Chapter Five #2
“Well, I’m sure he still has friends at the DA’s office. Now that you’re back in town maybe he knows of some single ones?” Izzy teased, winking.
Sammie turned a shade paler. “Right.”
They’d just finished ordering when the door opened and Mateo strode in, all confidence and crisp edges. Dressed in dark jeans and a blazer, he looked like a man with authority in his back pocket. Izzy stood, grin wide.
“Speak of the devil. Matt!” she called out, waving him over.
Lianna and Maisy turned, waving casually, but Sammie froze mid-sip. The glass hovered just below her lips, her knuckles pale where she gripped it.
“Hey,” Mateo greeted them with a relaxed smile when he reached the table. His eyes landed on Sammie and lingered.
“Samantha.” He said softly, nodding down at her friend. Izzy wasn’t sure she had ever heard her brother use such a gentle tone. He certainly hadn’t with her.
Sammie blinked like a deer in headlights, muttering, “Mateo.” Her tone was flat, her posture stiffened almost defensively.
Izzy frowned, sensing something off but unable to put her finger on it. Sammie was clearly uncomfortable. Had her brother pissed her friend off?
Mateo slid into the seat beside her, pulling her into a quick hug before declining a drink.
They chatted idly, Mateo answering questions with his usual composure.
But Izzy kept catching flickers of something unspoken between her friend and her brother.
There was a tightness in Sammie’s jaw, the measured calm in Mateo’s gaze.
Then, just as the conversation picked up, Sammie shifted suddenly, reaching for her purse. “I think I’m going to head out. Migraine creeping in.”
“Oh no,” Maisy frowned. “Do you want company?”
“No, no, I’ll be fine. I’ll grab a rideshare,” Sammie was already half out of her seat.
“That won’t be necessary,” Mateo said. “I’ll drive you. I was only planning to stay for a few minutes anyway.”
Sammie hesitated, clearly weighing whether to argue. Her jaw tightened as if she’d been challenged to a duel. “I’d hate to inconvenience you.”
“It’s no trouble,” Mateo smiled. “Car’s just up the street.”
He turned to Izzy and dropped a few bills on the table, more than enough to cover everyone’s drinks. Then he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“Have fun. Behave,” he said, giving her a knowing look.
“Thanks for coming,” Izzy said dryly, still watching Sammie out of the corner of her eye. “Drive safe.”
“I always do,” Mateo murmured as if she were an afterthought, already turning away.
“Thanks for taking care of our girl, big bro,” Maisy said.
That caused him to pause, something flickering across his face. Then he nodded and turned to Sammie, who was still frozen, half standing.
“Sam?” Izzy said, at the same time Mateo added in that stupid soft voice again, “Samantha?”
Wordless, Sammie thrust her purse under her arm and stalked out of the bar like she was escaping an ambush. Mateo followed, calm and unhurried, a stark contrast to her sharp exit. Silence settled over the table.
“That was odd,” Isabela’s brows drew together.
Lianna and Maisy shared a glance.
“Oh, I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Lianna said lightly.
“Totally,” Maisy added, sipping her drink. “She’s in good hands.”
Izzy narrowed her eyes but let it go. She knew something was amiss.
But if there was one person she trusted fully, it was her brother.
Isabela was finally having fun, not consumed with work.
She refused to invite trouble. It was unfortunate that she couldn’t spend any quality time with Mateo, but he was always dependable, always ready to help. That was just who he was.
Their final morning together came too soon.
Outside O’Hare’s Terminal 2, the four women stood in a tight circle, arms overloaded with bags and hearts reluctant to part.
Lianna and Izzy were on the same flight back to Seattle, which made it easier.
A buffer between vacation bliss and real-life chaos.
“You better text when you land,” Sammie said, giving Izzy a tight hug.
Sammie was thankfully feeling much better this morning. When Isabela had asked if she needed to punch Mateo in the balls, Sammie had gaped in horror before claiming she had no idea what Izzy was referring to and that she was only off balance last night because of her headache. Right.
“I promise,” Izzy swore.
Maisy kissed both cheeks. “And if you fall for the grumpy, insufferable client, who may or may not be hot, tell us so we can plan the intervention.”
Lianna rolled her eyes. “We’ll come armed with wine and legal disclaimers.”
Izzy laughed, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. “I’m not falling for anyone.”
“Sure,” Sammie said with a wink. “You’re completely in control.”
They all nodded solemnly, then collapsed into laughter. The hugs lasted longer than necessary, then they filed through security, moving reluctantly toward their gates.
On the plane, Lianna dozed beside her, using her shoulder as a pillow. Isabela pressed her forehead to the cool glass, watching clouds drift past. After a weekend full of rest, her mind felt clear enough to let the truth seep in. It was as sharp as her own reflection staring back at her.
Christopher Macklin wasn’t going anywhere.
Not from the case. Not from her thoughts.
He hadn’t all weekend. If he didn’t like her, that was his problem.
She had integrity, standards, and a career she refused to compromise.
She vowed she wouldn’t bend, wouldn’t chase the approval of a man determined to keep her at arm’s length.
Even as she made the promise, the truth gnawed.
Whatever war was coming with the DA’s office, Christopher Macklin was already in a personal battle with her. And for the first time in a long while, she wasn’t sure she could win.