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Cole comes into the office and avoids me completely, which works for me. This is the first time I’ve seen him since the incident, and I’m just going to pretend he doesn’t exist, and if he ever tries anything again, I’m going to punch him in the throat.
I don’t miss the irony of the lawyer being an asshole and the biker coming to save me.
Even snakes wear suits.
At work, Jaxon calls me into his office, and I sit down opposite him. Jaxon Bentley is one of the top criminal defense lawyers in Southern California. When I moved away from my parents, Aunty Faye put in a word for me with him. She told me that he was the best of the best and if I had to learn from anyone that wasn’t her, it had to be Jaxon. And she wasn’t wrong. Normally, named partners have nothing to do with new associates. But Jaxon is very hands-on, doesn’t micromanage and welcomes other people’s thoughts. That being said, he will put you in your place if you screw up and he’ll do it in front of everyone.
“What do you need?” I ask him. I wonder if I should tell him about Cole, and about how uncomfortable I now feel around him, or if I should just pretend the whole thing never happened. I don’t want to make waves since I’ve only been here a few months and I can certainly be professional. I decide to not say anything unless I absolutely have to.
“I have a new client for you. He’s currently at the police station, so you’re going to have to head there right now,” he explains, handing me a file. “I don’t really know much about him, but he was referred by his previous attorney, who is out of state at the moment. I’m doing this as a favor.”
“What are the charges?” I ask as I open the file.
“I think the easier question would be what aren’t the charges?” Jaxon says in a dry tone. “He was arrested for breaking and entering—he was found staying in a home of a couple who were in another country, and he also has drugs on him and a slew of outstanding arrest warrants. See if you can get him out on bail.”
“Okay, I’m on it.”
“Thanks, Natalie,” he says with warmth in his tone. He’s a good boss, wonderful even, and I’d hate to have to leave this place because of Cole. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Will do.”
I get in my car and drive to the police station, squaring my shoulders before I step inside. I go to the front desk and ask to speak to my client, and they take me to a holding room. When they bring me out, I freeze, because I know who this man is.
I quickly open the file and double-check his name.
Marcus Reddington. It didn’t register until I saw his face.
My new client is Marko.
The same Marko the Wind Dragons and Knights of Fury have been hunting for.
The same one who wants to kill Rhett.
I inhale and compose myself. I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do, but I need to be cool and play the part accordingly. I am a professional. I am an attorney. What would Aunty Faye do?
I hear her voice in my head:I’d bite my tongue and do my damn job and do it well. While also figuring out a way to turn this fucker in.
“Hi, Mr. Reddington, my name is Natalie Ward and I’ve been assigned as your lawyer from Bentley & Channing Law.”
“Can you get me out of here?” he asks, oblivious to who I am. Thank god. “Money isn’t an issue; I can pay whatever the bail is set at.”
“I’m going to do my best,” I say, running through the motions. “Are you willing to surrender your passport?”
“Sure, sure,” he says. “Hey, you look familiar. Do I know you?”
I glance up at him in confusion.Please do not recognize me.“I doubt it. Now, can you tell me if you have a place to stay if you get out on bail?”
He gives me another look, but answers. I ask all the appropriate questions, and then I tell him I will talk to the district attorney to see if I can get them to agree to bail before his arraignment, which is scheduled for tomorrow.
I don’t know what to do. I don’t think he recognized me, thank god.
I should tell Rhett. It’s not just him. Atlas, Decker...everyone I care about has been looking for this man. He has put us all in danger before, including my own sister. He cannot be free to torment my family again.
But I also have my ethical obligation to maintain client-attorney privilege. Is telling them that I know where he is a violation? Yes.
More importantly, do I care if it is? Yes.
Fuck.
