Page 75 of Bad Situation

“Indeed, you have,” I agree and lean forward. “It’s been a long time and, from my father’s reaction, time does not heal all wounds. Why are you back?”

“Your father might’ve been a powerful man back in the day, but he can’t tell me where to live. Not anymore.”

“You’re crazy then. You should’ve refused my case.”

He tips his head. “If you think I’m going to turn down a slam-dunk just to avoid Kipp Montgomery, you don’t know me. My goal is to make partner. I was almost there with my firm in California.”

“Then why move and start over?”

He narrows those icy blues and gives me a hint of the old Trig—the one who never did anything without thinking it through completely before he finally relents. “My mother’s sick. I’ve cared for her financially since I started working, but now I want to see it’s done firsthand.”

I lean back in my chair and soften my voice because his mom is a saint who was dragged through hell for most of her life. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

He sighs and nods. I can tell his sentiment isn’t shallow like it comes across, but rather as deep as the black pits of the ocean. “Shit happens.”

“It does.” I couldn’t agree more.

He uncrosses his leg and puts his forearms to the table. “I’ve gone over your case and the briefing yesterday. You created a shit storm with that FBI agent. You’re not usually the rebel in the family. What else do I need to know?”

I think of Eli and this morning and how I can still feel where he moved inside me. Just the thought of him taking me for the first time warms me and gives me all the incentive to get this over with as fast as possible. It also makes me not give one shit about what my dad thinks. “His name is Elijah Pettit.”

“I know. I looked him up. He’s found unconventional ways to make cases in his career, that’s for sure.” He raises a brow. “You let an FBI agent get in your pants while they’re trying to hang a case on you for insider trading?”

I roll my eyes, because this is the Trig I know. I don’t answer but ask what I really want to know. “Are you going to fuck me over just to get back at my father?”

His face hardens as he leans back in his chair. “Kipp Montgomery isn’t worth fucking up my career over. I’ve worked too hard to get to where I am.”

“I know you have but, after all that happened, you can’t blame me for asking. I had your back years ago, even though it didn’t do any good. I need to know you have mine now.”

“What kind of asshole do you think I am?”

I lean back in my chair and don’t answer that because he’s right. He might’ve been an asshole, but not that kind. “I want Eli to look into things. I plan to give him access to what the PI had and see if he can find the trail that led to what happened yesterday. I’ll give him your contact information in case he needs to get with you. I also told Scott that the special agent leading the case against me had an internal investigation opened on her related to my case. I don’t care what you have to do, but use that. You need any more information from me, just ask.”

“You have a convenient fuck buddy.”

I ignore that too because Eli isn’t anyone’s business but mine right now. I stand and grab my Louis Vuitton. “I’ll take care of my father. I’m available whenever you need me.” I take a breath. “I can’t believe it’s come to this, but watch your back. Patrick is dead and so is the PI—I didn’t even know him. I’m not sure I can handle another mark on my soul, especially yours.”

He doesn’t get up but leans back in his chair and smirks. “I didn’t think you’d get all warm and fuzzy with me after all these years.”

I pull my bag up my shoulder. “Talk about a shit-storm, Trig. When certain people find out you’re back,” I pause and shake my head, “I don’t know. It’s not going to be good.”

His eyes turn cold again and gone is the guy I knew so long ago. “Doesn’t matter anymore.”

He’s right, yet he’s wrong. It shouldn’t matter but it will. My father’s reaction to seeing him today was nothing compared to what could possibly go down. I move around the conference room table and he doesn’t bother to stand to see me out. When I get to the door, I turn one more time. “It’s years too late, but welcome home, Trig Barrett. And you’d better be the rock star attorney Scott described. My ass is depending on it.”

He looks up to the side and promises, “Your ass will be just fine.”

And that makes me think of Eli because the state of my ass is important to both of us.

Chapter 20

Itchy

Bree Newman

A damn OPR investigation.

I thought Pettit was only fucking my target but now he’s fucking with me and my career.

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