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“We held a press conference,” I remind him.
“Which did nothing to shift their interest. They’re all over, looking for you.”
“Wonderful.”
“I can just drop by later tonight if you want, bring the wifey and shit, and make it more informal.”
“That works. What’s happening with the investigation?”
“The Feds are involved and since I have connections, I’m getting constant updates.”
Alarm bells go off in my head. “Updates on what Blake?”
“Ri is gone, but the degree to which he tried to infiltrate your company and use it for criminal activity is what matters here. Right now, we’re trying to pin down every person involved. And you want us to do that. Anyone helping Ri burn you might be willing to burn you for their own gain. And I want you to talk to that attorney I told you about, Reese Summer. You just did a big deal with his brothers-in-law, Reid and Gabe.”
“Right. I know who he is. I haven’t met him, but I know his reputation as talented and honest. But why would I hire him, Blake? I own a law firm. A very large international law firm.”
“You need a criminal attorney to deal with the Feds, and someone impartial.”
“I need someone loyal,” I counter, getting the idea he’s not telling me everything. “And I have plenty of criminal lawyers on staff. Where are you going with this?”
“Any time the stinking Feds are involved, you want to watch your fucking ass.”
“This from a man who was a Fed? And I’m back to, where are you going with this?”
“There’s a reason I’m not a Fed anymore. One jealous fuck over there that hates you for your money and success, and this drags out. Reese’s name alone holds power. And he doesn’t work for Bennett. Ri infiltrated your operation. I like the feel of Reese being an outsider on this.”
And there it is, the reasons he’s pressing me to call Reese. “I’ll call him,” I agree tightly. “I’m taking Mia to lunch and someplace special. We’ll meet your men at the airport.”
“I’ll keep them out of sight,” he says.
I scrub the knot at the back of my neck. “I really don’t want to take Mia back to this shit.”
“You’re not taking her back to this shit. You’re taking her home, man. And it’s none of my business, but it seems to me with all you’ve been through, you both need to be home together. What time tonight?”
“Eight.”
“Eight it is. See you then. Oh fuck, I almost forgot. That ADA’s name you sent me. He’s dating a female ADA who’s connected to this Ri thing.”
“‘The Ri thing.’ I still can’t believe the degrees this man went to try to destroy me. He infiltrated my staff, planted who knows what dirt inside my operations, and then went to the Feds.”
“And that didn’t turn out well for him. My job, and Reese’s, will be to make sure we clean this up completely, so there are no snakes in the grass to bite you. Back to the ADA. What is this about?”
“Mia has a case he’s handling. She feels like a deal, and a light one at that should have been made and instead, she and her client are headed to trial.”
“We might be able to help her dig up something to turn the ADA around, but it sounds like you could request this guy hand off the case.”
“I suspect that’s what Mia will do, but I’ll keep you posted.”
We say a few more words and disconnect. I set the phone down and press my hands to the island. How damn deep did Ri get inside my operation? And how the hell did I let that happen?
“I didn’t know we were planning to move the island?”
At Mia’s soft, musical voice, I straighten and find her standing a few feet away, looking beautiful as hell—her long light brown hair wavy and a bit wild today. Her make-up is light, lips glossed pale pink. Eyes bright with engagement. “What are you talking about, baby?”
She closes the space between us with a sexy little shimmy to her hips.
“You,” she says, stopping in front of me, “forgot to tell me that we’re relocating the island. You’ve been pushing it all morning. We might need a contractor.”
I laugh, and I’m not sure I laughed a day when we were apart. “Is that right?”
“Seems that way.”
“You’re crazy, woman,” I say, taking her purse and setting it on the island we’re presently discussing before wrapping my arm around her shoulders and folding her close. “Crazy good. And you always smell so damn good. You make me want to lick you all over.”
Her hand settles on my cheek. “As good as that sounds, it has to wait.”
“Why is that, exactly?”
“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong, Grayson, or did you get so used to dealing with things without me that you don’t need me?”
