Page 4 of Miss Understood

He says my team, but I know what he means isme. In this business, sometimes you get on a good streak; sometimes it’s a hot fucking mess. And lately, I’ve been wading in piles of horseshit, trying to find my way out.

“It’s nothing personal, Jesse,” he says.

Except that’s exactly what it is.Personal. And not just because he’s doubting my abilities to close a case based on my recent track record. In this particular case, my sister is on the witness list.

Serena might not be a deciding factor in the case, but it doesn’t matter to me. I don’t like the idea of her getting caught up in a case with the last name Marchetto on it, whether it’s to help her friend or not.

Given the slight conflict of interest, I had to call in every favor I was owed just to keep this case in my hands. It’s something I get the feeling Brad is looking for an excuse to correct.

“And Luce? You’re officially bringing her on?” I ask.

Brad nods. “We need a strong team behind it if we’re going to make this work. The Marchettos hold a lot of power; we’re not just fighting for dollars in this divorce settlement, and you know it. Marcus was a kitten—Marchetto’s attorneys would have eaten him for breakfast. We either go all in or not at all.”

I hate that he’s right.

As unbearable as Luce may be to work with, she’ll hold her own better than Marcus did. She’s one of the most feared attorneys in the city for a reason. She’s aggressive, ruthless, and, knowing her, she probably eats still-beating hearts for breakfast.

“Fine,” I agree, not that he was waiting for me to. “But it’s my case, so Luce needs to stay in line. And my sister isn’t going up on the stand.”

Brad looks at me, not moving. He doesn’t argue, but he doesn’t promise anything either, and that doesn’t go unnoticed.

If I can help it, I’ll make sure it’s upheld anyway.

After all, Brad may be steamrolling me at the top of the food chain, but I’m still worth my weight at this firm, and I’m going to remind him why.

“Now that that’s settled,” Brad says.

It really isn’t.

“We should all sit down to discuss the details.” Brad starts to stand, and his eyes settle over my shoulder. I know from the snappy click of heels who is coming up behind me.

“Speaking of.” Brad smiles.

“The devil,” I say, meeting Luce’s icy stare.

She ignores me and forces a grin. “Brad.” She nods at him. “Mr. Davis,” she says just to annoy me.

I do her one better and take her favorite seat at Brad’s conference table. If we’re going to play childhood games, the ball is in her court. But Luce ignores the move and sits at the opposite end, flipping through her phone while Brad rummages for papers.

Something on Luce’s phone screen causes her eyebrows to crinkle, and she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth as she types out a response.

I swear she does that shit on purpose in an attempt to distract me.

Luce’s hazel eyes flick up as if she’s reading my thoughts, and an overconfident grin stretches her face.

“Everything all right, Mr. Davis?” she says, purposely raking her teeth over her bottom lip again. “You look a little flustered.”

I scratch my chin with my middle finger, and she rolls her eyes.

Some days, I just want to fuck her senseless. Bang the rage out of both of us. But that would require liking her enough to take her to bed. And every time she opens her mouth, I’m reminded why that’s never going to happen.

“We need a plan,” Brad says, handing each of us a folder. “We need to win this. And I need you to not rip each other’s heads off in the process.”

Good luck with that.

“We’ll be good,” Luce says with a sweet smile. The one she uses to make men fall for her tricks. And Brad eats it up. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s close to her dad or because he never had any kids of his own, but he’s fiercely protective over her and gives her just about anything she wants.

“Where do we stand?” I ask, cutting through the fog of bullshit.

---