Page 80 of Lord of Justice

What have I done?

I have never seen Iris like she was, pale, and swaying.

Of course,I had never planned on telling her that I'd added the charges to her rap sheet. Why would I?

I thought she was still out with Rose, I wouldn't have had the goddamn speaker on and my door open if I thought she was home.

Slumping back down on my office chair, I stare out the window.

There was never a reason for Iris to know all the details. The result would have been the same. We're married. I believe she is happy here, with me. My obsession with her grows every day.

I’m used to analyzing every move and predicting all possible outcomes, so I'm always prepared when I take action. This time, I didn't factor this one in. I wasn't thorough. That was a mistake, and I don't make those.

Without thinking about why, I call Nik. "Brother!" He sounds delighted. "An unprovoked call from you? What's the occasion?"

"I… did something."

His voice sharpens with concern. "Are you all right? Is Iris?"

"When I called you to the house that day to explain my wedding to Iris…" I scratch at a slight watermark on the polished surface of my desk. Why is it here? I always use a coaster.

"Go on," he says. When I don't speak, his voice softens slightly. "Look, whatever happened, you can tell me."

"Iris was picked up by the Long Island police. That part is true. It was that piece of shit broker she and Rose had worked with, Jackson. He turned her in so he could get a better deal on a charge he was facing."

"What!"Nik's outraged. "That small-time piece of shit set up one ofourpeople?"

"I went into the system with Detective Connor and erased Jackson’s file, too, like he neverexisted. Then, I took him out, so there was no reason to worry about it."

"None of that is a surprise and I'm glad you did it," he says. "It saved us a lot of trouble. If she’d had to go to court and it was public, that would be a disaster."

"The attempted murder charge," I say, "the attack on a police officer, the other felony charges…" Why am I hesitating? I did what I did and I have no regrets. "I was the one who entered them into the arrest warrant."

I could really use a drink right now. Hell, I'd even drink Nik's shit vodka.

"What thefuck?"Nik explodes. "Why would youdothat?"

"Because Iris is extraordinary, and I needed her. She was a perfect fit as my wife, already a member of the family. Our marriage secured the nomination."

"Let me get this straight," he says. I can hear his shoes tapping, which means he's pacing his office. "You went in to handle Iris's arrest. Then you added all those horrific charges. Do you understand how terrified she was?"

"It was a moment of discomfort for the correct outcome." I'm surprised to hear myself, I sound so defensive. "Ihavemade Iris happy."

"So, why are you calling me sounding like someone just punched you in the heart?" Nik asks.

"Iris overheard me talking to Detective Connor today. Elana Carrington has been digging, trying to find some way to smear her reputation, thinking she is an easier target than I am, so I needed to be certain that there wasn't any trace. It's all been erased from the Long Island and NYPD databases." I pull off my tie and unbutton my shirt collar. The study must be too hot. I should check the thermostat.

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"She heard me. I've never seen her like this. She left before I could adequately discuss this with her, so she could see my point."

"Oh,fuck,"he groans.

"She said she could have forgiven me if I had told her about it, if I'd been honest. But what reason would I have to tell her? Why bring up something unpleasant when it isn't needed?"

"Brother -" he pauses. "Do I have any ibuprofen in here?" I can hear him open a desk drawer and shuffle around. "I know you don't think like the rest of us, but you are also the smartest man I know. It neveronceoccurred to you that telling her the truth was something she could handle? That she wouldn't value honesty over you keeping her in the dark on something this crucial? I can't begin to tell you how much groveling you'regoing to have to do to make amends for this.Ifshe lets you."