Page 108 of Hearts Storm

My laptop tips to the side as I sit up in surprise. “Yeah,” I answer, shifting its position back in my lap. “You’ve heard of him?”

“Who hasn’t?” Mia pipes up.

Ari leans back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest with a knowing grin. “Oh, I’ve heard of him, alright. Heard plenty about him, too.”

“From who?” I ask.

“Couple of colleagues at the firm. One of them worked with the attorney who just quit on him.” She rolls her eyes. “Apparently, the guy’s a grade-A asshole. Like, next-level difficult. Refuses to listen to legal advice, shows up late to meetings. Rumor has it he once threw a chair across the room during a deposition.”

My stomach sinks. “Seriously?”

“Dead serious. My friend said his last lawyer walked out mid-case and told the partners he’d rather lose his license than ‘deal with that asshole any longer.’” Ari snorts, using finger quotes. “So yeah, I can see why he’s having trouble finding representation.”

“Shit.” I chew on my bottom lip. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea, then?”

“Wait.” Mia holds up a hand. “Ari, you’re not actually considering taking him on, are you?”

A familiar fire ignites behind Ari’s eyes as they narrow. The same fire that got her through law school while working two jobs and sleeping four hours a night. The same fire that makes her absolutely terrifying in a courtroom.

“Are you kidding me?” She leans in, face filling the screen. “Difficult clients are practically my specialty. The bigger the asshole, the more I want to put them in their place. Plus.” She pauses, a slow grin spreading across her face. “I’ve actually been to a few of his fights.”

My jaw drops. “You have?”

“Hell yeah. I’ve been an MMA fan since college. My dad used to take me to fights when I was a kid.” She waves a dismissive hand in the air. “The guy’s a beast in the ring. Undefeated in his weight class for what, two years now? Outside of it, though...” She trails off, shaking her head. “Total train wreck.”

“Since when do you watch MMA?” Mia chimes in.

I shake my head. “And how did we not know about this?”

“Since forever. You know that framed poster in my office, Mia? The one you said looked like a motivational poster for a gym?”

“The one with the hot, ripped Adonis standing in the middle of an octagon looking up at the camera?”

“Yas, girl! That’s Dex Saint,” Ari laughs. “And he’s got a huge fight coming up next month. Some title defense against that Russian dude—Kazakov or whatever his name is. It’s all over the sports blogs.”

I gawk at my friend who’s beaming at me through the screen. Of all the things I expected from this conversation, this wasn’t it.

“So you’re telling me,” I say slowly, “not only do you know who Dex is, but you’re actually a fan?”

“Of his fighting, yeah. His personality? Not so much.” She shrugs. “But that’s what makes it interesting. I already know his fighting style, his record, his tendencies in the ring. Knowing his background could actually be useful if I were to represent him.”

Eyebrows raised, Mia and I exchange a knowing look.

“Oh, no,” Ari squawks. “Don’t you two get any ideas.”

“You like him,” Mia and I say together.

“No.” Ari shakes her head emphatically. “Nope.” She rolls her eyes toward the ceiling. “Never in a million years would I even think about going there.”

Mia and I raise an eyebrow.

“Fine,” Ari throws her hands in the air. “Maybe I fantasize about him when I get myself off. But that’s it.”

“Are you going to his fight next month?” Mia wonders.

“Wouldn’t miss it.” Her face lights up. “Hey you two should come! Rey, you could even ask Brex if he wants to go. That way we can hang out. I miss you.”

“We miss you,” Mia smiles.