CHAPTER EIGHT
Non Contractos
I stared at my reflection in the window, sipping Dad’s whisky. Guests milled around the reception while I avoided William with the same dedication Dad used to avoid me.
I felt my phone vibrate in my coat pocket. Missed calls from Braxton were starting to pile up.
“Dante,” I muttered, ignoring the call. Dante would be quite a challenge. His attitude was like he didn’t care about the outcome of the case. All that mattered to him was the game.
I decided to head back to the middle of the reception and distract myself with casual conversations with people I see almost every day—because that’s what happens in small towns like Heritage.
“You can’t avoid your father all night.” My mother touched my shoulder. “Hugh can be quite stubborn, but he’s still your father and wants what’s best for you.”
“As long as that doesn’t mean getting in Will’s way,” I murmured.
My mother smiled. Her beautiful black hair was pulled back in a bun, leaving only the white streak in her bangs standing out from the rest. It was striking how her hair had naturally created that perfectly positioned streak.
“You two have always competed.”
“Yes, Do?a Layla Torres.” I smiled back. “And I’ve always kicked Will’s ass.”
“You always get what you want.” She guided me away from the groups around us. “But…”
“Of course there’s a ‘but.’” I grimaced.
“I don’t understand why you wanted to get involved in this case. This is one of those cases where the political game is stronger than anything.”
“Even stronger than the law, Mom?” I shot back. My mother had worked in politics for many years. She’d been the public relations officer for Heritage’s city hall before being transferred to Alta, where she became the governor’s personal advisor. That’s where she met Dad.
After retiring, she taught at the college I attended, sharing her expertise on the art of good narrative construction.
“I didn’t choose to get involved in this case, but…” I hesitated, not wanting to say everything racing through my mind. “Anyway… I want to make sure my client gets fair treatment, no matter what he’s done.”
“You’re picking a big fight.” She was right. But that didn’t scare me.
“I’m willing to see this through to the end,” I replied. “And I don’t care if it irritates Will or Dad. I’m doing my job.”
“Defending criminals.” My father’s voice came from behind me, and I took a deep breath.
“Mom, it was an incredible evening. But I need to go.” I kissed her forehead. “I have a lot of criminals to take care of.”
I walked past my father with just a nod, leaving him extremely irritated.
When I reached my car, I heard William’s voice behind me.
“Helena.”
“I really wanted to end my evening without this conversation,” I said, stuffing my hands in my back pockets. “I just want to go home and rest.”
“You were right.” William blocked the door before I could get in the car. “I just wanted to say I’m excited to face you in court for the first time.”
I stared at him. There was obviously something behind this—something that was making him smile like that.
“It’s just going to be a shame to see you so sad when I destroy your case at the first hearing.”
William was an asshole. One of the good ones. The kind you almost hate but can’t punch because deep down he’s a good person. He’s just so… much of an asshole.
“The problem with most men, prosecutor, is that you make a lot of promises. But all that self-confidence doesn’t even last the first round.” I pulled the door open. “Unlike you, I’m not competing with you. I’m doing my job… and modesty aside, I’m damn good at it.”
I got in the car and drove off, leaving William behind. Mini Hugh Torres was going to meet my best version, and she was a damn bitch.
As soon as I stopped the car in front of my house, the phone vibrated again. The screen lit up with the penitentiary’s number. This time I answered, pressing the phone to my ear and hearing the recording followed by a few seconds of silence.
“You said I shouldn’t send anything to your house.” Dante’s voice was low, almost as if he were right behind me. “I was wondering when the deadline would start since I haven’t signed any contract yet.”
My eyes darted to the entrance, where a package sat in front of my door.
“I hope it’s a bomb,” I said without thinking. “It would be the perfect ending to the evening.”
Dante smiled. I heard his breathing change.
“The family dinner didn’t go as planned?”
“I want to know how you know so much about my life when I know absolutely nothing about yours.”
“I’m a well-connected guy.”
“Did you call to tell me you broke the first rule of our agreement?” I asked, resting my head against the headrest.
“I wanted to know how your father reacted when he found out you were defending me.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“That doesn’t mean I haven’t been imagining how it went.”
“You should keep your mind on your trial.” I stared at the roof of the car.
“I can multitask.” His voice pressed heavy against my ear. “Besides, I’m in the hands of the best lawyer a man like me could ask for.”
“You don’t have to flatter me.”
“I will always do everything to please you, Helena.” The way the word slid into my ear left a metallic taste in my mouth. “I have to go, chérie.”
“Dante?” I called before he hung up.
“Tell me.”
“What’s in the box?”
I heard his breathing change, heard Dante sigh deeply. His voice came back almost victorious, like someone savoring my curiosity.
“A gift.”