Page 93 of Breaking Conviction
Dean huffed, annoyed that his leverage was dwindling. “Okay, if you know where he is, you know how impossible it is to get to him. How’re y’all plannin’ on takin’ him out, hm?”
Vlad laughed. Fuckinglaughed. “And do you have a plan to do this thing?”
“Yes, I actually do. And I’ve already talked to the guy who can help. Y’all know him, but he thinks he’s got it too good to fully take a side. But I thinkIcan convince him.”
There was a pause on the other end before the Russian giant grumbled. “I am listening,durak.”
Thank fuck.
“I’ll tell you if you let me take my money and go. My girl and I are gone after this job, ya hear me?”
Dean had to make sure all the parts were moving in the direction he needed before they left. Once BlackStone was taken out, there wouldn’t be temptation for Naomi anymore. He could take his cut, get his family back, leave this fucked-up town, and never look back.
There was no way his contact would knowingly set everything up. The guy tended to like to play on the sidelines, but hopefully Vlad could take care of the rest. From what Dean understood, the boss wanted an in with the BlackStone Securities team anyway. Dean’s idea would benefit everyone, Vlad just had to agree to the conditions.
What had to be Russian cursing filled the other line. “I will talk to boss.”
“I have your word?”
“Da. You have my word I will talk to boss.”
“Alright, here’s the plan. First off, I need someone to pay my bond so I can get out of jail before they book me into gen pop tomorrow…”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“Ms. Ward? Can you come to my office?”
Ms. Ward?
Unease prickled the fine hair on the back of Naomi’s neck as she stood from her desk. Her boss, Gail, rarely used that tone for their meetings. She was Gail’s right-hand woman and they were certainly on a first name basis by this point. Something was wrong.
No, I’m just bein’ dramatic. I’ve got way too much on my mind.
Thirty-six hours ago, she’d stabbed her ex-fiancé. Twenty-four hours ago, she’d gone to a bond hearing with Wes to request that Dean be given no bond. It should’ve been an easy request and according to the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Britta Thoms, if they’d had Judge Powell it would’ve been a slam dunk.
Dean was charged with domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, a serious and violent felony that could catch Dean twenty years in prison. He could’ve been denied bond, meaning he’d have had to stay in jail until a trial. But no, the judge had granted him a measly twenty thousand dollar surety bond, of which he only had to pay ten percent, with barely any conditions other than no contact with the ‘victim.’
Fuck, was she starting to hate that word. She was getting why Nora corrected her so much in the beginning.
All of it was bullshit. Complete and utter bullshit. She stood up in front of the judge with bruises healing all over her. Now they’d stain her body for possibly longer than Dean would even stay in jail. It was no wonder survivors never came forward when the justice system screwed them over.
ADA Thoms assured her the State would go hard in the case, but she also said that Naomi should still be emotionally and mentally prepared to go to war. Thankfully, the prosecutor had at least been able to help secure a temporary restraining order. If Dean attempted to contact her, he could get arrested just for a simple text. Considering the texts Dean had sent her in the past, it’d sounded great in theory.
But a piece of paper can’t stop a bullet.
She shuddered as she busied herself, setting her desk straight in an attempt to calm her nerves before going to Gail’s office.
At least she had Wes by her side now. Even if you never need him, having a white knight at your back is always better than fighting a battle by yourself.
“Naomi?”
“Comin’!” She’d officially stalled for long enough. Damn, why was she so edgy? Was it knowing that Dean was out of jail already? Was it just being on constant alert for the past five years? She didn’t know, but she hoped it was all in her head.
Trust your instincts.
“Shit,” she muttered under her breath before she entered the office and pasted a bright smile for Gail.
“Naomi, please sit.”
