ough the heavy mahogany doors, the scent of scorched lies and cheap cologne clung to t

y briefcase onto the desk with the kind of calm tha

me; he didn't even bother hiding it. And the defendant

s world and not with the name Moretti

ds to prove that my client was coerced, and that the true orchestrator o

to speak in public, but

is Moretti, caution is a l

mirrored the ones creeping up my spine. I exited through the rear gate,

pulled up, as if it owned the sidewalk; my s

a word," said the driver, su

nked

, as if his name was some spe

ingle nod, "You

help me

for years, and now it found

ted in mob invit

tation," he said.

someone, I should've... but instead, I slid

e, in anothe

laying. Just silence thick enough to choke on. We didn't drive far, ten

t wasn't at a mansion, or a hid

law firm downtown

e actua

oor," the

ay when you could run

ing with his back to me, looking out the w

said before I c

t bleeding into midnight, his hair slicked back

s if the ghost of him had visited my dr

Valez," I

dn't reach his eyes.

send drivers in

nd of calculated grace that mad

your hel

nk you can drag me into your mes

said, his voice quiet now. "I'm asking as a

w my heart

t have a

loser, "No,

ed around us

do you

t marriage

almost at the same time, and th

re in

olding his arms.

led through my head l

to a lawyer will make yo

es circle elsewhere," he said, eyes locked on min

ple won't see

t dare loo

cause they're

"Because they'r

fr

hit harder than it should'

suits and ties, I shredded evidence with precision,

this was my life, and thi

bought," I s

offering money". "Then what

een us stretch like a violin string before it snapped, "I

's that?"

d, "What

isappeared, about the people who framed you

d turne

ou know a

ut you, Adira, I've be

're

ly one who knows the truth, and I'm the only on

d how calm he was,

the part of me tha

stepping back. "I'll review it, and

ai

added, turning befor

es

'll bury you under y

is," he murmured. "The girl

me for someon

almost amused. "I know

his eyes sti

in

't walking awa

into the jaws of some

was something