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The attorney continued, “The young man they allegedly attacked has swelling on the brain. The hospital has him in an induced coma as they try to relieve the pressure. The cops are saying there’s a witness who saw the three young men running from the scene of the crime. One of the boys also recorded the attack. It was uploaded to the dark web for a short time. Although it was removed after only one hour, someone on the site downloaded the video. That person reported the crime and sent the video as evidence.”
Whipping her head around, her eyes landed on Max.
Sitting up straight in his chair, he began to speak. “He says he wasn’t there.”
The hurt must have shown on her face because he finally made a move toward her. Not willing to have her personal business aired in front of her boss, she turned away from him.
“Anything else, Mr. Valentine?”
Max’s voice broke in. “Kiana, not everyone in my family is involved. I’m not. Neither is my mother. Everyone else is questionable. Jeremy’s mother is also not a part of that life. His father, my youngest uncle, doesn’t seem to care either way. If Jeremy tells me he’s not part of it, I believe him. He’s only sixteen. Believe me, kids do a lot of stupid shit at that age.”
Glaring at him, ice wouldn’t have melted in her mouth when she spoke. “Are you excusing their behavior? As a business owner in our community, you should be careful how you speak about this situation outside of this room.”
“Well, Kiana, that’s the reason we want you as an advisor,” William interrupted. Maybe he sensed the tension in the room. “Mr. Bishop knows you; he trusts you. While it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to work as legal counsel on the defense team, I’d like your help to make sure that Mr. Bishop steers clear of any media traps. Plus, as one of his lawyers, you would be able to speak for him on any legal, media, or other public relations issues.”
While she knew this type of arrangement had been done before, she never expected to be in this position herself. Could she do this? Advise Max professionally while their personal relationship was on such shaky ground?
There was only one thought running through her mind. Max didn’t trust her enough to tell her the truth about his family. They’d been sleeping together for months, and not once did he give her any type of warning or heads up. Not one mention that she’d never be welcomed at the family reunion. Hell, she didn’t even know his mother had siblings.
He’d showed her only a sliver of his world. A small piece of his life. It allowed him to keep her hidden away. Out of the public eye where word couldn’t get back to his family members. She was his dirty little secret. Even if he weren’t racist himself, he’d behaved as if he were. Shame filled her as these thoughts flew through her brain in a matter of seconds.
He’d played her like a fiddle. Silly dreams of a future with Max faded into dust. Her wake-up call had come hard and fast. Stupidity was not a natural trait for her. To feel this way made her want to scream in rage.
There was no greater fool than a fool in love.
Max was right: he was the damn devil.
She’d already sold her soul to the monster in the form of orgasms, moans, and begging him to fuck her into oblivion. What was one more foray into the darkness?
Lifting her chin, she gave Max a cold look before sliding her gaze to the other two men around the table. “I have no problem taking on this role, William. You can count on me.”
