Justice

The office opened at six every morning due to the early nature of lawyers and getting the worm before the other vultures do. I am one of those employees that get there at six so I can leave early, as I have many Lady Guardians duties that needed attending. This did not include the man who made it his business to come to my club every day this week.

The elevator reached the fortieth floor of the high-rise building and in my haste to get to the office, I ran right into someone. Thus, dropping my bag, muffin, and keys.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” I exclaimed as I quickly bent down to retrieve my items.

“No worries,” a familiar voice sounded above me. “I shouldn’t have been standing there.”

Oh boy.

“You?” I pointed, while still squatting on my haunches.

“Me,” he smirked, displaying one deep dimple on his left cheek.

Great.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him as if I were okay with the carpet mites taking my muffin away.

The man merely smiled wider and answered, “Looking for you, sweetheart. You got your bodyguards at the club, but here, I can come here. And best of all, it is not odd that I’m here. It is weird that I am constantly staking out an all-women’s motorcycle club. I just tell people my girlfriend is in there, but they always ask me why I’m not in there with her. I tell them she’s a man-hater, who started a club that I can’t even be a part of. It’s a whole story, I’ve concocted but the old ladies think the Lady Guardians are sweet little women who ride those treacherous bikes. Miss Oden think you are superwoman, because she saw you flip someone over your shoulder. Even though she said, you’re skin and bones. Need to fatten you up.” He held up his hands and continued, “I didn’t say it. She did. Hell, I’ll take you just the way you are. Even that sassy ass mouth.”

My whole being was tight with what could have been a mixture of anger, amusement and confusion jumbled together. The man was fucking crazy. What in the hell was he talking about?

“What are you doing here?” I repeated my original question.

“Told you I’d see you tomorrow.” This time, that megawatt smile was turned all the way up.

“You see me, now leave,” I, on the other hand, wasn’t turned all the way up.

“Sweetheart,” he said with an eyebrow lift. “You don’t know me, but you know enough about the past week and dare challenge me on my tenacity and grit. I will outrun you, outlast you and wear you down.” He held out his hand. “My name is Alaric, yours is Eva. When will you let me take you out, Ms. Wyatt?”

After shaking my head, I picked up everything that I dropped and proceeded to my office with the man on my heels.

“Excuse me, can I help you?” I said loud enough so anyone in earshot could hear me.

“I asked you a question, so you can help by giving me an answer.” He replied in a casual tone as if he had all the time in the world. The arrogance on this guy was so massive, he needed a spaceship to get around the absurdity of what he was requesting.

“You can’t,” I shared and began to place the various items on my desk.

“That word is not in my vocabulary,” Alaric informed me with a smirk. “I can do anything that I want.”

The rumble of laughter burst through my carefully concealed demeanor.

“Your arrogant ass would say something like that. Look, I’m not sure if you know who you’re dealing with but if the word can’t, is not in your vocabulary, please know that never is in mine. You can’t wear me down. Wait, better yet, you will never wear me down. You can stand outside my club or office all year. It would not matter, but what will matter is when I get a restraining order against you. Therefore, Mr. Alaric, you and I both know that wouldn’t be good. So, please leave me alone. I’m not interested in a date, catching up or being friends.”

Slowly, I sat down in my chair, lifted the top of my laptop and began to do my work. This was my modus operand.

Home.

Work.

Club.

“That’s because we haven’t been on a date yet.” He nodded with assurance as if he just knew.

One of my eyebrows quirked up at him, then I shook my head in disbelief. It seemed that he received the hint, because he waved, turned and made his exit.

“See you soon,” he called back.

I did not respond because I did not want to give him any reason to return. I continued to type away at my desk. Three minutes later, a knock rapped on my door, causing me to lift my head, getting ready to tell Mr. Alaric that I had no time for his shit. Instead it was Scott Ebon, one of the partners that was just appointed two years ago. Granted, he came in after me, brought in less billable hours than me and colored his nose brown, darker than his naturally tanned coloring his Italian roots gave him.

For the past three years, I’d inquired about a pro-bono division of the firm. Scott Ebon was not really trying to hear that but I was persistent. Since he was my direct supervisor, we worked together, more than the other partners. They were very strict with their rules, not like the convent firm, but we weren’t far from it.

