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“No.” Her shoulders slumped, and Sean wanted to pull her into his arms and offer comfort. “They trashed her reputation and must have paid off the jury somehow.”
“I’m sorry.”
Liv’s eyes flashed with anger. She hopped down off the table and stood looking up at him. “Yeah, everyone is sorry. That doesn’t change a damn thing. You have what you need. I’m going to go.”
Her words held so much pain in them, it was like a razor against his skin. He’d thought about Liv from time to time over the years, wondering what had happened to her. With the resources at his disposal, it wouldn’t have taken much effort to find out, but he’d never taken that step. Preferring to believe that she was out there somewhere chasing her dreams. Filled with the same bright optimism and beauty that had brought him comfort in her letters.
Hell, he still had them tucked away in a box in his closet. Sean had never been able to throw them away even though he hadn’t read them since he kicked her sister out. There was a bundle he had never opened that she had sent after the breakup. Back then he hadn’t had the heart to read them, afraid that she would hate him for leaving her sister.
Life had obviously taken a bad turn for her. Now that he’d seen the woman she’d grown in to, there was no way he was going to stick his head in the sand again. He owed her so much for the years of comfort her letters had provided. There was no way he would walk away and allow her to throw herself into danger trying to avenge her sister’s death.
Liv tried to push past him, but Sean blocked her by stepping back making access to the door impossible.
“You can’t go.”
She crossed her arms. “I can’t?” The growl in her voice was adorable and sexy as fuck, but Sean didn’t think she would appreciate it if he smiled, so he kept his expression stern.
“No. After I watch this, I may have questions.” That was the most logical reason, but the truth was he didn’t want her rushing out and putting herself in danger. He also wanted to know everything that had happened to her in the last ten years.
“That’s why we have these neat inventions called cell phones. Have you heard of them?”
The fire in her sent blood rushing towards his cock, triggering his dominant nature. He would love to spank the sass right out of her until she was trembling with both pleasure and submission. She had no idea of the size of the tiger on the end of the tail she was so recklessly pulling. Sean looked down into her glare, their wills silently battling until she looked away with a huff.
He cupped her cheek, turning her face until she looked back at him.
“I’m going to help you, Liv. If I could, I would keep you at my side until we have time to talk, but since that isn’t possible, you’re going to meet me outside the courtroom after the arraignment and we are going to go somewhere and talk. If I have to hunt you down, and believe me I will find you if you run, you won’t like the consequences.”
The way she gasped at his words made his cock throb. Her lips parted. She breathed shallowly for a few second then she pulled her chin out of his grasp. He let her go and watched as confusion and possible arousal crossed through her expression. Liv’s shoulders straightened, and she shook her head before returning to glaring at him.
“Yes Sir.” She flipped off a bad salute.
Sean knew he shouldn’t but couldn’t help the smile that slipped across his lips. He loved a woman who challenged him in small ways right before she submitted.
“Good Girl.”
* * *
Sean found Stephen Nachman after he watched the video with a mixed sense of relief and frustration. The video clearly proved that Bank hadn’t been present at the actual drug exchange. In fact, it proved that it was a payoff from Karen to kill his client. Talk about extreme relationship issues. What he didn’t like was that Liv had put herself in danger and the people this might put in jail would be coming after her if they knew she was the source.
At least two cartel members and several police officers were implicated in different crimes. He needed to make sure no one knew where this came from. He would have to have his tech guys scrub the video to be sure there was no link to Liv on it before turning it in as evidence. It meant he wouldn’t be able to use it today but maybe letting the DA know he had it would make him ease up on bail.
The two of them shook hands and Nachman gave him his patented political smile. “Arista, I didn’t think there was anything on the docket today that would interest you.”
“Doing a favor for a friend of a friend. I could say the same to you. Don’t you usually have first year assistant DA’s to do the busy work of arraignments?”
Nachman’s laugh was as fake as his smile. “Usually, but you know how budgets go. Sometimes we all have to pitch in. Who are you representing?”
“Justin Lewis.”
“The Biker from Texas caught selling drugs? I thought your company usually worked on the other side of that line. I hope you don’t think you are getting bail for him. He’s obviously the center of that mess and I can’t be going easy on out-of-towners.”
Sean hid his wince. That was the angle he’d expected. It is always easier to point fingers at people who from outside the city for what was really an internal problem. Hopefully what he was about to say would help even just a little but, if they were going to try to spin this for political gain, then nothing short of having the evidence authenticated would clear Bank of the worst of the charges. Even then, he might still catch lesser charges. There was no way to prove he didn’t know his girlfriend had those drugs with her when they crossed state lines, regardless of what she planned to do with them.
“Appearances can be deceiving.”
“Really?” Nachman looked skeptical.
“I have a video of the deal. Full color and audio showing that he wasn’t involved. Shows Luis Soto accepting the drugs from a woman in exchange for a hit.” No need at this point to muddy the waters with her identity. “My client wasn’t even present till the very end. I haven’t had time to fully review it, but once I get it to my team, we’ll submit it into evidence for the trial.”
