Page 50 of Set In Stone

I shook my head in frustration. Trying to convince the DA to do what I needed without specifics was going to be more difficult than Ianticipated.

“Look, Alex is a very influential man in this city. You have first-hand knowledge ofthis.”

“I do, but it’s not only the city, Miss Cole. His influence spreads across thecountry.”

Itdoes?

I tried to process what he meant, wondering what else I didn’t know about my future husband. I knew Alexander had a slew of business dealings and properties in the city, many of which I didn’t know about. However, I didn’t know his reach went beyond New York. I had never even thought to ask. I pushed my unease over that bit of information aside, knowing that my current conversation was much more important than Alexander’s real-estateholdings.

“Mr. Green,” I implored. “Charlie knows things about Alex – things that Alex does not want to be made public. I can’t tell you the details of it, but just the threat of exposure is devastating to him. That’s why I need you to buy me time. I need you to make Charlie believe that youareconsidering a plea deal. I’m hoping, if you do that, it will make Charlie thinks he has a shot at a plea and will retract what he said to thereporter.”

“Miss Cole – Krystina, if I may,” he said, and I nodded. “You’re not giving me much to work off ofhere.”

I sat back and bit my lip, fretting over what I should and shouldn’t say. My hands were twisting nervously in my lap, when it suddenly came to me. I couldn’t tell him the whole story, but I could remind him of something that Alexander oncesaid.

“Did you go to the Stone’s Hope Gala? The fundraiser from a few monthsback?”

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at me. I couldn’t remember if Thomas was there that night, but Alexander told me that the newspapers and local networks reported on the speech he gave at the gala for a full solid week afterward. Even if Thomas wasn’t there, it was fair to assume that he would have at least heard about it. However, if he was actually present and was witness to the emotional words that poured from Alexander, the better positioned I wouldbe.

“I was there. Why do you ask?” Thomas questionedcautiously.

“If you were there, then you must have heard Alex’sspeech.”

“Yes,” he confirmed slowly, but I could see the dawning in his eyes. Alexander had told a story in that speech.Hisstory, although the people in attendance didn’t know that. Nonetheless, Thomas Green was anything but stupid. He was already connecting the dots. Instead of repeating the speech, I switchedtactics.

“Can you imagine if your children, little Olivia and Tommy, came from a life likethat?”

Thomas seemed to visiblyshudder.

“No, I can’t,” he admitted honestly. “My kids are loved. Protected. If only you could see some of the cases that come across my desk. They can be brutal sometimes. As for the speech Mr. Stone gave, are you telling me that itwas…”

He didn’t finish his question, but he didn’t have to. My sad and pleading eyes told him what he needed toknow.

“Please, Mr. Green,” Iwhispered.

He leaned back in his chair, removed his glasses from the top of his head, and ran a hand through his thickhair.

“I want to help you. I really do. If Mr. Stone was speaking about his own childhood at that gala, I can’t blame him for wanting to keep ithidden.”

“But?”

“But I don’t think you’re giving me the whole storyhere.”

I began to fidget and squirmed a little in my seat. I was going to have to be more open, but the thought of betraying Alexander even more than I already had, tore at myheart.

“Alex will kill me for saying this, but I see the front he puts on – all big, bad, and mysterious. But that’s just it. It’s a front. He views his privacy as the only protection he has from his memories. I don’t want him to relive it, or worse, endure press speculation that could cause more damage. I have to protect him. That’s why he doesn’t know I’m here. That’s why I tried to pull the confidentiality card withyou.”

He seemed to be contemplating his words before he leaned forward on his elbows and looked me square in the eyes. When he spoke, he adapted a softertone.

“It’s not often that I have people in my office who remember the names of my wife and children and ask after their well-being. I think you have a good heart. And, as much as Mr. Stone tries to come off as a hard ass, I think he does too. I’ve gotten to know the two of you pretty well over the past couple of months. I want you to talk to me – off the record. Not as a DA, but maybe as afriend.”

I shook my head, knowing that what he suggested was out of the question. Perhaps we had gotten to know each other well, especially when we were discussing the connection I had with my abductors. He knew Trevor wasn’t only a part of the kidnapping, but that he was also my rapist. However, I only divulged that information because it was needed for my testimony. I certainly wouldn’t consider Thomas Green to be someone I could openly confide in about Alexander and Justine. Their secrets were so much bigger than mine had everbeen.

“I already told you. I can’t, Mr. Green. As it is, I’ve said too much. I’m sorry, but it’s not my story to tell. You’re just going to have to trustme.”

“And if Idon’t?”

I frowned, not wanting to give him an ultimatum. It wasn’t my style, but I was desperate. I narrowed my gaze at him and kept my tone neutral, yet resolute at the sametime.

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