Derision: A Novel (21 page)

I can feel the anger thrumming through Chase, his muscles corded tight. I wince at the pain it causes my shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s all right,” I say, realizing he’s apologizing for a multitude of things—things he couldn’t have controlled.

After the sordid details are exposed, the man says, “Thank you, ma’am.” Then to Chase, “Sir, I expect you’ll take good care of her.” A slight smile tilts his thin lips. “And we’ll take care of your partner.”

“I’d rather see to that personally,” Chase says.

“Trust, Mister Larking. I assure you, he’ll be dealt with.” He nods once before turning away and leaving the building.

“Who did you call?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

“The captain of the police.” Chase arranges me on his lap so the woman can have access to my wounded shoulder.

I bite my lip as she inspects the gash. “The police captain sent those men?” I ask.

“No,” he says. “I think the call was intercepted. Wexler doesn’t have that kind of power.”

The medic raises her eyes to us for a moment, then precedes to cleanse my wound. “You’re lucky,” she says, bringing a clear packet out of her medical bag. “You only need a few stiches. Do you want a local anesthetic for the pain?”

I shake my head. “Pain doesn’t bother me.” I want this over. Just over.

Chase frees the band from my hair, then runs his fingers through gingerly, relaxing me as the medic stitches the gash in my shoulder.

My gaze locates the bullet hole in the metal wall.

Chase must follow my gaze, because he says, “You moved right in his path.”

I want to ease his worry. I want to tell him that I knew what I was doing—that I purposely knocked my shoulder into the barrel to direct the bullet away…away from both of us. But he’d hear the lie in my voice.

“I just knew I had to,” I say instead.

Once the medic is finished dressing my shoulder and packing her supplies, she glances between us. “I need to be able to tell my employer that the evidence will be handled.” She points toward the damaged wall that houses the bullet.

As Chase stands, lifting me in his arms, he says, “It will be handled.”

She picks up her bag and leaves, no more questions, no more directives, no more answers. Exhaustion finally claims me, and I lay my head against Chase, letting him carry me into the lobby.

“Do you know who intercepted your call?” I ask, letting his scent comfort me, now that we’re alone.

Chase releases a heavy breath. “I don’t, but I will.”

Placing me on a bench, Chase removes his suit jacket and wraps it carefully around my shoulders as he kneels before me. “You saved my life,” he says, cupping my face. “So now it’s yours. All yours. I belong to you, Alexis.”

I kiss him, deeply and tenderly. “We belong to each other.”

The chilly air outside greets us as Chase carries me toward the town car, where Jefferson opens the door. “I thought you might need my assistance, sir.”

Chase doesn’t acknowledge him as he seats me inside the car. I have to remember to get Jefferson off the hook later. He shouldn’t lose his job because of what I instructed him to do. For now, I let Chase hold me, and my thoughts struggle to make sense of everything that’s happened.

“You have to find a way to defend Malcolm,” I say. “It was all Mason. He stalked Malcolm…he stalked the women he met online—”

His arms tense around me. “Once I know you’re okay and I’ve tended to every bruise and cut—” he stops short, his gaze sweeping my face, and I realize what he suspects.

“Chase, he didn’t hurt me. Not like that. I promise.”

His eyes close, his jaw tight as he takes measured breaths. “Fuck, you should’ve let me kill him.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, pure fatigue taking hold. “I should’ve listened – I never should’ve—” His lips seal over mine, taking the rest of my desperate admission within himself.

Then I feel his hand slipping a chain around my neck. I pull back and touch the skylark pendant as he clasps the backing together.

“You got it back.” My relief at feeling complete again, wholly belonging to Chase, sweeps through me. I press my palm to his cheek, letting my eyes plead my case. Conveying it will never leave my neck again.

“The next man who dares to remove it won’t get off so mercifully,” he says, wiping the wet streaks from my face. “Now, I’m not always going to do the right thing, but I can promise I’ll always try.”

“Just kiss me.”

“A command I’ll willingly obey, temptress.”

C
hase

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I hang the framed quote by Lord Acton on my office wall. I’ve positioned it above my prized chessboard. It’s the first thing seen when entering my office.

I’ve thought about that quote often enough, but for the most part, considered it false. Having been in power for years, overseeing not only my practice but a thriving society of the elite, I assumed I was above corruption.

Only the weak are susceptible.

Now, I have a new perspective on the matter.