“Eva,” Scott nodded at me when he entered. “I have some good news for you.”

“A raise, wow. Thanks so much, Scott…” I laughed.

“Well,” he let the word linger. “It’s not a traditional raise, but it’s a department that we want you to manage.”

He sat down, while I sat up to hear this proposition.

“You’ve been trying to get the pro-bono division of the firm to take on more, so we’ve just partnered with the state on a project that will specifically take this firm to another the next level. We pride ourselves on exclusivity. However, there is much more billable hours and money to be made, even in the pro-bono sector. We want you to head that up!”

My mouth was wide open as I processed what Scott just offered me. The chance to do exactly what I’ve been trying to do until I can branch out on my own.

“Are you serious?” I exclaimed and rose to my feet, my excitement getting ahead of me.

“I would not kid about money,” he nodded with a stern look on his face. “It does come with a management stipend and a liaison from the State. This is all doable for you. I mean, you run circles around the other lawyers. Peter, Dan and I think this is the perfect thing and you’re the absolute best person to run it.”

“Wow, Scott. I’m honored, excited and just over the moon. I’ll need to know specifics, who’s my contact and what are my resources, but it all sounds great. Please tell the other partners I am appreciative of their vote of confidence in my abilities.” I didn’t know what else to say.

Actually, I was in shock.

“Yes, will do. I’ll shoot over the M.O.U., right away and the liaison will be over tomorrow. This will allow you to get started right away.” He stood up. “This is going to be great.”

WOW.

I was so happy when I went home, then rode my baby Lucy, or the official name, Harley Davidson Sportster 883, to the club. The ladies were tossing them back, and I even had a couple on a work night with the news that I just received.

“Justice, you look like you just won the lottery,” Rasha smiled up at me, as she watched Martin on the main tv in the compound’s front area.

“Yeah, big day at work.” I shared. “How are you?”

“Good, just staying here until folks at the house go to bed. They are working my nerves.” She shook her head.

Rasha, had been a member for a few years, and I wanted to vote her in as the Road Captain, but she’d been reluctant since she had a sibling at home who battled with mental illness. She did not get into details with us, but I figured it was hard for her and the family. She was a loyal member and always was around, but the long road trips were something she struggled with and didn’t want to let the club or me down. I got it, but I kept the position vacant because she was an excellent Road Captain.

“Gotcha,” I nodded. “My doors always open, sis.”

“I know, Pres.” She turned back towards the television. “I’ll take you up on that one day.”

I laughed and said, “Okay, Rasha. I’ll make sure to memorialize that day.”

She laughed out loud, and I let her be.

Sometimes, women would come to the club, do the hang around thing for a while, might get voted in to become members or might not. There were the faithful ones or the ones that did just enough to get by, but when it came to members like Rasha. She was a ride or die. Anything the club or I could do to help, we would. However, she wouldn’t let us in too deep. I’m sure her story would come out, but sometimes, it needed to come out on our own and when we were ready.

The next day at work, I tried not to skip to my office but after reading the M.O.U. Scott sent me, I was more excited. This project would allow me to take on the cases that R.W.E. would never touch. In conjunction with the state. Not only would this give me what I need to branch off and start my own firm, but the experience to go anywhere.

As my intern, Rachel would say, it’s lit.

Scott informed me that the liaison was coming at noon, so I prepared my plans for the collaboration into a presentation that filled with graphs, statistics, and goals. Excited was an understatement, I was hype.

“Ms. Wyatt, can I go to lunch?” Rachel peeped her head in my office.

She was a law student at the University of Pennsylvania. Bright, educated and from Philly, but the girl was so young?

“Sure,” I answered. “See you in an hour.”

“It’s lit. Thanks.” She flashed me her signature smile and was off.

Yep, she was young.

Ten minutes later, another head popped in with a rattle on the door.

“Yes,” I looked up to see Alaric Hunt, the District Attorney. “You? Why are you…”

My voice trailed over to look at the clock strike noon.

“Goddammit, it’s you!” I hissed.

The man burst out laughing while walking in the room. Damn his laugh was contagious because I wanted to chuckle as well. My head just shook as he sat across from me.

“Howdy, partner.” He was still laughing.

“This is not fucking funny.” I sat back in the mesh chair and folded my arms over my chest.

