Page 9 of Double Standards

For fucks sake.This shit just gets better. “Fine,” I relent, trying to calm myself down. “When will that be?”

“Your lawyer should schedule it with the D.A. and?—”

“You’remy lawyer,” I snap, frustration pouring into my voice.

The sudden change in Cassie’s demeanor makes me even more agitated. I hired her because she was the best. I wantedherbecause she didn’t take shit. She got the job done and I like that. She cuts to the chase when other’s beat around the fucking bush.

Her green eyes harden, catching me a little off guard. But it’s her words that do the damage. “I can’t be your lawyer, Axel.”

I scoff at those words. It’s almost laughable that she thinks she has a choice. Those words mean nothing and she doesn’t realize that there’s no going back. Still, I can’t help myself.

“And why is that?” I ask with wide intrigue.

“Because it goes against everything I stand for.”

My gaze remains focused on her. I roll her words around my mouth for a moment, tasting them and not liking it one bit. She’s lying to my face and I don’t like that at all. I lean back and survey her harder. She can’t use the moral card with me, because we both know the lengths she’ll go to ensure her gleaming record. Which means that having me as a client isn’t the reason she’s refusing me. It’s something else.

“You’re really going to sit there and tell me your morals are what’s holding you back?” I quirk a brow, the disbelief written all over my face.

“Yes,” she replies defiantly.

Okay.I'll bite. “What are they?”

“Justice, integrity,” she begins, but I cut her off short, chuckling at the list she reels off.

I trace two fingers across the seam of my lips again. “Can I ask you a question?”

She swallows thickly, and for the first time I see the glimpse of uncertainty rimming those beautiful green eyes.

“If integrity is so important to you, why did you represent your last client?”

She blinks back at my question. “What do you mean?”

I exhale as I stand up, leaning over the desk to close the distance between us. Though it’s not to intimidate her. I just use the moment to get a few inches from her face, so close I can smell her perfume. “You and I both know the truth, so let’s not play games,” I growl.

I can practically taste her defiance as she realizes what I mean. Because I know how guilty her last client was. She might have the judge and jury fooled on that one, but it didn’t take much digging from Max Lucchese to discover that Mr. Stetson was involved in stealing hundreds of thousands from his own company. We only had to check a few bank statements andbingo!

Realizing I’ve got her right where I want her, I move away and take my seat again.

She crosses her arms firmly over her chest, her glare shooting daggers if it could. “Fine. No games.”

“No games,” I repeat calmly. A smirk creeps across my lips, amused that she recognizes the shift in power. I might rely on her to get me out of here, but I don’t have to play by her rules. I’ve spent years running the city. One false accusation isn’t going to be my undoing.

Cassidy on the other hand. She might just be the kryptonite I didn’t know about. It’s been…well, it’s never been possible for someone to captivate me the way Cassidy does. There’s something untouchable about her demeanor. Something,Iwant to get a hold of. But I don’t trust easily and Cassidy Caruthers has a little ways to go before she gets a glimpse at the real me. I can tell that’s what she’s eager for, even if she’s playing it strictly professional.

“If you want my help, then you need to help me, too.” Cassidy clicks her pen in the air, ready to take notes.

“You’re bargaining withme?” I bristle, leaning back ever so casually in his chair.

“No.” She attempts to tone down the shock in her voice, maintaining whatever authority she thinks she can hold on to. “I’m helping you. You want bail? I need information.”

“That’s not how this works,” I reply through gritted teeth, stabbing a finger to the table. If she thinks she gets something in return, then I need to make a few things clear. I didn’t run this city by owing anyone any favors. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

“I’m afraid, that isexactlyhow this works, Mr. Bonanno.”

Fuck.

I card my fingers through the messy strands of my hair. My face itches from the stubble forming along my jaw, but even my sway on the cops here couldn’t get me a razor.