I glanced up at the clock .

It had barely moved a minute since the last time I’d looked .

Then I checked my watch. It was the same as the clock .

Time ceased to exist since I’d found myself being presented with charges of my own. With my fingers drumming on the tabletop, I couldn’t help but think that I had been set up .

“I apologize that this is taking so long, Mr. Black,” the booking officer said. “But the paperwork needs to be completed .”

Colin glanced at me and rolled his eyes .

Then the booking officer lifted his gaze from the papers and fixed his eyes on me. “This doesn’t mean you’re being charged with a crime, just that a motion to press charges has been requested .”

“Don’t waste your time. You and I both know that these trumped up allegations are bullshit .”

Colin reached over and grabbed my forearm. Shaking his head, he warned, “Kelly. Don’t .”

Leaning back in my chair, I shoved my fingers through my hair and blew out a heavy breath .

Of all the things I’d done, they were coming after me for this? Unbelievable, I thought as my mind raced to put a finger on the person who’d orchestrated this set-up. Only a few people knew about my desired visit with Blake Stone, and only those same few knew that I could be heading to see him this morning. One by one I began to tick them off the list .

The Madam .

Wesley Reid .

Giselle. And Kendra .

Suddenly, my eyes popped open—Oscar Buchanan, the District Attorney, knew .

My jaw ticked as I watched the officer’s pen fly across each line of the paperwork he was filing. “I’ll just need your signature here.” From the way he said it, he led me to believe that he was experiencing a long day .

Colin took the form between his fingers and quickly scanned the document. Then he slid it over to me and I did the same. Cursing under my breath, I autographed the bottom of the form and pushed it toward the officer .

“Appreciate your cooperation, Mr. Black.” He stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me .”

I nodded and, together, Colin and I watched the officer leave the room. As soon as it was just us again, Colin turned to me and said, “Kelly, what the hell happened ?”

“It’s nothing .”

“Second degree assault, you call that nothing ?”

“It’s political. Nothing more .”

“What are you saying ?”

Checking the time again, I rolled my neck to relieve the stress that had strained my spine and pulled my shoulders tight .

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying ?”

“What do you think I’m saying?” I eyed him .

“That this is somehow related to Mario’s case that you brought me up from San Diego to work on ?”

Bringing my hand to the top of the table, I made a fist and fixed my gaze on Colin. “I stole her back. Kendra wasn’t supposed to be with anybody but me .”

“Shit, Kelly. Clearly, she was .”

Colin gave me a look and without having to say anything, I knew exactly what he was thinking. That Kendra was nothing more than an escort for hire. Sure, that was her title. But that wasn’t what she was to me .

“When I saw her with another man, fire burned in my gut. I couldn’t allow it. There’s something about her that makes me want to fight .”

Colin shook his head and sighed. “I hope it was worth it, because you could be facing two to seven years in prison .”

First I chuckled, then my fit of laughter boomed into a boisterous sound that rippled off the concrete walls. “I’m an outstanding citizen without any priors. It’s a misdemeanor offense, at best, but it’s not real.” I scooted back in my seat and turned to face Colin. Leaning forward, I raised my brows and whispered, “Someone is doing this to stop me from bringing justice to the city I love .”

“I know you already know what I’m about to tell you, but you need to hear it from a friend. Someone who appreciates the hard work you’ve put into your career to get you this far .”

Smoothing my hand down my thigh, I waited with a calm heart to hear what my old friend had to say .

“Kelly, you need to focus on your own case before you’re left wondering why you got disbarred.” Colin glanced at his phone when it chirped with a text .

A stone formed in my gut. I knew he was right. I’d be worthless to stop the damage being wrought on LA if I wasn’t in the courtroom. And that was more than likely if these charges stuck. Watching Colin read his message, it didn’t take long for me to notice his face droop. “What is it ?”

With a pinched expression he said, “It’s Maggie .”

“Is everything all right ?”

Rubbing his face with both his hands, he said, “No .”

“The cancer .”

“It’s a bitch.” Then he tucked his phone away inside his jacket pocket and started collecting his things. “I’m sorry, Kelly, but — ”

Placing my hand on his shoulder, I said, “Go. Be with your wife. I can handle this .”

Nodding, he looked me in the eye and, without saying it, I knew he was thanking me. “Don’t say anything you’ll later regret .”

“Not me.” I grinned as I stood to hug him .

Colin patted my shoulders before he turned to leave. Once at the door, he opened it and glanced back in my direction. “Call me if I can be any help with … well, you know .”

“I will.” I nodded. “And thanks again .”

“Good luck, Kelly .”

“You, too,” I said coolly as I watched Colin leave .

As soon as the heavy metal door slammed shut, I closed my eyes and thought of Kendra. It was easy for me to transport myself from the sterile smells that currently surrounded me, replacing it with reminders of the beauty that defined Kendra. And as floral scents intoxicated my memory, she spun in my mind, dancing and teasing me with her sparkling jades .

Smiling, I laughed .

I should have listened to her pleas for me to stay. I should have stayed home to pepper her silky skin with tongue-thrusting kisses as I made love to her until we exhausted ourselves into starvation. It was the romantic lunch that I had promised her that had me most regretting not sticking around and letting Stone’s request for a meeting wait. For if I had, I wouldn’t have found myself here—stuck with my future in limbo .