“Come on, Eva,” he sobered. “We have the same mission here. We want to help people who would never have the resources of a company like R. W. E. and the state usually turned down cases like this. It’s a win-win.” He shared that absolute fact.

I sighed.

“Fine, let’s just focus on work,” I said as I moved forward to start my presentation.

He was impressed, genuinely impressed by what I shared. He gave me some feedback, both praise and constructive and shared what his goals and hopes for the union could produce. I added that to our shared document, and in one hour, our meeting was concluded and not once did I feel uncomfortable, placated or even that he was interested in me outside of my job. He was uber professional, and that was actually pleasant.

“How come you don’t act like this all the time?” I asked as he gathered his binder and other paperwork.

“Versus stalking you?” He laughed. “Well, honestly Eva. I get what I want.”

The man said that with such assurance, I knew he meant every word of that statement. His eyes burned into mine and I almost was the first to look away, but I refused.

“One dinner,” he said.

“No,” I replied.

“One fucking dinner and I’ll be out your hair. You can’t turn me down, and we haven’t even broken bread,” Alaric countered.

The man was gorgeous in a politician sort of way. Well, in any way, to be honest. He was definitely someone I saw running for office, schmoozing constituents, and making decisions. It was evident that he was decisive, almost to the point of being stern. I wonder what his colleagues thought about him. Hell, I’m not sure why that came to mind, but how he related to people meant something.

“Eva,” he whispered while taking a step towards me, even though my desk separated us.

Shit, my name coming from his voice was everything.

“Why?” I asked.

“You intrigue me,” he answered with his brows pushed together. “Is that a crime?”

“Look, if this is about your friend…” he cut me off.

“The fuck do I care about him?” He asked. “He’s an asshole, that I went to college with. No loyalties or alliances. We met up and went out after court. One has nothing to do with the other.”

It was plausible, but I still wasn’t convinced, plus now we were working together.

“How about this?” Alaric suggested. “One date and a favor. Any favor. I will be in depth to you or your Lady Guardians.”

At that comment, I folded my arms over my chest to show my dis-appreciation for the insinuation that we needed anything from him.

“What makes you think, I or we would need a favor?” I asked him.

“Well, for one. A lawyer that was supposed to defend completely insulted their client and the sponsoring organization. Also, it makes sense for that person depending on how the judge rules, to need a favor from someone that has some power to speak about MC’s in a positive way. Especially ones that help schools, the homeless and have connections with the Legion of Guardians. And you never know what else you Lady Guardians will get into with a stalker type person coming after one of its members.”

He shrugged his shoulders, and the smirk became more apparent on his beautiful face.

He was a wily one, but the man did have a point. A favor is not something to be balked at, because in our world, they were called markers. I never had to go on a date to get one and wouldn’t for that matter, but the way that court hearing went, Mini still needed a biker-friendly lawyer, and the Lady Guardians might need a favor soon.

“Fine,” I hissed. “One date, I’m not putting out, and you’re not getting a kiss. Are we clear?”

I told him outright.

In my head, there was no need for us to pretend it was something when it wasn’t. This is also why I never dated because I asked too many questions and shared too many details up front. A little prickly is what my last date said. To my face, he acted like it was fine, but canceled the second date, which I didn’t really care about. The girls didn’t know about that, because they would have given me shit.

“Noted,” Alaric answered. “However, let me just say. I’m not putting out on the first date, and if you kiss me, I can’t guarantee that I won’t kiss back.

I scoffed and nearly choked from laughter.

“Don’t hold your breath.” I was still laughing.

“Too late,” he smiled, turned and left my office.

Well, that was unexpected, but I felt a little more at ease with having assistance with Mini’s case. That asshole, Spider, of a man had gone too far. I never liked him or the Scorpions he was affiliated with. They did shit like that, which made it hard for women, but especially biker women to exist. Their antiquated way of viewing life was barbaric and those sons of bitches, have even tried to run members of our club off the road on their bikes. It was never enough. They didn’t think we should have a club. Didn’t think we should be on bikes. Didn’t think we should compete during the national conference.

It was a refresher to find The Legion of Guardians, and even though it was all men, they were inclusive, and Razor was forward thinking. We had also proven ourselves to them on a mission, so I’d forever be in dept to their organization.

