Page 1 of Double Standards
Chapter One
“Shit,” I mutter to myself as I stare at the television screen in morbid fascination. Every hair on my body stands on end as I watch the footage of a bagged-up body being wheeled into a black van with the word ‘coroner’ emblazoned on the side.
My boyfriend, Cooper, appears behind me, hovering over the back of the couch to get a look at what has me so captivated. I hear him shifting nervously as he watches the news reporter on the screen. “What’s up?”
“Someone killed the Mayor,” I murmur into my coffee mug, just as the news anchor shuffles the papers on the desk before moving onto her next topic.
“Damn,” Cooper drawls, slurping a sip of his coffee. “Do they know who did it?”
I shake my head silently, actively listening for more information. When shit hits the fan like this, it’s certain that my office is going to be buzzing with the news. “There’s talk about ‘The Five’,” I finally answer. “But that’s no surprise.”
The Five are the largest crime organization in America, made up of five ruthless Mafia families who are all out for the samething. Power and blood. There have been rumors lately of the families calling a truce, relinquishing their hold over the city, but that’s only gossip; word of mouth that has no substance.
This must be their way of telling New York they won't be standing down. That thought is unsettling, to say the least, because if they’re willing to murder the Mayor, is anybody off limits?
It’s common knowledge that the District Attorney has been working overtime to pin them down, one at a time. He’s been at it for years, trying to reform the city and create some semblance of safety and normality. It’s a futile attempt to battle the remorseless Five Families. Everyone knows that they have all kinds of tricks up their sleeves and money to bribe their way out of trouble.
Maybe this time, the D.A. has finally called check-mate and broken down the Commission that is The Five.
With an exasperated sigh, I push up from the couch, walking to the kitchen to place my mug in the sink. I feel Cooper wrap his arms around me, snuggling into my neck and breaking up my thoughts. “Speaking of surprises,” he purrs against my ear, “why don’t you call in sick today?”
I know exactly what he’s insinuating and I’m not quite sure why I hate the thought. It’s safe to say our love life has been lacking recently, but I can’t fault him for trying. We’ve both been busy with our own work—mostly myself—and haven’t really been making time for each other. It’s something I’ve been feeling extremely guilty about as of late, yet I can’t put off my job just to give my boyfriend a quickie.
Turning in his arms, I thread my own around his waist, giving his sweet ass a quick squeeze. “I wish I could, but I have to close this case today.”
It’s taken me two months to finally get my current client’s charges lifted. A man— who by all accounts should be facing at least twenty years in prison— is being punished with a mere slap on the wrist. But it’s not my job to judge and sentence. I’mhired to defend and I’m good at my job. It’s a damn miracle I was able to break a case as solid as this one so quickly, though. But today is the day my client will finally get closure, and I’ll move on to work on the next case that lands on my desk.
Sometimes being an attorney is a thankless job.
Cooper’s hazel eyes meet mine, his disappointment evident. His shoulders sag as he hangs his head, his sandy blonde hair sweeping across his forehead.
“Maybe we can go out tonight?” I suggest in an attempt to soften the blow.
While we’re arguably happy in our shitty little apartment in the Bronx, I can tell Cooper’s been restless lately. He thought by now he’d be living his dreams, but being a writer is difficult. Few publishers are interested in his fan fiction, but he’s dead set on making a living out of it, even if it’s the last thing he does. No matter how many discussions and conversations we have, the outcome is always the same. I work hard for my money. Cooper works even harder, but his income is pitiful.
He pulls away from me with a loud sigh, stepping across the kitchen.
“I’ll see you later.” I peck my absent-minded boyfriend on the cheek as I walk past him, his stubbly jaw scratching my lips.
“Laters.” He waves me off dismissively, settling at the kitchen island with his laptop at the ready.
By the time I make it to my office in Manhattan, the weather has started to turn. The drizzle of rain that falls from the skies is a morbid backdrop, a feeling of dread settling in the pit of my stomach. I always look to the weather for signs of how my day will turn out. Today’s forecast isn’t looking so great.
True to the weather, the day is miserable.
I head to court, and the case I’ve been working on for the past three months ends as expected, with my client clearing his name but unable to claim financial compensation. Still, he’s walking away a free man, despite me knowing the truth of his misdeeds.
It’s late afternoon by the time I step back into my officebuilding. As I make my way towards my office, I pause at my receptionist’s desk, reading the nervous look on her face and the glint of fear flickering in her eyes.
“I couldn’t stop him,” Jada blurts as she stands up from her desk, her gaze sliding to my office door.
“Who?” I follow her terrified gaze to the door of my office, where I see a man sitting inside. All I can see from this vantage point is his large back—and when I say large, I mean this guy is built like a brick shithouse. The fabric of his well-tailored suit strains against his muscular back and shoulders, his hulking form filling the seat opposite my desk to the point that I’m sure the chair will leave with him when he stands up.
It’s as if he can feel me leering, surveying him carefully, the man suddenly turns around, his dark brown eyes locking with mine instantly. If looks could kill, he’s teetering on the edge of an assassination attempt.
“Name?” I ask as I turn to face Jada.
She shakes her head in response, meaning she either didn’t have the chance to ask or didn’t push hard enough for an answer.