The door buzzed open, and when I opened my eyes I found myself staring into the face of Oscar Buchanan .

He had my booking papers tucked under his arm as he strode over to the table with a smug, proudly-displayed smirk stamped across his ugly face .

“Wish I could say I’m surprised to see you here, especially under these circumstances.” He took the paperwork into his fingers and glanced down at them. “But I can’t. Not after what I saw in the photos taken the night you decided to jeopardize your entire career .”

He pulled out a chair opposite me. It scratched against the floor and the noise made me cringe. Leaning forward, I quirked a brow. “What did you say to get him to plea ?”

“Excuse me?” His gaze narrowed as he angled his head to the side .

“Mario. How did you do it ?”

Oscar turned his head and laughed into the blank white wall. “The fact that you have to ask makes me wonder if we shouldn’t do a psyche test on you .”

Stroking my chin, I threw daggers at his jugular with my eyes .

“Mario was easy.” He brought his elbows to the table and leaned closer, as if to drive home his point. “The man was left without proper representation .”

A stone formed in my throat and it was hard to swallow down the truth of what I was hearing. I’d left Mario high and dry as I tried to be the puppet master behind the scenes to bring down Blake Stone and bring justice to LA .

“Kelly, you and your team were too busy dancing on your toes, deciding if he was even worth your time.” He coughed through a deep-throated laugh. “It was perfect. Thanks to you, you gave me a chance to slide one more case file off to the side .”

“He’s innocent,” I said with a gaze buried beneath my brow .

“Not according to the evidence my office has collected against him.” He leaned back and kept his gaze firmly locked on me. “I know you and Mr. Cobbs are up to something .”

“Defense lawyers always are .”

His tongue clucked. “And I can’t deny how it looks. Like no one would have noticed the conflict of interest in representing Blake Stone and Mario Jimenez. Can you imagine the media storm that would have followed?” He laughed. “Using one client to save another .”

Flicking my wrist I checked the time, hoping that I would be getting out of here soon .

“Too bad your plan didn’t go through .”

A second later, there was a knock on the door. We both lifted our heads to find Giselle peeking into the room. Oscar stood and gave her a warm, friendly welcome. “Ah, Giselle. You’re looking lovely .”

She lifted her hand to his face and patted his cheek. “You could use a shave .”

His eyes traveled the length of her as he smiled. The look in his eye let me know that with her now here, his mind was elsewhere. I could breathe easier .

Giselle gave me a look and I could see the concern in her eyes .

I nodded, assuring her that I was okay. We would get through this—get to the bottom of who set her up to ultimately get to me .

“I wish we were meeting under different circumstances.” Oscar puffed out his chest and smiled at Giselle as he rocked back and forth on his heels .

“Me, too.” She stepped forward and straightened his tie .

“Always an eye for detail.” His eyes were glued to her face .

“You know me.” She glanced up at him. “Just making sure you look your part .”

Oscar tipped his head back and laughed .

Giselle glanced over her shoulder and winked .

I smiled, appreciating the show, loving how she read my mind perfectly. Oscar loved Giselle and since she knew it, she could wrap him around her finger like the sucker he was .

“What do you say, have lunch with me today?” Oscar took Giselle by her wrist, acting as if I wasn’t even in the room .

“I don’t think that’s such a great idea.” She peeled his fingers off of her .

“And why is that?” Oscar turned to look at me. “Is it because of him ?”

Giselle shook her head and laughed. “Oh, no. Kelly’s not the problem .”

“Then what is it?” Oscar looked confused .

“It’s because you’re already seeing another woman.” Giselle gave him a knowing look. “Remind me again, what’s her name ?”

Oscar chuckled, his face reddening with embarrassment .

“Angel,” I said .

“Don’t listen to him.” Oscar leaned close to Giselle. “I don’t know what you heard, but it’s not serious.” He winked as his eyes crinkled with a smile .

“But this is serious.” Giselle’s heels clacked over to the table where she picked up the report describing the charges being brought against me. “And I’d like them not to be.” She spun around to face the district attorney. “Tell me, Oscar, what can I do to make this disappear ?”

His pupils dilated with the temptation. “Are you sure you want to know ?”

Giselle slowly nodded, biting a tiny corner of her bottom lip .

My eyes widened as I watched Oscar’s head tip with possibility. Then, just when he was about to speak, there was a knock on the door .

Letting out a sigh, I pinched the bridge of my nose. The next second, I felt Giselle squeezing my shoulder .

“Hey.” I lifted my head to meet her concerned gaze. “I’m sorry .”

Reaching across my chest, I squeezed her hand. “It’s all right .”

When Oscar was finished talking with the officer, he turned back to the room and said, “It seems that I have to run .”

“And what about this?” Giselle held the papers up .

“Let’s just say that it’s under review.” Oscar shifted his gaze over to me. “I haven’t decided if the charges Timothy Parker has filed against you are worth my time or not .”

“They’re not,” I said, standing .

“Don’t push it, Kelly.” He pointed his finger at me. “This isn’t over yet .”