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“Fraternizing with the enemy, huh?” I said, wrinkling my nose.
“They’re not all assholes, Stevie. There are a couple of them who we’ve allowed into our circle because they’re an exception to the rule.”
“That’s a tricky path to walk. What happens when you find yourself in court against one of them? Because you probably have, right?”
“You are correct, but business is business. None of us let the personal side of things get in the way of doing our jobs.”
I searched Brooke’s eyes and then asked, “So where am I to meet all of you this evening?”
“Mystic Bar. I’ll text you the address or you’re welcome to ride over there with me. After we call it a night, I can drive you back here to get your car.”
“I’ll ride with you. You can familiarize me with this city a little more. I swear, it’s a crazier maze than Austin.”
“You’ll get used to it and know it like the back of your hand in no time. And speaking of Austin. Do you miss it?”
“Yes and no. I miss the vibe of the city and also my dad, but I don’t miss running into my ex-husband and ex-best friend who are still there, shacked up together.”
“Understandable.”
I heard someone clear their throat, and Brooke and I looked over to see Jason. He was one of my fellow assistant district attorneys and he was standing in the doorway with a thick file in his hands.
“Hey, ladies,” he said, walking up to my desk. “Stevie, here’s another case for you to dig into if you think you’re ready for it.”
“Of course I am. Give it here.”
Jason smiled while handing me the file.
“Is that the case that Buchanan is on?” Brooke asked Jason.
“Yep, it is.”
“I see,” she said, looking back at me and grinning. “And he’s about to meet his match in you.”
“What makes say that?”
“Zac Buchanan is one of the defense attorneys we allowed into our circle because he really is an exception to the rule. Great guy, and he’s also a warrior in court just like you are.”
“Shit, he’s an old man, isn’t he? A king at what he does because he’s been doing it forever.”
“No, he’s not an old man. Zac is only thirty-seven.”
Brooke held my gaze for several seconds without saying anything and I wondered if something was wrong. I was about to ask her when she suggested I take a look at the case file and then told me to be ready to leave here at five and not a minute later.
After she and Jason left my office, I started reading over all the legal documents—several with Zac Buchanan’s neat signature on them. As of now, the man was still one of my enemies. An attorney from the shady side of the tracks. A man who chose to make a career out of defending the slime of this world instead of defending the helpless. An attorney whom Brooke and my new team of assistant district attorneys considered a friend. When the time came for Mr. Buchanan and me to meet, I would know within seconds if he and I were going to be able to pull off opposing one another in court while also remaining on friendly terms outside the courtroom. I’d know it by his handshake but especially by the look in his eyes. Both held energy, and I was ready to read Mr. Buchanan’s.
After I finished going over the entire file, I leaned my head back against my chair and took a deep breath. This case involved a four-year-old little boy who’d endured abuse from both his parents. Abuse fueled by their illegal drug use. Mr. Buchanan was representing the father.
There were a lot of things that I had no tolerance for and one of them was a parent abusing their child. It didn’t matter if the abuse was verbal or physical. They both left scars and now, I was going to do all that I could to leave my legal scar on the father of this little boy that I’d just read about. A boy who was the same age as mine had he lived.
6
#chemistry
Zac
“HELLO, MS. DISTRICTAttorney,” I said to Brooke as I walked up to the table where she was sitting.
“Hey, Buchanan! How are you doing?”
