Page 17 of Rio

“I’ll skim through it,” I say, returning to the papers.

I wish he’d vanish into the night, but he hesitates, watching me like he’s about to say something else, and I fear that its going to make my skin crawl.

But he doesn’t go there.Instead, he says, “These kinds of cases eat up your time and spit you out with nothing to show for it.You’re better than that, Raquel.”

This only confuses me further.On one hand he wants me to look it over, and then with the other, he’s slightly pissed that I will.

“Thanks for the concern.”

“I’m always concerned about you.”His snakish smile creeps back in.“You’ve got a great future here, but only if you stay focused.”

I shuffle my papers, pretending to read, but he’s staring at me.I feel his dirty gaze raking over me, and I freeze.

You’re the reason I need a future somewhere else.

“Any plans for this weekend?”he asks, “Or are you just sitting alone in your apartment?”

Always fishing for personal information.

His words make my flesh crawl like an army of ants have just soldiered over me.I look straight at him, not smiling, and shrug.“The usual.Female serial killer documentary and ice-cream.”

He heads towards the door, mumbling, “I’ll uh-leave you to it then.”

I wait five seconds then exhale through gritted teeth.My gut says something’s off but the papers on my desk say opportunity.And right now, I need one.I continue reading through them again.There’s something here, I can feel it.I’d rather lose a case fighting for something real than win one that helps a billionaire dodge accountability.

More than anything, I want to build a career based on impact, not income, and I don’t care about money as much as I care about leaving behind a reputation for standing up to power, inspiring other women, and changing lives.That’s the kind of lawyer I want to be.

Chapter 5

RIO

“Come on in.”Dex opens the door wider and gestures for me to come in.

“All clear?”I look around his apartment, needing to be sure that Dani has left.I haven’t opened up to him about Raquel before.There was too much chaos going on, what with Dani leaving and the old man being up to his dirty tricks again.

“So, you and Dani got engaged for real, huh?”They announced it yesterday at Jett’s place, when Jett and Cari invited us over for dinner.It was a Knight family dinner, a real one.Not the torturous ones we have to endure with the old man.

“We sure did.”He hands me a bottle of beer.

“Congratulations, dude.Really happy for you.”

Dex nods, but his face has been softer, and even though he’s trying not to smile so much, I can tell he’s happy, like ecstatic, way deep down to his core.I’ve never seen him this calm before.Like he has an inner knowing and happiness, and a strong sense of purpose in his life.Before he was slightly reckless, slightly crazy.A guy who liked his hookups and casual flings.Now, he’s completely different.Dani is his north star.His perfect match and the woman who tamed him.I’m happy for the dude.

“Have you told the old man about you and Dani?”The old man wasn’t invited.

“I will do.”He doesn’t seem to be in a rush.

“I heard Dani say you’re both going to visit Raquel in Miami.”My ears perked up when I caught that snippet from Cari and Dani’s conversation.The mention of that name—a name I’ve been trying hard to forget for the past two months—brings up all sorts of feelings inside me.

I’ve called and messaged and emailed that woman, and she completely ghosted me.I didn’t understand it.We were getting on like a house on fire.She liked me.She felt the attraction.She’s the one who wanted to play strip poker.She’s the one who told me to stay when I offered to leave her hotel room that night of Dex and Dani’s wedding.

And then we made out on the balcony after a blistering session of playing a card game.I didn’t think I could have so much fun while keeping my clothes on.She told me to stay—because she had work to do—so I stayed, but when I woke up, she’d gone.Despite my attempts to get in touch, she ignored me like I didn’t exist.Like I didn’t matter.

Maybe, in the cold light of day, she probably rethought everything about me.Decided the Knights weren’t worth getting close to.

Decided to put me in the enemy-zone.

I only heard from her when all hell broke loose, when Dani left Dex, and he fell apart.Dani obviously confided in her best friend and told her everything, because it was soon after that Raquel texted to let me know that Dani was getting a divorce in the Dominican Republic.