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“Nothing,” I said. “Just thinking about how I’m going to tackle all this.”
We had three major meetings today that would decide the fate of Lance’s son, Randy. Lance had already gotten the boy a lawyer, but I’d sent the case to an even better lawyer who would come up with the best legal strategy possible. The major problem remained the high-profile nature of this case and the fact that the assailant was still unrepentant, which would have to change if he wanted to stand a chance against a jury.
Plus, the girl wasn’t speaking out much about the issue.
It would take a miracle to get Lance’s sentence reduced, but I would try my best.
Tillie’s hand crept into mine, taking it and holding it as if trying to offer support. “Don’t worry too much about it. I know it’s a really big issue but try to just trust your instincts. They’ve never failed you before.”
“How would you know that?”
“You have the confidence of someone who always figures shit out in the end.”
I smiled at her. “And if that’s just a front?”
She shrugged. “Everything starts out as a front until it becomes a reality.”
I laughed, and as cheesy as it was, it gave me a little confidence. I’d pulled off heists in the jungle, for crying out loud. This was nothing.
After we landed and got through the security, I spotted Kuzo, who was once more waiting for us at the airport. I saw his eyes flicker over to Tillie when we walked over to him, but he didn’t say anything, and in typical Kuzo fashion, his expression didn’t even change.
I hadn’t informed him that anyone would be joining me, but I didn’t need to. Kuzo was quick on the uptake.
“Kuzo, this is Tillie. Tillie, Kuzo.” The introduction was more for Tillie’s sake than not since Kuzo probably didn’t give a damn who she was. Still, he extended a hand and said, “Nice to meet you, ma’am,” in what was likely the most polite tone he could ever manage.
Tillie, on the other hand, gave him the brightest smile. “Hi, Kuzo. Nice to meet you too. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
An eyebrow raised in disbelief as he uttered, “You have?”
“You have?” I chorused. I couldn’t remember talking much about him except regarding Lance. Oh, and the brief warning I gave her about Kuzo’s characteristic rudeness during the dismount from the airplane.
“I have,” Tillie said with a slight nod. “From what I’ve heard, you’re a very kind and caring soldier.”
Kuzo shared identical suspicious looks with me, and he seemed almost insulted when he said, “Thanks?”
“But Ezra, for some reason, thinks you have the temper of a grizzly bear.”
Kuzo smirked and nodded. “Yeah, that sounds more believable.”
Tillie laughed. “He, for some reason, warned me about you so much that I thought you would start growling the minute we got here. But you actually don’t seem all that bad.”
“No, ma’am,” Kuzo said. “I’m only an asshole to people who deserve it, and never women and children.”
“That’s good to know, then. I can sense bad men a mile away, and I don’t think you’re one. Besides, I already knew Ezra wouldn’t bring me around someone who could potentially hurt me.”
Then she turned to me with a smile that held far too much affection to be mistakable.
And she was so beautiful that I got lost in her eyes and wondered if the same love was shining from mine. I didn’t know how much time had passed, but by the time we looked away, Kuzo’s smirk had grown, but he coughed to cover it up.
“I parked around the back,” he said. “And we need to be at the mayor’s in under one hour.”
“Right,” I said. “Let’s head there first.”
The mayor’s mansion was a sprawling estate with all sorts of statues and gaudy ancient things that rich people liked. I didn’t know what it was about making a million dollars that made people want to buy a load of historical shit, but luckily, the urge never hit me, even with three billion and counting.
But contrary to how stuffy his estate seemed, the mayor was a stout man with a kind-looking face who smiled when his maid guided me into his elaborate study.
“Mr. Lawrence,” he greeted and smiled. “I’ve been wanting a meeting, but your secretary told me you were traveling.”
