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“I decide who I represent.”
“Not if it’ll be bad for you… and this will be. I can tell.”
“You don’t get to make that call,” she says. “Jon, you’re my husband and I love you. I take your opinion very seriously… more seriously than anyone else’s. But… but it’s stillmysay.”
“Phi, you’ve had one meeting with this woman, and look how it’s affected you. I saw you in the shower earlier. What happened… it’s barely been a year. That’s not that long ago considering what it was. If you take on this case you’ll have to hear what she’s been through, which could trigger bad memories for you. I’m not going to stand by as something like this slowly does its damage.”
She drops her gaze from mine and stares absently at her plate of food. “No one else will help her. What else can I do? You should’ve seen her… she was a mess.”
“If your firm’s got to take it, then give it to the other attorney. Let him handle the case.”
“Carlos,” she whispers, and then she nods. “Carlos is returning from vacation. He’s light on his case load.”
“Then it sounds like something for him to handle. That woman will still pursue justice and it won’t be forcing you to relive details about the Mill.”
Delphine’s the one who reaches for me this time. It seems we’ve both forgotten about our food as she slides into my side of the cushioned booth and puts an arm around my shoulder. It’s half of a hug considering we’re sitting down, but her cheek presses against mine, and I can feel the gratitude coursing through her.
She’s glad I’ve pushed her on this. That I’ve challenged her.
“Thank you,” she whispers in my ear. “You’re acting out of care… and I forget that sometimes.”
“Phi, tell me when things are on your mind. I’m not the best guy at handling things—you know better than anybody I can fuck up the emotional stuff—but I want to be there. I don’t want you bearing anything alone. Alright?”
She nods and kisses my cheek. “The same goes for you. I want to know your burdens, Jon. Don’t try to protect me from them. I’m your partner and we’re a team. And if Polk comes for you… I… I will make him pay.”
There’s such conviction in her voice, I don’t know whether to be appreciative or concerned. I settle on leaving the matter unresolved considering the heaviness of what we’ve discussed. Though I don’t like it and don’t want it, Delphine’s as protective of me as I am of her.
We leave Lil’ Woody’s with takeout containers and exhaustion from our long day setting in. I escort Delphine to her side of the car and can’t help the suspicious glance I give at our surroundings. We’re standing on a busy city street and there’s limitless strangers in the vicinity.
My thoughts drift to earlier with the car that had almost mowed me down.
The paranoia creeps up my spine, reminding me Delphine’s not the only one still struggling. I have bullet proofed everything around us and keep security 24/7 for a reason. I shut her door and walk around to my side feeling invisible eyes on me.
Maybe my imagination… or maybe for real.
4
delphine
Some handlethe news about the reassignment better than others. Carlos is fine with taking over the case. Sasha… not so much.
Heartbreak unfolds on her face, her brows drawing close. She spools a loose thread from her oversized t-shirt around her index finger and looks away.
Guilt sinks into me like a stone tumbling to the bottom of a lake. I rush trying to explain, justifying why the reassignment will work best for everyone. It’ll give Carlos a case to lead when his workload and clientele have been light. Sasha will get to pursue the justice she sorely deserves against disgraced former Mayor Bernstein.
And… it’ll help me keep my sanity, preventing me from cycling back into a dark place.
Though I hardly verbalize this—I only vaguely allude to preserving my mental health.
“Sasha, please express any concerns you have,” I say, grabbing a tissue box. I nudge it toward her end of my desk. “It’s best we’re on the same page.”
She gives a stiff shake of her head. “No… it’s okay… I don’t want to cause trouble…”
“I assure you, you’re not. Please don’t feel the need to censor yourself.”
“I… I trusted you,” she stutters. The thread tightens around the tip of her finger and turns it red. “I’m sure Mr. Quintino is capable… but I’m not comfortable.”
“Ms. Newton, I can promise you I will pursue this case rigorously,” Carlos says. “Ms. Adams is admirable in the amount of work she takes on, but she simply can’t handle a case of your magnitude right now.”
