Page 116 of Snowbound Threat

Critical Velocity

Jessica Ashley

To anyone who is looking for a second chance at a first impression.

And to all those seeking hope in the darkness.

Hebrews 12:1

1.Beckett

Exhaustion pulls at every bone in my body, weighing my muscles down like they’ve been pumped full of lead. Who would have thought going on thirty-six hours of no sleep would lead to me needing to nearlycrawlup three flights of stairs to get to my apartment?

Of course, I didn’t let myself think about it. Not until I was standing at the bottom, staring up and wishing I couldwillmy apartment closer.

Shower.

Bed.

That’s the plan as soon as I get to the third floor and make it down the hall toward my apartment. Food can wait until I can think properly again. At this point, I’d likely burn the building down trying to make a turkey sandwich.

Sweat beads on my forehead despite the December weather just outside.Man, it’s hot in here.

The sharp tone of my phone echoes off the walls of the stairwell, and I groan as I pause near the landing between the second and third floors to pull it out of the pocket of my slacks. “Wallace,” I answer, continuing the climb while ponderingexactly how many legal terms I can throw at the building owner to get him to fix the elevator.

Six weeks. That’s how long it’s been out.

“Just calling to make sure you made it home okay.” My skin crawls at the sound of the familiar smooth voice.And here we are, making an already crummy situation worse.At this point, falling down the stairs and starting over again would be preferable to talking to the man on the other side of the line.

“I didn’t realize you were that concerned about my well-being, Larry,” I reply coolly. Larry Hardwell has been the bane of my existence for the past seven months as we battled it out in court. His client was responsible for the deaths of three employees after he cut safety corners at his construction site.

They’d tried to pin it all on the victims, too, going as far as counter-suing the families for damage done when their loved ones plummeted to their deaths.

In the end, we won, and his client will be paying a hefty settlement to the families. It won’t bring their loved ones back, but I seriously hope it’ll make their grieving process smoother if they don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. Grief is something I am all too familiar with, so this one hit close to home.

Especially since one of the victims had married his high-school sweetheart three months before the accident stole his life.

It infuriates me all over again as I think about the way they’d tried to take even more from the young widow.

“Just because we were both playing our parts—” Larry starts.

“I wasn’t playing a part,” I interrupt, uninterested in him finishing that sentence. “I was doing my job. Now, if that’s all?”

“Actually, I was wondering if you’d like to grab dinner tonight. About seven? I managed to get us reservations at Louis’.I’ll come pick you up in about half an hour. Sound good?”

Ugh, why did you have to finish the sentence?Now I’m nauseous on top of exhausted.

“No, thanks.”

He’s quiet for a moment. “Come on now, Counselor, Louis’is difficult to get into. I had to call in a favor. It’ll be fun. Let your hair down and relax a bit. Put on something other than your suit. Maybe wear some heels. We can go dancing afterward.”

“Then I suggest you cancel that favor because I amnotinterested in seeing you unless we’re in a courtroom.”And even then, the interest is only in wiping the floor with you so I can watch that sleezy smile disappear from your face.

“You can’t keep grieving your dead husband forever. It’s been ten years. I’m just trying to show you there’s a better way to live than in constant reminder of the past.”

Anger surfaces at his callous words, but I bite it back down. Anger, to a man like Larry, is a lifeline to try to get what he wants. And in no way, shape, or form will I give himanythinghe wants.

“Goodbye, Larry.” Without waiting for his response, I hang up the phone then summon the rest of my strength to climb the final few stairs, all while hoping he’s smart enough to not call again.