Without Alexis, had she never entered my law firm, I’m convinced I may’ve fallen victim to the same tactics and ploys my partners did. Their greed. Their willingness to tear down anyone who stands in their way. Mason, although a rare case, set the bar for what power is capable of. He suffered a kind of god complex, which he abused greatly with our clients.

Fortunately, Bates was an easy enough remedy. I say easy, but really, letting the ACA know the DNA was discovered with a faulty warrant wasn’t all smiles and pleasantries. The law is the law, however, and the Commonwealth had no other evidence to tie my client to the scene.

It was rather fortuities, saving everyone the expense and energy of a lengthy trial. I have a feeling that it wasn’t fortuities at all—rather my anonymous
friend
had some say over that warrant. The only fallout was the career of the inexperienced ACA.

I’m still neck deep in Mason’s cases, combing through each one to gather any evidence that he framed other clients for his illicit activities. So far, I’ve only uncovered two: Bates and one other client who was convicted of rape. I’m in the process of working with a judge to get his sentenced overturned.

Damage control. Once Mason submitted his formal resignation—generated, administered, and overseen by Gannet and myself—there was the matter of damage control to address. How much of what transpired was to be shared with the members of The Firm.

In the end, knowledge is the ultimate power. Mason’s…activities are best kept in secret with those I trust. Besides, the simple truth is I don’t know what happened to him. Not with any certainty. Not yet.

Mason has become a cautionary tale among my partners. The reason why I’m inciting change. I don’t think any of them are above that same kind of sick infestation. Hence the quote, and the reason why I’ve implemented a number of rules within Lark and Gannet.

Change was compulsory.

There’s a second verse to the quote that goes:
Great men are almost always bad men
.

Now this part…I don’t agree with. Sure, probably just about every member of The Firm is flawed in some sense; having been corrupted by their own power and wealth. And some have even gone to great lengths to make other bad men disappear outside of the law, but it was a necessary evil for the greater good.

As a lawyer, that’s a slippery slope. A dangerous one I need to be cautious of myself.

Caleb Mason, however, would not have served one day in prison. There are enough gray areas of the law to hide within. As he proved, he knew them well enough.

An investigation into Mason meant an investigation into The Firm. Someone—a very powerful someone—has more than their membership to an exclusive sex club to hide.

A soft knock sounds at my door: three quick raps. My chest tightens with anticipation as I give Alexis permission to enter. “Come in.”

She’s dressed in black today, a tight dress that hugs every sultry curve. The long sleeves are necessary, to hide her shoulder wound that’s still healing. It will leave behind a scar. Every time I look at it, I try to envision her courage, her strength, not the man who inflicted it. I think of her devotion, of my devotion to her, and that there are no bounds to our relationship. Otherwise, I’ll be tempted to confront every member and demand to know where that fucker is.

In all likelihood, Mason is dead. He was a dead man the moment I allowed those men to cart him off. Alexis and I discussed it once, and since the recovery of her brother, his admittance into the rehab facility, she was more than ready to put Mason behind us.

For her, I’ve accepted the outcome.

As she takes her knelt position in my office, I lean against my desk. I fold my arms, letting my gaze drag over every sexy inch of her. “What am I going to do with you today?”

She peeks up at me. “Anything my Master desires.”

My pants tighten, and I’m already kneeling beside her, sinking my hand in her hair and claiming her mouth. “There’s a brief I need revised,” I say, running my thumb over her swollen lips. “I want to think about you working on it with no panties.”

She nods against me. “Yes, sir.”

“And wearing these,” I say, bringing out nipple clamps from my pocket.

Her green eyes widen a little, giving me the response I desire, before she assents. “Yes, sir.”

“Come here.” I take her hands and help her to stand, essentially calming my racing heart before I have her bent over the desk. “Undo the buttons of your dress.”

She takes her time, painstakingly slow as she pulls the top button open. The buzz of the intercom snaps my patience. “Dammit.”

“Do you want me to address Julia?” she asks.

“No,” I say. “Stay just like you are.” I head around my desk and press the button. “Yes? Make it quick. Please,” I add, attempting to implement my own rules. Though with Julia, it’s merely a formality. She understands me better than most.

“There’s a man here to see you, sir.”

I blow out a long breath. “A name?”

After a brief pause, she says, “He’s adamant. Insisting you
know
who he is.”

My chest prickles with apprehension, and I glance at Alexis. “Behind my desk. Now.”

She moves quickly, refastening the top of her dress as I say, “Bring him in.”

