Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 68143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
—Gunner to Lottie
GUNNER
“Hello?”
“Boss,” Yates said carefully. “I’m not going to be able to make it into work today. I had something come up.”
“No problem,” I said as I headed for the courthouse. “Just call Ramsey and see if he can pull someone off our other job and get over to yours. I can’t be there today. I have something.”
“No problem,” he murmured.
I hung up and slipped the phone into my pocket, wondering how many other calls I would be getting today while I dealt with this bullshit.
Just as I reached the door to head inside, a loud bark of “wait” came from behind me.
I looked over my shoulder to see Audric hustling up the steps that would lead him to me.
“What are you doing here, buddy?”
“Came to offer my character witness if I need to.” Audric shook his head. “Creole’s on her way as well, but she’s driving in from the airport. She’ll be a bit behind me.”
“Thanks, man,” I said. “Sutton’s on her way as well, but she had a few clients this morning that she had to do first thing. She’s coming after she’s done with that.”
“Sweet,” Audric grumbled. “I can’t believe they’re still fucking trying this. I hate them.”
A sniff from behind us had us both looking back to see the Combs heading our way.
The sniff had come from Paula, who’d likely heard Audric’s words.
Not that either one of us cared what they heard.
They obviously needed to hear that shit.
Hell, maybe they’d never heard the word no enough as a child, either. That was why they were both so entitled.
Audric greeted them with a leering grin and said, “Well, hello. Funny we’re meeting here of all places. Again.”
Neither one of them said a word as they walked toward our courtroom for the day.
Audric opened his mouth to reply when Malone stepped up to our side and said, “Audric, need I remind you that your passive-aggressive comments aren’t helping?”
Audric snapped his mouth shut. “I’m not doing anything.”
“Sure you aren’t,” she snorted and turned to me. “You ready for this? Where’s your fiancée?”
“Fiancée?” Audric whispered under his breath.
“Long story short, Sutton’s my fiancée for the time being,” I repeated lowly. “Text your wife and tell her not to act surprised.”
Audric shook his head, his eyes glittering with mirth. “She’ll be so excited to have a new friend. She’s always referring to herself as the oddball out with the club wives.”
“Searcy, Aella, Silver, and Baker aren’t welcoming?”
“They’re welcoming. But the rest of them have been here for a lot longer than she has, and she sometimes just feels a little bit alone,” he admitted. “I’m glad that you’ll have someone to help her.”
“Sutton’s really great,” I said.
“That’s so nice of you, future hubby.”
I looked to my back to see her coming out of the bathroom.
“When did you get here?” I asked.
“About ten minutes ago,” she answered. “My second client for the day had to be rescheduled because she wasn’t finished being embalmed yet.”
“Um, what?” Audric asked at the same time Malone replied, “What, exactly, do you do again?”
Sutton beamed. “I’m a nail technician. But I only see clients who are deceased. I work part-time, however, because I’m currently in training for the next Olympics.”
“You run?” Malone asked. “Which distance?”
“The 1500,” she answered. “Well, for the Olympics. I just started running marathons and find that I really like that distance as well.”
“I’ve always wanted to become a runner.”
“You should do it,” Sutton said to Malone. “It’s awesome.”
Malone nodded once. “Maybe you can share your number with me. I’d love some tips.”
Her phone beeped before she could say anything more, and Malone cursed. “Come on. Let’s go. This judge is a douche if you’re late.”
We all filed into the courtroom, but Audric waited to go in with me before saying, “What’s with that look you keep giving her? You look like you’re really into her.”
I was.
Which was honestly quite scary.
“She’s a good friend,” I whispered back.
“Sure,” he murmured. “There’s my girl.”
Creole came rushing in with her flight attendant uniform on and caught up to Audric.
The two of them sat in the back.
I sat in the front on the left side with Malone, opposite of the Combs, and Sutton pulled up a chair directly behind me.
The judge came into the chambers just a few short moments later.
“All rise!”
I stood up, smoothing the tie that Malone had urged me to wear despite wanting nothing to do with it.
The judge came stomping into the chamber, looking quite put out that he was having to be here in the first place.
Probably interrupted his round of golf for the day…
“Please be seated.” He threw himself into his chair, immediately scanning over the documents in front of him. “Lewis, what are we doing here today?”
Lewis, who was apparently the opposing council, stood up and tugged his shirt sleeve down into place before saying, “My clients have filed an emergency injunction to have Lottie Penn’s custody transferred to them because of an unsafe environment, and neglect.”