Chapter 6
Roman
Please leave a message after the tone.
I slam the phone back onto the receiver. I want to find the person who voices the answering machine message and crack their head wide open. Fucking annoying.
Where the hell is Atlas and Kortez?
I was arrested last night and have heard that damned voice about fifty times already, but I had to try once more before going into the courtroom.
I tried to push back the date, or just pay off the judge completely, but this judge knows who we are. This judge is in Wade’s pocket. Which means I have to go through a real trial, with a lawyer my family didn’t pay for, and hope for the best – at least until one of my brothers calls me back.
Unfortunately, they haven’t been answering their phones - meaning they either died or were captured while on their assignment. That’s the only reason their phones would be playing that damned message.
I shake my head, running my fingers through my hair as I clear my thoughts. I can’t worry about my brothers right now because I have my own problem to deal with.
No contact with my family means no money for the judge and no contracted lawyers while stuck in a city run by a rival gang and in a jail run by a judge paid by my family’s number one enemy.
I’m so fucking screwed.
A knock sounds on the door, and I slide the phone into a hidden pocket in my pants right before an officer walks in to escort me to the courtroom. He doesn’t say anything as he grabs my elbow, jerking me toward the door with a bruising grip.
I remain silent but allow my eyes to linger on the officer’s face, committing him to memory so I can bruise him in return when the time comes.
The courtroom is fairly empty as he walks me down the aisle, only stopping momentarily to open the small gate that separates the bare gallery from the well where a stern-faced bailiff is waiting for me.
I look over at the table where my court appointed attorney should be only to find it empty. “Where’s my -“
The doors behind me slam open, the sound echoing as everyone in the courtroom turns to look at the newcomer.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
It’s the woman from the club.
The woman who took my gum directly from my mouth.
The woman who had me searching all over the club social media pages for hours in my cell this morning to see if I could catch even a glimpse of her face.
Now she’s walking toward me, her hair disheveled and her suit jacket missing a button as she makes her way through the gallery gate. I don’t even think she’s noticed me yet.
“I am so sorry, Your Honor. There was a cat stuck in the hood of my car, and I couldn’t just leave it there so - “
“Enough, Counsel Patton. I am not interested in excuses but luckily for you, your defendant was also behind schedule. I was about ready to charge him with contempt.”
My lawyer, sex-on-a-stick Counsel Patton, nods her head, “Thank you, Your Honor, for your patience and generosity. If I could please just have a moment to get acquainted with my client.”
Judge Thompson nods his approval as the officer shoves me down in my chair.
“Prick.”
Her head whips over to mine at the sound of my voice, her eyes widening once she realizes who I am. She shoots a glare at the bailiff until he walks away, giving us the semblance of privacy on our side of the courtroom.
“What the hell happened last night?”
I raise my eyebrows as I watch her ass fill the chair next to me. It’s perfectly round. The perfect size to watch bounce up and down on my cock.
Fingers snap in front of my face and I realize I’ve just been staring at where her ass meets the chair instead of answering her question. Maybe I’m not so fucked after all.
“I’ve been framed, Counsel Patton.”
She narrows her steel gray eyes at me, the move sexier than it should be in the middle of a courtroom. “Well, I should be able to get you bail considering I don’t have all the details yet but be prepared to pay high since we are talking about mass murder.”
I shoot her a smirk, “You make it possible, and I’ll have no trouble paying.”
She watches me for a moment before nodding, offering her hand out to me. “Evangeline Patton.”
I take her hand, shaking it a single time before bringing it up to my lips and pressing a soft kiss on her palm. “Roman Bavone.”
She smirks, laying her briefcase on the table and opening it to pull out two notepads and a few pens. “Nice to officially meet you, Roman. Put your game face on, we’re about to talk our way out of a murder charge.”
One million dollars in bail.
Not only that, but Counsel Patton is now directly responsible for me and anything I may get into between now and the trial – which could be next week, next month, or next year.
Needless to say, Evangeline is not happy about it.
“I thought when you said this judge was an asshole, you meant he didn’t give out lunch breaks!
” Eve throws her hand up in the air as she spins around, her eyes darting around as the person on the other end of the phone responds to her outrage.
“Yeah, well, he made me responsible for my client! How is that even legal?”
The person must say something she doesn’t like because she groans and hangs up, throwing her phone into her briefcase before closing it up.
I clear my throat from where I lean against the wall of the courthouse, “So, is it legal?”
She laughs, the sound hollow as she shrugs and wipes a few stray curls from her forehead.
“Who the hell knows? Sawyer says he’s never heard of a judge pulling anything like this before, but he doesn’t think it’s expressly against the rules.
” She groans and stomps her foot, making me chuckle at the sight of my attorney stomping her foot like a child. “I just don’t understand.”
I do. I can’t tell her, though.
The moment I tell her the judge has it out for me because he’s working for a man whose only mission is to bring down my family’s criminal enterprise is the day she locks me in the state penitentiary herself and throws away the key.
I shrug, pushing off the brick wall and walking over to her.
“Who knows? I’m going to look at this as a good thing, though.
I’m out on bail and you held your own in there, way better than most lawyers I’ve seen who are way more seasoned than you.
I think we have a good chance of getting me off the hook. ”
She levels me with a glare. “Getting you off the hook? I thought you were framed?”
“Tomato-tamato.”
The wind picks up, taking some of her curly hair with it. I smile as the annoyed look on her face grows. “I swear to God I’m going to chop all this shit off one day soon.”
I shake my head, reaching out to try and tame some of the wildness. “Don’t do that. Your hair is way too beautiful to ever cut.”
My fingers catch on a chain she has around her neck, bringing the whole thing out of her blouse. A diamond ring glints off the end of the necklace – a ring I haven’t seen in a decade.
My hand freezes and she grabs the chain and shoves it back inside her shirt, diverting her eyes away from mine. It’s obvious she doesn’t want any questions about it, but I can’t help myself, not when the answer could change everything.
“Evangeline, where did you get that?”
She shakes her head, “No where, it’s a stupid ring from a box of Cracker Jack.” She turns and motions for me to follow her, “Come on. If I have to keep you out of trouble for the unforeseen future, you’re coming with me."
I follow her, my mouth turning dry. Not only have I immediately caught feelings for the woman who holds my future in her hands, but I think I may have found the woman my brothers have been searching for the last ten years.