Page 104 of Beautiful Betrayal

“He made an offhanded comment about Delaney killing her husband for his money, which speaks of an opinion he shouldn’t openly have.”

“Did she?” Cat asks.

“I wouldn’t be representing her if I believed that,” Mia retorts quickly, sitting up straighter. “And there are a half-dozen police reports, documented bruises on her body, and a recording she made of him threatening her mother’s life that say otherwise. And while I’m not surprised that the evidence doesn’t matter to the press, it should to the judge on her case.”

“You really believe in her,” Reese observes.

“I do,” Mia assures him. “I do, or I would never bring this drama to Grayson’s firm right now, in the middle of all of this,if I didn’t feel this passionately about her. She was terrorized by that man.”

Reese sips his drink. “Who’s the judge?”

“Nickleson,” she says.

Reese grimaces and grabs a piece of bread. “He’s a bastard. You’re smart to jump off that ship if you can. Who’s the prosecutor?”

“Nick Reynolds,” Mia says. “And as I’m sure you know at this point from Blake, Ri was trying to set Grayson up through the DA’s office.”

“I’m painfully aware of that fact,” Reese confirms.

“Well,” Mia continues, “we now know that Nick has a connection to Ri. The honest truth here is that this poor woman has a stacked deck from me and this firm representing her, but Ri’s firm is without Ri. I don’t know what that will mean for its future and she trusts me. She begged me to keep her case.”

“What do you want to happen for her?” Reese asks.

“Honestly,” Mia replies, “she deserves to have the charges dismissed, but people love to hate pretty women who stand to inherit a fortune. I don’t feel like her odds are good.”

“I know Nick,” Reese says. “I don’t like him, but I have had some luck with him, but that aside for a moment, Cat has been researching this case. She’s been talking about it non-stop. It piqued my interest even before we sat down for this lunch. If you’re willing to talk about some sort of partnership, I wouldn’t want to steal the spotlight this brings your career. I do, however, want to help.”

“I don’t care about credit,” Mia says. “I care about my client, not me.” She turns to me. “Grayson?”

I stare at her, my beautiful Mia, her long dark hair around her shoulders, and I understand the question she hasn’t fully vocalized. She wants me to decide for her. She wants me to tell her to hold onto the case or let it go, and fuck, I want her to letit go. Delaney was just on the television. Mia will be in the press with her, and they will push her to talk about Ri. They will push her in all kinds of ways that might affect her in ways she doesn’t yet realize.

And even beyond that, the underground operation could use this to attack her and play it off as some crazy protestor. I want her to take this deal with Reese, but Reese will steal her spotlight and I made the mistake of pulling her from a case against her will once before to protect her. I won’t do that again. “It’s your call, Mia. It’s your case.”

“It’s your company.”

“And you’re about to be my wife.”

“That doesn’t change the business side of this. Grayson—”

“This is your case and your decision.”

“I want your opinion,” she counters.

“And I want you to do what feels right to you, Mia, not me. This isn’t about me.”

Her lips press together. “Stubborn man,” she snaps and turns back to the table, inhaling before she makes her decision. “This isn’t well-timed for the firm and I’m not Delaney’s best path to freedom. I haven’t fully processed that fact until now. This has all happened so quickly, but sitting here right now, I know that’s true. Honestly, Reese, she’d be better off with you. And this is a high-profile feather in your cap if you get her off. I believe her. I know you will as well. If you would consider taking the case—when can you meet her?”

He eyes me and then Mia. “Delaney feels comfortable with you, Mia. We should co-counsel, but I need to be upfront about a few things. I’d want to see the evidence and meet your client. Does she fully inherit?”

“Not fully,” Mia says, “but a hefty sum of money.”

Reese grimaces. “The family will try to take it if she’s convicted or even if she takes a deal.”

“They’ll try to take it if she gets off free and clear,” Cat murmurs.

“She and I have talked about this,” Mia replies. “I think she needs to go to trial. She has a daughter she doesn’t want to put through this. That in itself should tell you this isn’t about the money to her.”

“We need to change her mind,” Reese replies, “because the family might even go after her daughter’s money if she inherited. That said, though, frankly, with my present schedule, if she agrees to trial, we’ll need to move the trial based on my schedule. I’m booked six months out and bringing me in after what just happened to you will be an easy sell to the courts.”

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