Page 110 of Only Fate

Most of the time, it’s no fun speaking with attorneys.

We all share the same mentality.

I leave the office to find River waiting for me under a dark sky.

His car is next to mine. He’s leaning against the door, arms crossed, like a high school bully from an ’80s movie.

“He’s guilty,” he spits when I reach him. “Earl’s fucking guilty, and you’re an asshole for protecting him behind her back.”

I raise my hand, palm facing him. “I’m not protecting him. Let me explain myself.”

“Explain fast.”

“Let’s talk over a beer.” I rub my forehead, fighting exhaustion.

He scoffs. “Essie will kill me in my sleep if she finds out I had a beer with you.”

“One beer. And you can tell her you threatened to kill me.”

“I am threatening to kill you.”

I spread my arms wide. “We’re not lying, then.”

He nods toward his BMW. “Let’s go, then.”

A cover of “Sweet Caroline” plays in the background while the server delivers our drinks to our table. We’re in the back, away from the noise, and Jax is tending the bar.

While I’ve been sticking to Down Home ale lately, tonight, I need something stronger. And that’s gin. Gin has helped me through many late nights of working on cases.

“Listen, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt since you weren’t here when the accident happened,” River starts. “I’m sure you’ve read the case, but those files don’t include every detail.”

I scratch my chin, taking a second to answer so I can filter out sounding like a sarcastic ass. “The case file has all the evidence used in his prosecution.”

The file has more information than even River and his parents know.

He takes a sip of beer. “Before we get into the case, I want you to do something for me.”

I raise a brow. “What’s that?”

“Look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t come to Blue Beech to get information about Earl from Essie.” He leans in closer. “Tell me you weren’t using my sister to help him.”

I grimace.

Oh fuck.

I never considered that Essie might look at it like that.

That I was using her.

“I give you my word, I didn’t,” I reply. “I found out the same day you went to Essie’s and told her. I had no idea about Essie’s past until my mom handed me Earl’s file.”

“Why’d you hide it from her?”

“When we were in college, I made a mistake and fucked it up with her. I was scared of losing her again.” I swipe a hand across my face. “I planned to tell her everything.”

He scoffs, picking up his beer. “Eventually, you’d have had to. It was better now than seeing you at Earl’s side, defending him in court.”

“I’m not defending him.”

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