Page 116 of Breaking His Law

“You always have been the matriarch of meddling,” I say with a hint of humor.

“I’m the cement that holds you boys together.”

She really is.

If only she could cement my heart back together, maybe then I’d feel whole.

That’s a lie.

I only feel whole when I’m with Arianna.

46

ARI

“Just a water, please.”

“Not ordering something stronger? I thought we were celebrating.” Julie arrives at the empty bar I arranged to meet her at wearing a smile as smug as a pirate plundering treasure.

I need a clear head for this conversation. “Water is fine,” I reply.

“So if we’re ready to expose Hart Law, are we doing it this week or next?” she asks.

I play along. “I was thinking next week? Does that work for you?”

“Absolutely.” She motions to the bartender. “Martini with a twist.”

I drum my fingers against the wooden bar top, nervous of being seen with Julie in such a public setting, but it’s necessary. A means to an end.

“You look skinny,” Julie says bluntly. “It doesn’t suit you.”

“I’ve had a lot going on.”

“I hope you’re not changing your mind, Ari. Daniel Hart fucked your family over, remember?”

“Yeah. I know. I’m tired, that’s all,” I lie. “I haven’t changed my mind.”

“You sure you’re not pregnant? Fuck, that’s the last thing you want to give birth to. Satan’s spawn.” Her whole face screws up. “Although imagine the amount of child support you could squeeze out of the Hart family.”

My stomach twists like a nest of vipers curling round and round, making it feel like they are squeezing my heart. “I’m not pregnant.”

“Pity.” She shrugs dismissively. “You could have taken Nathan to the cleaners for child support.”

I would never do that. She’s disgusting.

“So,” I start, confidence filling my veins, “I was looking at the crash report and it’s fake.” Fuck her for thinking she could fool me once with telling me she would help me and my family, then twice for sending me a fake report.

Julie stops stirring her martini with her cocktail stick and side-eyes me. “No?”

She knows it is.

“Yes. The watermark is in the wrong place, the font is incorrect and the one you sent me in the post that you said was the original is not on government-issued paper.” And there was a spelling mistake in the word government in tiny letters along the footer. I got ninety-six percent in English, and I’m the one everyone asks to proofread their reports in the office. With the use of a magnifying glass, I caught Julie’s mistake easily.

I knew all of that before Nathan laid it all out for me in black and white in the boardroom.

I add, “My family’s car crash was an accident, Julie. I’ve read the case file.” At least a hundred times. I sit strong and stand my ground.

“Arianna?” She uses my full name as a question.

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