ough the tall windows, painting sharp, golden lines across the mahogany desk and leather chairs. Everything in here spoke

cas kne

rk amber whiskey swirling lazily in his hand. He didn't bother to look up

his voice smooth and low, as if

es, fighting back the irritation cla

e was sharp-too sharp. "Of course you

nd cut straight to the point.

down on the table with a deliberate clink and tilted his head. "You're wasting your tim

pping closer. "It's Sophie Myers. Edward Flynn's murde

didn't look convinced. "Oh, I'

in the country. No one will touch this case because of Edward's in

s were measured and slow, the kind of precision that unnerved anyone in his presence. "You've always been desperate, Lucas, but

d know. Drake Hazelwood didn't

u want?" Luc

. "What makes you thi

. "So let's stop playing games. You're going to ask for som

than anyone should be in a situation like this. "I'll fight her case," he said fi

sentence. But what choice did he have? He glanced down

eal

*

ourtroom, her wrists

e that had just walked in: Drake Hazelwood. She hadn't met him before, only heard of him in whispers.

s was he

suit perfectly tailored, his presence swallowing the room. He set his briefcase o

s?" he asked,

llowed a

then leaned closer. "Sign these papers

Drake slid a stack of paper

this?" she

ntly. "The bail documents. If you want to sit i

een men like him before, men who could chew you up and spit you out before you

sig

red as he straightened, s

the prosecutor's arguments as if they were paper-thin. His voice remained steady, his

d just like that, S

she t

*

ide his sleek bl

iented and pale, he gave her a long, calculating

esitated.

" Drake cut her off coldly. "

seat. The car door slammed shut, and within seconds, they

e my lawyer," Sophie said qu

s fixed on the road

his calm demeanor putting her

plied cryptically. "Your bail came wi

on that loomed against the darkening sky. Sophie stare

ice," Drake s

oed with their footsteps. At the end of the hall,

and a table set with papers, more of them. S

?" she

, his voice calm but unyielding.

ooking up at him. "W

l be free to move around, but there

g the pen. She signed quickly, ea

said, settin

faintly-too fa

tly into a leather folder. Then, he turned

ophie aske

ned. "Congratulatio

ll. Her stomach dropped as she fro

e said simply, as if it

, her voice trembling.

, his tone as smooth as ever. "And, as it turn

ic clawing at her ch

t change. "I prefer the t

ack a step, her vo

g over her. "Because I always get what I

d down around her. She stared up at him, her heart po

rmured softly. "And trust me

ay, but Drake stepped aside, opening

calmly. "We'll discu

hands shaking. Drake Hazelwood had just turned her

ind her, her only thoug