Page 91 of Barristers & Bones

Ivan grinned at Luna. “He wasn’t joking about the sex dungeon. How’re you doing?”

“I’m better now that the semester is officially over. Where’s Arthur?”

Ivan rolled his eyes. “He takes Fridays off. When he found out we usually work a six-day workweek, he told me I needed to get a fucking life. How come you didn’t tell us he’s family?”

“I didn’t know you planned to buy my exit strategy out from under me. He’s not the staid, dry attorney you thought he was, is he?”

Ivan shook his head. “He has more connections than Al Capone.”

Xander walked in, and Luna stilled. When she set her drink down and watched him pensively, I realized this was the first time she’d seen him since I told her what happened to him at the Ranch. She got up and walked over, touching his arm.

“I’m so sorry, Xander,” she murmured. “I didn’t know about my father’s ownership in the Ranch.”

He shook his head and patted her shoulder. “You were just a child, we don’t blame you.”

Luna glanced over at me, and shame settled in my stomach. “I don’t thinkyoublamed me. Thank you for that.” Xander carefully wrapped his arms around her as he stared at me over the top of her head. I met his gaze and raised an eyebrow because the quiet motherfucker wasn’t going to make me feel guilty. I didn’t want to ruin her now, but I sure as fuck wanted to keep her, and maybe that was worse. Luna stepped back and smiled up at him.

I didn’t like it. I stood behind her, palmed her stomach, and pulled her into me. Xander watched her face as I leaned in and kissed her neck softly. When she reached up and curled her arm around the back of my neck. He smiled. “Let’s eat.”

The moment passed, and we filled our plates with chicken piccata and antipasto salad while we talked about the past week.

As we finished up, Gideon walked into the conference room with a grim expression. He motioned me with his head, and I followed him out.

He didn’t waste any time. “Fiona called. One of her dancers was attacked in the parking lot of Euphoria about an hour ago. They have Lionel on video, looking right at the camera.”

“Fuck. Do you know which dancer?”

Gideon cocked his head. “Why? Do you know any of them personally?”

“No, but Luna does.”

“Ah. I’m not surprised.”

I stepped into my office and called Fiona. “Talk to me.”

“Lionel Strack and another man I didn’t recognize cornered Misty in the parking lot.” Fiona paused, and I could hear her breathing heavily. “Roman, they stabbed her in the stomach and chest, then kicked her in the face as she lay bleeding. She'd be dead if Samuel hadn’t been watching the camera feed, waiting for her to arrive.”

I palmed the back of my head. “Fuck. How bad is it?”

“Her lung collapsed, her intestines were probably nicked, and she lost a lot of blood. They likely fractured her cheekbone, and she’s in surgery right now.” Her voice went husky. “I need Lionel topay.”

Fiona never lost her composure, and she was the consummate business partner, but this had turned personal for both of us. I hung my head and leaned a hand on my desk. Misty was one of Luna’s friends.

“Text me Samuel’s contact information, I’m sure he’s at the hospital. We’ll send someone to help him guard Misty so he can focus on her. Don’t let any of your employees be alone in the parking lot. If you plan to stay open, you need additional security. Let me know if you want our help with that.”

“I called the police, and I plan to go to the media. That fucking drug syndicate needs to rein him in. If they won’t, I’m going to smoke that bastard out.”

I straightened and stared out at the brilliant blue sky. “If we don’t give them the courtesy of informing them first, this could blow up in our faces.”

“I don’t give one flying fuck right now!”

“You need to keep the rest of your people safe. Think, Fiona. Be smart. Give me twenty-four hours and then you can go public.”

“Fine,” she bit out. “You have until tomorrow at three.” She hung up.

I walked into the conference room and shut the door. Luna was the first to sense something was wrong.

She gazed at my face when I walked in and stood up. “What happened?”

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