica on the clock, I really don’t care as long as she keeps running things as well as she always has.
When I get to the courthouse, I go through security before being led to Judge Mathis’s office. ADA Lang is already waiting outside his door, and when she sees me, she gives me a courteous nod and shakes my hand.
“Good to see you again, Ev,” she says, keeping it informal until we go inside.
“You too, Rebecca. I should warn you that I’m going to ask for the case to be dropped.”
Instead of laughing, she raises a brow and studies me. “You have proof he didn’t do it?”
“I do,” I say, and because she’s a good lawyer and not just out for wins, she thinks about what I’m saying instead of immediately assuming she’s right and I’m wrong.
“It’ll have to be irrefutable,” she finally says, “and I’ll want to go over it of course. Despite what you might think about me, I have no desire to put the wrong man in prison.” She quirks her brow at me again. “Even if he probably does deserve to be there.”
“Not for this crime, he doesn’t.”
“Then that changes everything,” she admits before knocking on the judge’s door.
Three hours later, I’m leaving the judge’s office after Lang’s team verified enough of the footage to know their case against Sasha is dead.
I’ve been assured all charges against my client will be dropped immediately.
It’ll take several hours before it’s all said and done, but Sasha will be released today and the police are already looking for Ronny Vasquez.
Relief floods through me at having accomplished the task I set out to do, but my heart is heavy as I get back in my car and make the inevitable drive home. I can’t put it off any longer.
Harper needs to know it’s over, and she needs to hear it from me. After all, I’m the only one who can give her the details she needs so she can write her article about Sasha’s release and beat everyone else to it.
Right before she sits down to write the one that will ruin my life and sever all ties between us.