Page 23 of Third Crime's A Charm
“But not everyone can afford the level of competence your clients receive,” she scolded but Truman didn’t flinch.
“My firm does more pro bono work than any other firm in the city,” Truman replied and Muriel’s brows jumped.
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“I can afford to do that because thoseallegedgangsters keep me on retainer. It’s attorneys like me who keep DAs and judges on their toes and keep the system working for everyone.”
“That’s a rather romantic way of looking at it, isn’t it?” Max replied but Truman shrugged.
“I understand why you don’t approve of what I do but Matteo is an adult and heisallowed to visit any part of New York he wishes, including Southampton. I promise that I haven’t broken any laws in transporting him here and he is free to leave at any time he chooses. Furthermore, there is no legal way you can compel him to return,” he stated in a steady, even rumble.
It was incredibly hot.
Matteo smiled as he slid his arm around Truman’s. “See? He’s a real attorney. And I promise, he’s treating me like a prince and I’m having a great time. You’re all worried over nothing.” He was stretching the truth a touch but he didn’t want them to waste another minute worrying about him. “I’d better call Eli. Reportback to Leo and tell him you have proof of life and I’m being spoiled in the Hamptons,” he said to Theo but he still didn’t look pleased.
“Are you sure you aren’t getting back at me for Oslo?”
“Wirklich, Theo?” Matteo shouted, his temper fraying. “I forgot my phone and I was having too much fun to go back to Manhattan for it. I’m truly sorry for making you worry but Eli was lost in his work and you were all so busy, taking Doobie home to Italy and Austria. I thought I’d be back before you noticed.” That part was true. Matteo thought no one would notice when he left his phone at Muriel’s and headed off to the party at Truman’s. “I promise I’ll call every day from now on,” he said and Theo finally let him go.
“They have no idea, do they?” Truman asked, shaking his head. “They believe you’re a flake who thinks he’s a socialist and spends too much time obsessing over his looks.”
“Everyone but Eli, but they mean well. That’s how I like it. Leo and Theo worry enough about Eli as it is. Speaking of, I should call him before he does something we’ll all regret,” Matteo said, then jumped when the phone in his hand rang. He answered it and raised it to his ear. “Hello?”
“Oida!”Elio yelled. “Who the fuck is this Truman Tennyson, Teo? I will burn…Southampton or wherever you are to the ground if he’s hurt you.”
“He has not!” Matteo said and shushed his brother. Matteo was hotheaded but Eli was mercurial and highly combustible. “I’m sorry I didn’t get in touch. I left my phone at Muriel’s.”
“How could you put me through this? And overa man?That is not my brother.”
Matteo shushed him even louder. “It wasn’t over a man, I just let Poldi and Theo think it was,” he whispered.
“Ach so! This is fuckery, then?” Elio asked excitedly, not missing a beat. “Need help?”
“I think I have it covered but I’ll let you know.”
“Are you sure you’re alright? This Tennyson sounds like the Devil, Teo.”
“Nee! He isn’t so bad. I think you’d like him, actually,” Matteo said. “He’s smart and gives even less of a fuck about what other people think than you do.”
“If you say so. I have work to do if you aren’t chained to a radiator.”
“Nothing that kinky, I’m afraid.”
“Schade. Bis dahn,” Elio said before he hung up, making Matteo laugh.
“I love you too.” He tossed the phone at Truman. “There you go. Crisis averted.”
Truman snorted wryly. “Your family is?—”
“Don’t talk about my family, Truman,” Matteo warned, shaking his head. “I don’t want to have to fight Neville.”
“I was going to say refreshing,” Truman said with a dismissive swat. “I thought you were stealing because they ignored and underestimated you but they’re nothing like I was expecting. They’re surprisingly decent for royals.”
“I told you, we weren’t raised like that and we don’t care about any of it. I do it for the rush and because I can do something good with the money.”
“Like what?” Truman asked but Matteo ignored him. That was none of his business and Matteo would never put any of his contacts in danger. He had created a stable network in the city, allowing him to safely move the items he stole without anyone noticing or suspecting.
“You have your secrets and I have mine. What has Neville learned since yesterday’s briefing?” Matteo asked sweetly and headed into the bathroom to wash his face.