The day went by quickly since my mind was occupied with thoughts of this morning’s intrusion. He said he wanted dinner, but he never said when and he also didn’t leave his information. God, I hope he didn’t come by the club like he had been before. The girls would never let me live that down.

The club had been buzzing with news of Mini and how the lawyer had berated the organization. At first, I felt that my tongue lashing would suffice, but after careful deliberation, a call to Razor was in order.

“Evening, Eva,” he answered on the second ring.

The man’s voice had a rough, gravely timber. He was the National President of the Legion of Guardians. The man practically built up the famous reputation of the organization with his forward thinking around bounty hunting, protection and security. All men in the club were trained in hand-to-hand combat, weapons, and security. A man didn’t have to be a biker to participate and any skill that one of the members possessed was utilized throughout the network. Often, if anyone asked about the Guardians, the next statement included, “Yeah, I heard of them. They helped a friend of a friend.”

That is what they did, and they were damn good. Therefore, affiliation with them. Hell, even coming under their branch to form the National Division of the Lady Guardians was ideal.

“Hey Razor,” I replied. “How is everything over in Manor?”

“Won’t complain,” he answered. “You need a meet?”

“No, no. Nothing like that. Remember that situation with one of our members getting the shit beat out of her from the one-percenters? It happened maybe a few months ago and was in our monthly report.” I tried to remind him.

“Yeah, at the Nile Bar with the Scorpions. Shithead, that goes by the name of Lizard.” He filled in the details.

It was not a question, because he knew. His name was not Razor for nothing, is what I learned early on.

“Yes, that’s exactly it.” I chuckled. “Well, she just had her court date, and the lawyer that represented her talked pretty bad about the biker community. Normally, I would not bother you with shit like this, but the ladies were so pissed and felt that if he was spreading that sort of hate for us, it could be detrimental not just to Reading and us, but the bike community at large.”

“Darling, why didn’t you get one of our lawyers?” He asked.

“I-I guess I didn’t think of it at the time,” I told him, but that wasn’t necessarily true.

“Told you that, when we met the first time. Sure it’s in the notes, somewhere.” He followed up.

Razor sharp.

“I, well…” I started, but he cut me off.

“Look,” he said in a low voice. “Listen closely. You’re in a network now. Not the Razor favor network, but a legit network that was designed for shit like this. You’re their Pres now, too. And doing a hell of a job, however, as the leader, you need to be just that. Having a member experience some hate because of your pride, is bullshit. Don’t argue with me, Justice. You and I both know it. Leaning on your network is not asking for help. It’s you, utilizing the network that you belong to. It’s just like one of your members fucking something up when they could have just run it your way. I’m here for support and just like you picked up the phone to clue me in on some fucked up lawyer, is just like you got to lean on your network. I know y’all ladies can hold your own. Half of my guys are scared as shit of you.” He chuckled. “But the fact remains you should have taken one of ours and then there’d be no problem. Can’t do shit about that, now. So, give me the lawyer’s name and we’ll take it from there.”

The phone went silent, which meant Razor was done with his scolding. That is exactly what it was too, but he was right.

“His name is Talbert Cohen,” I shared with him. “Mini needs a new lawyer because I fired him.

“Good.” He murmured. “I’ll get right on this. Can’t have fuckers talking about shit they don’t know.”

“Okay,” I said.

“Everything else good, darling?” He asked.

“No, I think besides that, we’re preparing for some road trips to a few of the chapters. I’ll send over that information once it’s complete.” I told him.

“Fuck, that’s great.” His voice boomed with excitement.

“Yes, I’m pretty excited.” I smiled.

“Well, like I said, give a holla.” He reminded me. “Have a good one.”

“Will do,” I answered. “Razor?”

“Yeah, Justice,” he answered.

“Thanks for that,” I said in a low voice.

“That’s what I’m here for. I’ll follow up.”

The line went dead, and that made me smile even more. I didn’t have to specify what I was thanking him for, because he already knew. He wasn’t into the games of making me spell shit out or even belittling me. It was simply a mentor sharing best practices. He was right on all counts, so yeah. There was nothing to argue.

I was woman enough to admit that.

Now, maybe I could get out of that date too.