Page 29 of Linc
“And that’s my cue.Remember the old adage ‘happy wife happy life’.”He pulls me in for a tight hug.“Love you, Lincoln.Take care of that woman of yours.”
“Love you too, Grandpa and I will.”
He steps over to Everly and gives her the same hug, then ushers Grandma over to their driver, where he’s holding the door open.
“I love your grandparents,” Everly says as we wave and watch them pull away from the curb.
“They are pretty special.”I wrap my arm around her as we walk over to where Dale is standing by our car.“Would you like some dessert?”
“Depends on what kind,” she bounces her eyebrows as we settle in the backseat.
“You and I are on the same page, angel.”I hover over her, catching her lips to mine.“Hope you don’t mind being tired tomorrow because I plan on having my treat all night.”
Linc
The last month has been both trying and life-affirming.All these years I thought I was living but really, I was walking through the motions of life.Everly has brought color to my black and white world with her bright smile and loving being.Just knowing her has increased my life expectancy.
These past few weeks have shown me that Everly is the one I want in my life.I know at what capacity, but I’ll give her some time to warm up to the idea of forever before I spring that on her.
Right now, I’m sitting in the courtroom with my client Dustin Barker, waiting for the jury to return with their verdict.The case was a clusterfuck from the beginning with our ex-employee trying to sabotage the case to get me disbarred.I’m just thankful we were able to catch it in time, before things got out of hand.
The case has been a nightmare of epic proportions.I have no doubt that my client should get off on the charges, as proper protocol and the chain of evidence wasn’t followed correctly, which makes DA Burt Button’s case look like a slice of Swiss cheese.There are too many holes in the case and not being able to use all their evidence, it looks as though the case isn’t linked to Mr.Barker.
When I first became an attorney, I was drawn in by the money and flashy lifestyle it brought.With each big win came more notoriety across the nation, which then, in turn, brought more clients with more money and the cycle continued after that.Being young and having the world thrown at your feet is a lot.The zeros in my account were never enough, so I worked and worked until another zero was added and my face was splashed on every news media outlet from here to the east coast.I thrived on it.It was a high; better than any drug I could inhale.
Until her.
Until Everly.
It was like she woke a sleeping giant.The cars and money and having my picture taken seems so petty now.She doesn’t give two shits about any of that.The only thing that she cares about is my time.To spend time together, connecting on such an intimate level that has nothing to do with sex.
Sex.
Now that is something that I’d never thought would be an afterthought.I’ve never been a saint and lord knows I am a man with needs, but it never seemed right, as most of our time is spent talking and learning something new about the other.
Two days ago, Everly pushed to move things further along.We’ve fooled around, but never crossed the line where I took that little ripe cherry between her legs.This case that I’ve been working on has consumed just about every minute of my day, and I didn’t want to rush through her first time, it should be savored, and she should be worshiped.That’s why I’ve been planning this for a week.
“Last chance to make a plea deal before your client rots in an eight-by-eight cell.”DA Buttons leans over the side of the table and into my personal space, interrupting my thoughts of how I plan the weekend to play out.
I can’t stand it when someone thinks they’re intimidating you.Imposing their authority, trying to beat on their chest to see who has the bigger balls.
Newsflash, I do.
“The only deal we’re prepared to make is how many zeros the city is going to give my client for his rights being violated during this circus you’d like to call a trial.I’m even betting that us trying our case in civil court is going to cost the city a shit-ton of money,” I counter.
The DA is sweating it and from the perspiration forming on his forehead and the sweat rings that are bleeding through his suit jacket, he’s not so sure that he’s got it in the bag.I on the other hand, know we’re getting a win.That’s what I do.I win.End of story.That’s why I get paid the big money, to manipulate the law to fit the way I want it to bend.Some might think I’m a low life for getting criminals off, but I don’t see it that way.If the prosecution was good at his job and did things the correct way, then my client would be spending life in prison without the possibility of parole because the actual evidence would show he killed his girlfriend and her lover.The DA doesn’t have a pot to piss in after I blew up every bit of evidence his detectives scoured.They botched up the entire case, hoping Mr.Barker was only going to stay with his court appointed attorney, who couldn’t find his head from his asshole.Yeah, I’m the guy you call now if you need to get out of a bad situation.
Buttons narrows his eyes, once again going for the intimidation route, when a voice booms over the room.
“Court will resume in five minutes!”
Buttons straightens, turning towards the front of the courtroom.
“I guess we’ll just have to take our chances,” I jovially say, while shoving my phone in my jacket pocket and papers in my briefcase.
“One of these days you’re not going to win, Thorne.One day you or that brother is going to lose, and it will be the most devastating thing you ever experience; not only to your ego but to your soul.A person can’t win every time; sometimes a hard fall is just around the corner when we least expect it.”
“But not today.”
