“TRENT, I’LL BE having a lunch meeting today in the conference room. You're more than welcome to join,” Uncle Henry says, poking his head in the office.
“Okay, I'm just going over this case here for Mr. Lee and trying to keep myself up to date with everything so that I can assist you better,” I tell him.
“I actually think this meeting would be pretty helpful then. We are meeting about that case. I could use your smarts here too and that gut instinct you have so well that makes you perfectly cut out for this job.”
“You just let me know when you are ready, Uncle Henry, and I will be there,” I say with a mock salute.
Walking into the big office for this lunch meeting, I'm not sure what to expect or why this is even being held. It sounds important and has my curiosity definitely peaked. I sit down next to Uncle Henry and grab myself a sub off the platter on the table.
“We are just waiting for Mr. Avery to join us. I think he's important for our side of this case,” Uncle Henry informs me.
My eyebrows draw together in confusion, I look to him. “Is there something wrong with the case? Or are you just needing extra alliances to make sure it goes smoothly?”
“Well, I guess you could say both. Something is off with this case. I feel it. I know you have really just started with this one and I hope you can form a better opinion and feeling from this meeting. I'm going to need you with me on this one, Trent. I don't want anyone else to know too much about it. It's a delicate situation I think.”
Nodding, I take a bite and chew on that little tidbit.
The door opens and a tall guy about late 20s to early 30s steps in. He looks like he could be related to our family. Definitely got some Italian blood and our darker features.
“Ahh, thank you for joining us, Mr. Avery,” Uncle Henry says while standing to shake his hand.
“Please, call me Carter. The pleasure is all mine and I’m glad to be an alliance to each other,” he says, shaking back.
“This is my nephew Trent. He is my right hand man here while he finishes up school,” he says, patting me on the back.
Carter moves over to me and sticks out his hand. “It's good to meet you, Trent. Glad to have another man on board for this,” he says as I shake his hand firmly.
“Likewise,” I say. “Although I'm not entirely up to speed, I'm sure this meeting will help with that.”
“That it will. I am a homicide detective for Wayne County. I have been keeping some tabs on this case for some time now and watching from the sidelines, so to speak. This case with Mr. Lee goes very deep and into some deep pockets of some not so great people,” he informs me. “There seem to be many roadblocks right and left from where the men he's been involved with are concerned and the chain of command keeps changing. Any help we could give to each other would be both beneficial to your case and mine.”
Nodding, I let him proceed.
“Mr. Lee has been on our radar for quite some time. He runs some shady things behind the facade of his jewelry store. We think he is doing some of this business for the Vega family, the Mexican Cartel.”
My face must give away my shock to this revelation because he nods his head and continues.
“He was taken into police custody for his involvement with the prostitution side and that's where you guys have come in as his legal counsel. We believe he could be in danger, as the Cartel wouldn't want any of the other things to come to light with all of this. I have been shadowing him. He doesn't know this of course, nor does he know who I am.”
I guess I should have looked, I mean really looked at Mr. Lee’s case. I figured this was cut and dry when he got out on bond.
Speaking up, I have to ask the question plaguing me. “So where does this leave us as his counsel? I mean, I am sort of blown away by all of this. Uncle Henry, were you aware of any of this,” I ask hesitantly. I'm not really sure I want to really know the answer to that.
“I did have my suspicions, yes, but how deep I had no idea,” he tells me while shaking his head.
“As long as you don't let anyone else know this information, you are both fine. I wanted to bring you in to knowing more about your client because we can help each other. I know you are wondering what you can help me with. Well, it's simple. Stay just as ignorant on the outside as you have been with regards to Mr. Lee. Just go with what he tells you. In the meantime, I will keep you updated as to where this is turning with the Cartel. If it goes bad, and I hope we can control the situation so that doesn't happen, but if it does then I want you protected,” he says this so pointedly like he is talking about going to dinner or a movie.
I am floored right now. Running my hand through my hair, I stand and pace the room.
Turning and placing my hands on the back of my chair, I angle myself to Carter. “How exactly are you shadowing him?” I ask.
“I am integrating myself with you guys. I will be a friend or associate to anyone who questions why I am around. I will also be spending time following Mr. Lee or another detective, possibly my partner, will when I am with you. I don't want my identity known or this will blow it all, do you understand?”
Nodding to Uncle Henry, who in turn does the same, we both take a deep breath.
“Go about life as normal. I will check in and meet with you here and there as I have more information. I don't know what will come down with all this and being informed is the best way to be when you are involved with this client,” Carter explains.
“I will be in touch Henry,” he says, shaking my uncle’s hand. Turning to me, he does the same and turns to walk out the door.
