Page 2 of Double Standards

Taking a deep breath, I stride forward and step through the doorway. I swallow thickly as the man rises to stand in front of me, dark and daunting. His eyes are even more piercing under the harsh light of my office, emphasized by the dull gray cast outside my windows.

His chocolate brown hair is short—not quite a buzz cut, but barely anything to grab. His jawline is strong, sharp, and deadly, sprinkled with a rugged layer of stubble that looks trimmed to perfection. The man is well dressed, wearing a black suit and no tie, and a white shirt seamlessly pressed.

This man wears his look well. He’s undeniably and dangerously handsome, but he exudes the type of danger I make a point to steer clear of.

“Cassidy Caruthers,” I announce with a polite smile, stretching my hand out towards him in greeting.

“I know who you are,” his deep voice replies. There’s a cold bite to his tone that almost sounds bored. He’s detached yet discerning, simple yet unavoidably complex.

“To what do I owe the pleasure, Mister…?”

I’m thrown out of the depths of my contemplation when he answers, “Colombo.”

A chill creeps up my spine, settling in a shiver over my shoulders as soon as his name leaves his lips.

The man standing before me is one of The Five.

I swallow hard, burying my anxiety as far down as it will go, but it’s a pointless attempt. I’ve got a shitty poker face, and I can already see that Colombo is reveling in how his demeanor affects me. It’s what men like him are known for, after all. Intimidation tactics at their finest.

“Mr. Colombo.” I circle around my desk, grappling for my diminishing confidence, conscious that his eyes are watching my every move. “What can I do for you?”

“You’ve been requested,” he replies simply.

My mouth goes dry and I suddenly find it difficult to breathe. My stomach twists in knots as I ask, “Requested? By whom?”

Colombo doesn’t answer. Instead, he takes a step closer to the desk and plants a newspaper on it in front of me. I pick it up, eyes zoning in on the article plastered across the front page.

“He will be expecting you tonight. Seven p.m.”

My eyes shoot up, shock encompassing me, and chilling me right to my core. “Excuse me?” I ask as I hand the newspaper back with a shake of my head. “I think you must be confusing me with someone else.”

Evidently that’s the wrong answer, because the next thing I know, Colombo is leaning over my desk, gripping my wrists so hard that I swear I can feel the bruises forming on my skin. My palms are stuck to the desk as he forces all of his weight into pinning them down, his eyes staring into mine, searching for whatever weakness he can find.

“You don’t say ‘no’ to The Five,” he says through grittedteeth. There’s a definite anger in the way he speaks–-it isn’t aimed at me in particular, but I can see that he is fighting something deep down; something I’m not privy to know.

No sooner has he spoken do my eyes drop to take in his form, catching the glistening metal that peeks from inside his suit jacket.

I feel a flush of heat rise up the back of my neck, landing as red stains of fear across my cheeks. Colombo notices, and that’s enough to satisfy his efforts of persuasion.

After a moment of intense silence, he releases his grip, freeing my sore wrists from his clutches. I rub them tenderly, fighting back the sting of tears as I look back up at him.

“Seven p.m.” he reiterates. “Don’t be late, he hates tardiness.”

And with those last words, Colombo turns on his heel and leaves my office.

The room falls eerily silent as I stare down at the article left on my desk, trying—and failing—to swallow my pride and fear, knowing that I have no choice in this matter.

Dark eyes gaze back at me, full of anger and stoic irritation. The last thing I want to do is represent a man like Axel Bonanno, but just like Colombo said, The Five won’t take no for an answer, and if I value my life, I’ll need to play along.

Axel Bonanno is a name that strikes fear into the hearts of anyone who hears it, let alone reads it. He’s the head of one of the five leading families in the Mafia, and he’s just as ruthless as his father was, or so they say. Very few have come face to face with the man without succumbing to some form of torture, or worse.

And I know exactly what he wants with me. I’m one of the most successful defense lawyers in the city and just closed one of the most challenging cases of my career, seemingly with ease.

Not only has this day been filled with press releases boasting of my success, but also with rumors and reports about one of The Five being arrested in connection with the mayor’s murder.Axel Bonnano, to be specific. Colombo’s sudden appearance in my office has just confirmed those rumors, so I know what Axel wants. Just like I know there’s no escaping him.

Whether he murdered the mayor or not, you never say ‘no’ to The Five.

Chapter Two