Page 66 of Ruthless Wars

“It was my prized baseball bat.”

She narrows her eyes, looking both confused and amused. “The mini bat that I gave you when I was eight?”

“That’s the one.”

The competitive athlete in her comes out quickly as she scoffs. “What a pussy.”

“I, for one, am grateful she didn’t grab the full-size one.”

Allison scowls. “I’m guessing she couldn’t lift it without breaking a precious nail. God, I can’t wait to kick her ass.”

“Hey, now. Is that how a lawyer talks?”

My scolding makes Allison think before she corrects herself. “I mean, God, I can’t wait to sue her for all she’s worth.”

Grinning, I pat her hand. “That’s my girl.”

With Avery and Gabe keeping a close eye on Allison, and both the police and my own team gathering every last shred of evidence against Simone and Travis, his arrest is imminent.

I head to my office. Sure, the exhaustion is hitting me like a Mack truck made of pure down and thousand-thread-count sheets, but I want to check out what Simone might have been up to. Did she get something else?

On the way up, I text Margot, eager to check in on her after one hellacious day.

coop: Hey, temptress. How are you holding up?

margot: Glad today’s over and can’t wait to see you. When? Where?

coop: Heading to the office now. My place? Four minutes?

margot: I’m right around the corner from your office. I can meet you there.

I shoot her the emoji with the winky guy blowing a kiss. Then an eggplant. And some lips.

In response, she sends emojis representing a shower, a peach, a banana, a lollipop, a tongue, and a bed. As I scan the string of tiny little images, amused as hell, I’m half a click from the L-word, so I romance her instead. Our way.

coop: How about a massage?

margot: For you or me?

coop: Good negotiations are about give and take. You name your demands. I counter.

margot: Chocolate-covered strawberries?

coop: Chocolate-dipped banana.

margot: Lap dance?

coop: Pole dance.

margot: Who’s on the pole?

coop: Who do you think?

margot: Almost there.

coop: Almost naked. See you in a minute.

I enter my office, flipping on the lights to their full brightness, and scan about for anything that looks out of place. I’m not exactly a neat freak, but none of my cheese looks moved. Before I can do anything else, another text distracts me.

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