***
I'm almost done getting ready for the Halloween party and can’t wait to go pick up my girl. I let her get ready at her place and told her I would pick her up since her costume is going to take a whole lot more to get ready than mine will. Plus, I'm not going to be drinking tonight anyway. It's a party, of course you will.
She can't and I won't make her feel that I can't support her by having a good time with her sober. I'll do my best.
I still can't believe we are going to have a baby. I am actually looking forward to Andrea getting a little bigger so I can see the bump that is our baby. It's so unreal right now when she still looks the same. She has a radiance about her that's different, but I've always seen that in her. God, her being by my side is going to help me move up that ladder. People will see me as a serious up and coming attorney, a family man.
I do love her, I do. My love will grow with time, the plan is solid. She's just naive enough for me to keep my life going without many hiccups. I'll provide for us both very comfortably and we will be happy.
My phone rings. Smiling, I grab it as I'm getting my shoes on and grabbing my keys. I answer it quickly without looking. “I'm on my way, sweetheart. Miss me already?”
“Yes, I've been missing you for a long time now Trent.”
Marissa.
“What do you want Marissa?”
Annoying giggles that grate on my nerves come through the line. “Wait, you were coming to get me? I was just making sure I would see you tonight at Henry’s party.”
“Uh yes, I will be there. He’s my family and I’m there every year. I will be there with Andrea and I'm not sure it's such a great idea you are there.”
A maniacal laugh comes down the line. I sit and wait for her to calm down as my blood pressure rises. This girl has some serious nerve.
“My patience is running thin, Marissa. I am on my way to pick up Andrea for the party and I am really hoping that you don't feel the need to crash my uncle’s party. Wait, let me rephrase that. If you are considering coming to the party tonight, I would advise against it.”
“Oh Trent,” she says as if I just said the cutest thing.
“Of course I will be there...it is something I attend every year as well. Remember? This was our big night as a couple. You would have a few drinks and take me away to spend some time giving me a good ride,” she says breathlessly as if the memory has her turned on right now.
“Cut the crap, Marissa! I don't know what game you're trying to play at but you know that won't be happening. This is my life and I won't have you fucking it up for me. I made it very clear where I stand with you and that my relationship with Andrea is everything to me and what I need. She has given me something I didn't know I needed, a life and love that's real and raw. Something you would know nothing about. I'm just a good time to you. A game. Right now your feathers are ruffled that you aren't in her position. You never will be and I'm making that clear. You aren't the wholesome girl that portrays the doting wife and mother. That's what I need. You suck good cock, sweetheart, but that's all you're good for. You keep that little fucking mouth of yours shut and I'll feed you my cock when I can, nice and rough like you love it. Are we clear?”
There is sighing on the other end of the phone and a long pause. “Okay Trent, have it your way. You will see the error of your ways soon enough and come back where you belong. I will just wait...oh and let the story unfold shall we say,” she says on a giggle.
“And stay away from Andrea. She told me you cornered her at school. She didn't want to tell me. I had to get it out of her and I promised I would leave it alone. But I am warning you, Marissa, tread very carefully.”
“Trent, darling, I don't know what you mean. I simply congratulated her. She is so hormonal that she made something out of it that it wasn't. What a silly girl. I will leave her alone, Trent, it isn't her I want.”
And with that the line goes dead.
***
Andrea leaves her house when I pull up. She looks beautiful and literally takes my breath away.
My perusal of her starts at the top of her head and follows down to her shapely legs.
Her dark hair is pulled to the side in a ponytail with some sort of headband over her forehead and wrapped around her head. She is smirking at me, knowing exactly what I am doing and what she does to me.
Her gray sweatshirt hangs off one shoulder, where the strap of a black leotard shows underneath. Going lower, I see she has some shimmery looking tan tights on making her legs shine like a beacon for me to touch them. Her leg warmers go up her thighs and end about mid way. God, she is spectacular. And she is all mine.
Pulling open the door to my truck, she climbs in and kisses me sweetly. “Hey there, handsome, get your fill in on my walk to the car?” she asks, smirking while her cheeks tinge red.
“Oh, sweetheart, I've just begun to get my fill of you. These tights are like a light in the dark calling for me to touch and conquer,” I tell her as I rub my hand up her thigh.
“If you're good, I'll let you help me take them off later. That shirt with nothing but your boxer briefs on under is hot, babe…...I can't wait to help you into some risky business tonight.”
That's it I'm done. God, she's sexy as hell. “You better stay on that side of the truck until we get there, sweetheart, or I don't think we are going to make the party tonight.” I try to give her a stern look but of course fail as she laughs and makes an X with her fingers, backing toward the door.
“Oh this night is going to be fun,” I say, shaking my head as we back out of her driveway and head off to the party.