Page 59 of Deadly Sins

I bit my lip. “Why did you bring me out here? Just to let me know you were on to me? That Joaquín figured me out? Congratulations, super sleuths. I basically told him I was Ksenya. Now do something useful and tell me about the trial. What’s your defense?”

Daniel signaled to his buddy to leave us alone. The other man walked back to the Cadillac.

“Defense? I’m still trying to convince him to plead guilty, but he refuses. Being a stubborn asshole must run in the family.” Daniel put his arm on my shoulder. I flinched away. “Sweetheart…he did do it.”

My heart sank. Were Grant and I the only people who believed in Joaquín’s innocence? “Why on earth would he plead guilty? He’s innocent. He swore to me.”

“Despite what he told you, told me, told your lover Grant, or told the cops, your brother is guilty. The sooner he admits to it, the sooner we can get him a reduced sentence. We could make it seem like an accident, manslaughter. He’d be out in five, and we could all move on. Well, maybe not you; you look like a porn star now. But I’m sure you could make sex tapes and find yourself a reality show.”

That was the point, asshole—I looked like this to get close to these men. Joaquín was not guilty. Why was this guy just volunteering all this information to me, anyway? What about attorney-client privilege? How could he be so dismissive, treating me like I was a joke?

My stomach churned, and my feet crinkled the leaves below. My gut told me something was gravely wrong. “You’re supposed to be protecting him. Be his advocate. Believe in him.”

“Look, honey, I don’t care about your ideas on the matter. Joaquín is losing it in jail. I think the current conditions are causing him to have mental health issues. He’s downright delusional. Fortunately, his breakdowns are good for me, because I might be able to show at trial that the stress of being a SEAL, having PTSD, and losing his parents made him snap. In any case, Joaquín desperately wants to see you again, and I promised him I’d make it happen. He’s going to call Grant and ask him to bring you again.”

“Grant doesn’t know I’m Mia. And he told Ksenya never to call him again.”

Daniel gritted his teeth. “If he says no, call me, and I’ll handle it. He knows how to obey orders for the good of the Team. And don’t worry, I’ll keep your little secret for now. Mainly because I find it amusing and want to see how far you’ll go. Who knows? Maybe you will uncover some deep, dark secret.”

Something about the way he said “deep, dark secret” rattled me. As if he knew there was a secret waiting to be unearthed.

“Maybe I already have.”

My comment barely registered on Daniel’s face. A cool smirk, and he grabbed his phone.

My eyes widened, and mania captured my brain. Despite all my acting abilities, I was unable to slow my dancing mind, contain my anxiety, and relax my twitching body.

“I’ll arrange to get you some cash for your troubles. I’ve taken the liberty of programming my number into your phone. As for the car, we had it towed, and we’re going to fix it up and deliver it to you later.”

Note to self: get a new phone.He probably put a tracking device on it like I had with Mitch’s. “I don’t need your cash. I can take care of myself.”

The other man walked over and handed me my purse and phone. I quickly rummaged through it to see if all the contents were still there.

“Nice to meet you, Mia. Tell Grant you were involved in a hit and run.”

“Look, Joaquín may trust you, but I think you’re a slimy prick. If you were doing your job, I wouldn’t have had to ruin my life.”

The men ignored my words and left the scene.

This entire event made no sense at all. Daniel was a lawyer, but the way he approached and treated me seemed more like the actions of a criminal.

I was reasonably close to my apartment. I could have easily called a cab, Autumn, or even Mitch to get me. But I needed to play the damsel in distress, at least one last time. Grant had shut me out; this accident was my golden ticket, especially because I needed him to go see my brother. As a SEAL, Grant would never turn his back on a girl in need.

I grabbed my cell.

“Hello?”

“Grant, I’m sorry that I call to you. I have no one else. I was in the accident, and the men gave me ride, but I do not trust them, so they drop me near to my house. Can you come get me?”

He paused and let out a long sigh. “Where are you?”