Page 43 of Barristers & Bones

Ivan’s eyes narrowed to slits. “I’m sure it was her little hacker roommate who researched us. I take it Luna still doesn’t know about her father’s involvement.”

I shook my head.

“Are you going to tell her?” Drakos asked.

“No.”

We all stood silently for a moment, and then Drakos sighed. “I hate being reminded of that vile shithole. It was the endless days in solitary for me, staring at that cracked ceiling. I see those mother fucking cracks in my sleep sometimes.”

“Plotting revenge is the only good memory I have,” Ivan sighed. He gazed at me. “Are you still going through with your fucked up plan?”

“Probably.” That was the best answer I could give him.

“You’re a bastard, and I need to let off a little steam. You up for me punching you in the face this afternoon, or are you too afraid to get your ass kicked?”

It was a good idea. “I’ll meet you at the gym after I drop Luna off at school. I’ve got some aggression to burn off too.”

“Good. See you around two.”

My feelings for Luna had run the gambit since she’d walked into our offices. When Klim told me who she was, I’d reveled in the irony and started mapping out my revenge. But then I’d gotten to know Luna, and the irony had taken on a whole new meaning. Because I was starting to like that evil snake’s daughter.

Chapter 13

Luna

The tax law quiz had been a beast, and I mentally thanked Drakos for going through valuation with me. That test question had been a convoluted, nasty word problem that I’d relished solving. It had been similar to my conflicted feelings about Roman.

Over the past month, I’d started to thaw toward him. Thinking of Roman made me check my phone. He’d gotten into the habit of texting me after an exam or presentation to see how it went. I pulled out a cinnamon bear from my pocket and brushed off a little lint, then bit it in half and read his text.

Roman: How’d your tax law quiz go?

Luna: It was taxing. I just walked out.

Roman: A tax pun, huh? I don’t have a good return.

Luna: Was that a tax joke? I can’t tell.

Roman: You give me too much credit.

Luna: Was that a tax joke too?

Roman: Let’s stop there. Fiona asked me to meet her at Euphoria. I’ll pick you up.

I stopped and the two students walking behind me had to split up to avoid plowing into me.

“Sorry,” I mumbled as I looked down at my phone. I typed out a reply, slightly annoyed he’d just demanded and didn’t ask. But the field trips were always interesting, so I let it go.

Luna: Sure, I’ll come. Meet me at home in fifteen minutes.

Roman refused to call or text me when he got to my apartment, instead he always came inside. This time, I waited for him on the stoop as I watched dusk fall over the cemetery surrounding the funeral home.

He grinned when he saw me. “Are you that excited to see me?”

“No, I’m that excited to see Euphoria on a Thursday night. It’s probably different than a weekday at noon.”

Roman inclined his head. “True.”

He wore black pants and a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked like he was picking me up for a date. That stray thought sent my pulse pounding, but ideas like that were dangerous.

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