Page 123 of Beautiful Betrayal

“Mia says you will help her, help me protect my daughter.”

He considers that answer and then motions to the waitress and it’s not long before Delaney leaves, and thankfully she has security in the lobby that I didn’t know about until her departure.

She has just exited the restaurant when Reese holds up his phone. “I just got a text. We’re delayed an hour for court.” He motions to the table and we sit back down. “Her story is compelling and so is she. I’m on board if you both want me.”

“We want you.”

“Good. Now talk to me frankly. Because I don’t even know why the hell she’s being charged. What am I missing?”

“Nothing. She’s suffering because the ADA was out to get Grayson and I’m an extension of him. It’s unethical. It’s wrong. I’d like to see him lose his job.” I’m fired up now. “She shouldn’t have been charged at all.”

“Agreed.”

“And for her benefit, rather than raising immediate hell over this, I’m hoping your name attached to her case will make this go away.”

“And if we can’t, what is your defense strategy?”

“That she was the murder weapon his brother used to kill him and inherit everything.”

He arches a brow. “Come again?”

I lean in closer and lower my voice. “Friends of Mitch’s first wife say Jim is the one that outed her divorce filing, knowing that Mitch was violent. Shortly after Jim did that, Mitch and the first wife went on a ski trip to a family wedding. That was where the accident happened. Mitch was misdiagnosed with cancer at that time. With her gone, Jim thought he was about to inherit.”

“Jim does stand to inherit.”

“Not just inherit. Inherit billions, Reese. We’re talking Grayson’s kind of bank account here. It’s worth hiring Walker to investigate, and furthermore, Jim was whispering in Delaney’s ear, scaring her. I believe he got rid of wife number one and when that didn’t work, he needed wife number two to get rid of his brother. He used her as a murder weapon. He killed his brother. It’s at least, reasonable doubt.”

“It damn sure is,” he says, approval lighting his eyes. “Let’s start by me calling the ADA. If my involvement shuts this down, we celebrate tonight. If not, we look toward a trial and a win.” He pulls out his phone and I listen to him greet the ADA. “Let’s talk about Delaney Wittmore. I’m now on her legal team.”

He listens a moment and then he says. “We both know she shouldn’t have been charged. I don’t care how many billions she inherits. She earned it.” He grimaces at whatever is said and responds with, “I wonder if you could justify beating your wife, then? Or is it only okay if they get Chanel as an apology?” I don’t know what the ADA says in reply, but Reese grimaces. “He hung up. He’s unreasonable. There’s more to this than you and Grayson. He wants a big win with a big name attached. I’ve seen this syndrome before and it’s rotten. I have an idea, but before I share, I have to talk to Cat.”

We stand up and he says, “For the record, Jim using her, a battered wife, as a murder weapon to inherit is a brilliant crime by a dangerous man. Furthermore,” he adds, mimicking my earlier speech, “you catching onto it is brilliant lawyering.”

“It’s only brilliant if it works.”

“The words of a winning lawyer unwilling to count her chickens until they hatch. I do believe we’re going to be brilliant together.”

I smile and I appreciate his compliments, but right now, I’m already thinking about how I will actually do that: winning for Delaney. I already have a million plans in my mind. I need to get to the office and start building a case against Jim.

I motion to Jacob where he sits at the bar and the three of us head outside. We’ve barely stepped out of the building when a tall man with a beard comes out of nowhere and rushes toward me. He’s about ten seconds from grabbing me when Jacob grabs him.

I scream and Blake is suddenly there, pulling me forward and before I ever make it to the Escalade waiting at the curb, Grayson is out the door and running toward me.

Chapter eighty-two

Mia

I’m freaking out when Grayson all but drags me into the Escalade. I’m barely seated and he’s cupping my face and staring down at me. “Did he hurt you?”

“No. Jacob was fast. I have no idea what that was or who that was. How did he even know I was here?” I lean around him to Reese. “Are you okay?”

“I’m used to reporters,” he says. “They get crazy.”

Grayson twists around to look at him. “Was it a reporter? Do we know that?”

“I recognize him,” Reese confirms. “He is.”

Jacob climbs into the front seat and turns to face me. “Is everyone okay?”

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