I stand beside Alexis, my hand on the small of her back. When Julia leads the man in the black suit through the door, I raise my chin. “This is most unexpected.”

He waits for Julia to leave before closing the door with little noise, and then approaches my desk. His dark hair is slicked back, but in a tidy, classy way, not mobster. He’s nearly as tall as me, but slightly trimmer in build. “I’m to relay my employer’s hopeful sentiments that you and Miss Wilde are doing well?”

“We’re fine. Thank you.” I move a step closer, keeping Alexis tucked near my side. “You can tell your employer all is handled. I hope they appreciate that I’m diligent in keeping their privacy secure.” I narrow my gaze at him.

He smiles, dropping his head for a moment as he presses his fingers to the desk. “That was never a concern, Mister Larkin. I’m here on business. As it seems you’re now short a partner, my employer wishes to express their vested interest in seeing the position filled soon.”

His use of the neutral to describe his employer doesn’t escape my notice. I’m no closer to learning who he or she is than I was before, unfortunately. “That’s a matter for the practice, mister…?”

“Omega,” he says. “If you must refer to me, that’s acceptable.”

I nod. “All right. Well, Mister Omega, while I appreciate your employer’s interest, I’m inclined to now show you the door.” I wave my hand, pointing him in the direction.

He slips a hand inside the inseam of his suit, and I step in front of Alexis.

“Relax, Mister Larkin.” He fishes out a business card, then lays it on my desk. “This is the name of a remarkable attorney who has all of my employer’s backing.”

I pick up the card. “Ryland Maddox.”

“Yes, Mister Maddox will be running for the Commonwealth soon.” He smiles. “He would be a great asset to your firm, we believe.” He turns to leave, saying as he reaches the door, “We do hope you consider our suggestion.”

Once he’s gone, I head toward the door and flip the lock. I take a few deep breaths before I’m calm enough to sit in my chair, where I pull Alexis onto my lap.

“What do you think?” I ask, soothing my frustration further by running my fingers through her hair, slipping my hand along her back.

Resting her hands on my chest, she leans in to me. “I think it would be wise to have this Maddox person close, where you can determine his level of involvement with this member who wishes to remain anonymous.”

I huff a clipped laugh. “Keep your enemies close. Spoken like my queen.”

She licks her lips, effectively ridding my thoughts of everything other than her. “I learn from the best. Besides, maybe he has a good investigator he can bring aboard.”

“Good point.” I raise up and kiss her neck. “Hand me the card. I’ll start the vetting process for Maddox.”

Unfortunately, Sol had to go. And by go, I mean his face met with my fist before I had him tossed out of the building. It was an essential part of the company overhaul to get rid of our in-house investigator, who was leaking information to Mason at a price.

Trust is a difficult thing to find when dealing with the law. That’s why Alexis is here and not Gannet. I’m not convinced my named partner is entirely innocent—and I’m about to test that theory.

Keeping Alexis against me, I spin my chair around to tap the intercom. “Julia, please inform Gannet I need to see him.”

“Yes, sir.”

Roaming my hand along Alexis’s thigh, I find her gaze. “Are you content?”

“No,” she says, her eyes flicking over my face. “I’m happy.”

I bring her face to mine and take my time kissing her, my lips and tongue exploring hers.

Happiness is better than contentment. I have to agree. I never knew the difference before Alexis. And right now, I only have one thing hindering my complete happiness.

Lee Brooks.

Sol admitted he took that information right to Mason. What he didn’t pass along was the fact that my previous client was already in prison serving out a ten-year sentence on a rape conviction to which I did not represent him.

Mason obviously didn’t pay well enough, or he didn’t have enough time to gather all the facts. Either way, Alexis is content to let Brooks serve out his time without her charges being filed against him.

I, on the other hand, am only content to allow that as long as I have some say in how he serves that time. Having connections in high places—as well as low—comes in handy when you want to make someone’s stay in prison a little more…educational.

Ten years from now, Alexis is open to revisiting her stance. And I’ll be there to support her.

“Ready to play?” I lift Alexis as I stand, readying myself.

Her body slides along mine as I lower her feet to the floor. The knock comes at the door, and she winks before smoothing her dress down to let Gannet into my office.

I straighten my tie, then read over the card Mister Omega left behind. Just the name of the lawyer with his number and a stamped signature, signed: Alpha.

I chuckle. “Let the games begin.”

* * *

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