Page 19 of Daddy's Laws

“You remember MaryAnn, our receptionist?”

Old anger, no less potent for its age, boiled in his veins. “You mean the one who helped a serial killer kidnap you and hold you hostage so he could murder you? Yes, I remember.”

“Ah… yes. That would be her.”

“What about her, Olivia?”

“Umm, well. She needs a lawyer.”

For a moment, he was too stunned to answer her. “Olivia Jane, you better not be calling to ask me to represent her.”

“It’s just, she can’t afford agoodlawyer and the guy she has basically told her to plead guilty and go to jail forever.”

He doubted it was anywhere close to forever, but Liv was obviously teetering between adult Liv and Little Livvy, which happened a lot when she was upset. “Then tell her to get a different lawyer.”

“Umm, well, that’s the thing. I sort of told her I would get her a new lawyer and that I happened to know thebestlawyer.”

“Let me get this straight.” He deliberately kept his voice as calm and even as possible, despite the fact he wanted to throttle her. “You want me to represent a woman who helped a man murder two women, who nearly murdered your best friend, and who kidnapped you and sent you to the hospital?”

“MaryAnn didn’t have anything to do with the murders. And I was only in the hospital for a couple of hours. Don’t be so melodramatic.”

“Melo—are you fucking kidding me? You could have died, Olivia!”

“And I didn’t, because MaryAnn shot the bastard!”

“Which wouldn’t have been necessary if she hadn’t helped him kidnap you in the first place!” How the hell could she even ask this of him? He knew she had a soft spot for MaryAnn, but asking him to defend her?

“I’m not saying she didn’t screw up. But, I just… she needs someone, Bryant. I think I’m the only person who’s even been to visit her since she was arrested.” Raising her voice slightly, she kept talking over the string of swear words he let loose at that revelation. “I don’t know if she has any family, but if she does, they’ve pretty much abandoned her. And hearing her talk about—abouthim, I don’t think she had any idea what he was doing. I definitely don’t believe she really meant me any harm. She honestly believed they were just getting me alone to confront me about being a bitch to her, which I was.”

“So this is what, your fucking penance for not being the perfect co-worker?”

“It’s my way of making sure the right person pays for what happened. Please, Bryant. If you won’t do it for her, then do it for me. Please.”

Fuck him, he’d always been a pushover when it came to Liv, and she knew it. “I’ll think about it. Give me until tomorrow and I’ll let you know. That’s the best I can do right now, okay?”

“I’ll take it. Thank you, Bryant.”

“Yeah, sure. Talk to you later, brat.”

Ending the call, he tossed the phone on his desk and stared at his untouched plate. It was a fucking mess, but his brain was already working, untangling the puzzle Liv had dropped at his feet. If MaryAnn was willing to testify, there was no reason she couldn’t get a much lighter sentence in exchange.

Fuck. Shannon was going to kill them both when she found out.

CHAPTER7

It was amazing what a long, hot shower and an orgasm could do for one’s mood. With a renewed bounce in her step, Shannon gave her reflection an approving wink before heading back down the stairs.

Bryant was stretched out on the couch, his laptop balanced on his knees, frowning at something on the screen. Despite the fact she’d just gotten herself off, her body still flared to life at the sight of him. And there was that sneaky little part of her mind that wondered if maybe staying in with him wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

But then he looked up at her, his eyes flashing with a hunger that matched her own, and she was reminded how dangerous a man like him could be. A man who wouldn’t be satisfied with a short summer fling. A man whose easy, natural dominance would have her falling head over heels like Alice down the rabbit hole.

A man who would rip her heart out and stomp on it when he decided he was done with her.

Fixing a subtle, flirtatious smile on her face to hide her sudden unease, she sauntered into the living room, letting her hips sway so his gaze was drawn to the flash of skin below her crop top. “I’m going out. I don’t know where, yet, and I have no idea what time I’ll be back.”

Where she’d expected to see irritation or even anger, she got only a small smile in return. “I appreciate the heads up. Be safe.”

That was it? Just… ‘Be safe’?

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