Page 13 of Twisted Little Games (New York City Mafia #3)

Tristan

“ H ere you fucking go,” I say to Creed when I walk into his office Monday afternoon and toss the paperwork on his desk.

“What’s this…” he starts as he picks it up. Then his eyes widen, and I swear they get a little misty. “Our cases were dismissed?”

“With prejudice,” I tell him. “That’s legalese for we can’t ever be charged again.”

“Holy shit. You actually did it!” My cousin hops up out of his chair and comes around his desk to hug me, gripping me so enthusiastically he manages to lift my feet about an inch off the floor.

“I told you I would handle it,” I remind him as I push him away. While I know this is a huge win for our family, I can’t help but feel like it cost me Kirsten.

Sure, she had no idea I was a small part of her life, lurking around in my truck, following her for weeks. But I miss it, seeing her, talking to her. Arguing with her. Licking her.

“I’ve got to go tell Zara,” Creed declares as he starts for the door. “And tonight, we’re all going out and celebrating.”

“Celebrating where? And only three out of five of us can even drink right now,” I point out.

“I bet Stella will finally tell Dre she’s pregnant. I want to see the look on his face when he finds out he’s going to be a father. Call and tell her the cases were dismissed but ask her to wait until tonight to break the news to him.”

“I was actually headed over to their apartment next. Dre’s probably at work, so I’ll talk to her, then go by his office to give him the copies of the dismissal.”

“Perfect. I’ll find us a private room at Rosi’s after I tell my wife.”

The mention of a private room makes me think about the one in which Kirsten got on her knees for me. While Natalie told me that the DA wanted to thank me for saving her life, I didn’t know she intended to do it with her mouth on my dick.

God, that was the best surprise ever.

And now she knows the truth about who I am. Kirsten thinks I set up the assassin too. The fact that someone wants her dead and she’s blaming me won’t end well for her. I should probably keep an eye on her just in case they try again.

I hurry to Dre’s apartment, in a rush to get back to the courthouse to watch over Kirsten.

Stella answers the door looking at me expectantly.

“Cases dismissed.” I hold up the paperwork for her to see the words herself on the same page as Dre’s name.

She slaps her palm to her chest. “Thank God.”

“Thank me,” I scoff. “My hard work paid off.”

“Finally,” she tacks on with a grin. “But yes, thank you, Tristan. Dre is going to be so happy —”

Her phone is already in her hand when I say, “Wait. I’m going to see him right now to give him the paperwork. The reason I came by here first is because Creed wants us to go out and celebrate. And he asked if you would wait to tell Dre you’re knocked up until we’re all together.”

Her eyes narrow. “You all know?”

“Yesterday you were literally a pale shade of green, and your tits were twice as big as the last time I saw them. Of course, I knew. Creed and Zara do, too, so could you oblige our cousin by waiting to tell Dre tonight?”

“Fine,” she agrees with a sigh. “I guess it’s the least I can do for you saving him from a prison sentence. Could you all just pretend to act surprised? I don’t want him to know he’s the last to find out.”

“I’ll make sure everyone looks shocked as shit,” I promise her.

Why am I dreading this dinner tonight with my family, my best friends and their wives?

It can’t be because my cousins are coupled up, and I’ll be showing up alone, right? No, that’s insane. I’m not the type to settle down. Besides, the only woman I want to spend more than a night with hates my guts and is probably thinking of all the ways she can ruin my life.

Kirsten doesn’t look like the type who takes this level of embarrassment lying down. Even if she doesn’t have anything to be embarrassed about. Not really. I spent an hour with my face between her legs, pleasuring her. So, while her going down on me was fucking amazing, we’re far from even.

Kirsten

“Here’s the press release about the dismissals,” I say when I drop the files on Natalie’s desk.

“Send it out now. When they call, tell them I’m out of the office for the rest of the day.

” Am I taking the coward’s way out by not having a press conference?

Hell yes, but I’m too furious to deal with reporters today.

“Ah, okay. But why can’t Vera do it?” she asks, referring to my personal paralegal.

“Because I want you to handle it.” I stare her down. She’s responsible for this shit.

“Right. Sure. I’ll get right on it.”

“You do that,” I mutter before I head for the door with my coat and briefcase. I need to get out of the office. I can’t stay here a second longer, feeling like a fraud, like the person I swore to myself I’d never be — a district attorney who can be paid off for a beneficial outcome.

If anyone finds out the real reason why I dropped the charges, my life as I know it will be over. No law firm would ever hire me even in private practice. The Bar would probably take my license. I’ll be labeled an organized crime sympathizer at best or someone on the mob’s payroll at worst.

Before I even make it out of the courthouse, my phone blows up with messages and calls from local news reporters, wondering about my sudden decision to drop the cases based on ‘evidence tampering’.

The police department will be up my ass any second for putting the blame on them when they didn’t do anything wrong. Still, it was the easiest explanation.

Besides, while I hate to admit it publicly, the way the raid at the nightclub went down was bullshit.

Those cops went in shooting before announcing themselves to the owner or the patrons.

That’s how Creed Ferraro’s brother, Carmine, was killed.

It’s shocking others weren’t shot and killed as well, Tristan fucking Ferraro included.

God, I can’t even think about the asshole’s name without my blood pressure shooting sky high, making me want to break something or hit something — his face in particular. Or his balls.

I thought he was a good guy, one who saved me. I thought I could trust him, and I was so wrong.

He’s the last person in the world I ever should’ve put my trust in, and yet, I let him manipulate me without ever knowing his identity.

I’m certain that the club owner knew what he was up to and didn’t intervene. I should have the whole place shut down. But if the owner, Joel, knows about the videos, well, he could release them to get back at me.

All I can do now is keep my mouth shut, my head high, and my life squeaky clean. No more sex in my office with Bryan either.

I don’t want any type of sex scandal to be brought to light and prompt more investigating into my private life on the chance my visit to the club will be discovered.

God, I hate that mobster more than I’ve ever hated anyone in my life.

And there’s not a damn thing I can do to hurt him back.

Screw that.

There must me some way to ruin his miserable outlaw life without it coming back on me. I just have to be patient and think it through.