Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 49530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“No, of course not. I must still be jumpy from last night,” she admitted.
“Not working in your office today?”
“I’ve been here all morning. Sorry. I didn’t want you to worry.”
“We’ll deal with your lie later. Right now, I want you to be safe. When you’re close to wrapping up for the day, send me a text. I’ll meet you at the front door and escort you to your car,” he instructed.
“You don’t have to do that,” she protested, hoping he wouldn’t allow her to change his mind.
“Text me if you value sitting any time in the near future,” Talon warned with steel in his voice.
She looked around to make sure she was alone before answering, “Yes, Daddy.”
“Good girl.”
He hung up to check if any members were at the courthouse today. Elizabeth knew he wouldn’t text back. She was either totally mistaken or one of the Devil’s Jesters was here. Controlling her body’s automatic reaction to move as the cold shiver ran down her back, Elizabeth straightened her back and walked toward her next courtroom.
Scanning the crowd subtly as she walked, Elizabeth nodded to acquaintances and the security staff. She didn’t see anyone who didn’t need to be there. Feeling the tension ebb from her shoulders, Elizabeth turned into the courtroom.
“There’s the bitch,” a familiar voice growled.
“Bailiff,” Elizabeth called as she came to an abrupt stop a short distance away from the group of five bikers.
“Oh, right. Call for the jailer before you even know why we’re here,” Vengeance announced.
“When you greet me with foul language after you chased me down last night, I don’t expect that you’re here to bring me flowers,” she said, forcefully keeping her tone even and flat.
“Flowers are not for ball-breaking bitches,” he growled.
“Ms. Sinclair, are these men bothering you?” the bailiff asked as he rushed forward.
“For some reason, these men felt the need to call me names and stop my progress into the courtroom,” Elizabeth said without emotion in her voice. She’d gone toe to toe with some people accused of horrible crimes. These guys weren’t going to rattle her—even if they had chased her home.
“You’ll have to leave,” the bailiff ordered, pointing toward the door.
“These are witnesses for the prosecution,” the opposing counsel said, rushing forward to join the conversation.
“All five of them?” Elizabeth asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Just me,” Vengeance stated before adding, “They’re my emotional support bikers.”
The laughter from the others did not make Elizabeth or the bailiff smile.
“The others will need to leave if they can’t sit down and shut up,” the bailiff announced. “The judge will not tolerate any form of intimidation.”
“I’d suggest you get your witness pool under control,” Elizabeth told the prosecuting attorney before turning and waiting for the bikers to shift out of her way. It took several seconds for them to move.
She settled her things on the table provided for the defense and opened her briefcase to pull out a pad of paper and some documents. As the bailiff walked by to retake his position at the judge’s door, Elizabeth told him, “I’d like to talk to the judge before we get started this morning.”
“I’ll pass along the message,” he told her. “Your client is on her way.”
“Thank you.”
In a few moments, a frazzled-looking woman in an orange jumpsuit was brought into the courtroom. Elizabeth smiled at her as she walked to the table. “Good morning, Edith. Are you ready to start getting your life back?”
“Do they have to be here?” the woman asked, glancing over her shoulder at the leather-vested men.
“This is an open proceeding. As long as they don’t create a disturbance, anyone can be here. I take it they’re here to intimidate you?”
“Oh, yeah. They all want to kill me.”
“Well, they’re not going to touch you,” Elizabeth said.
“Ms. Sinclair, the judge is ready to meet with you,” the bailiff said.
The prosecuting attorney stood immediately, and Elizabeth nodded. “You’re going to want to hear this.”
Walking out of the courthouse at the end of the day, Elizabeth couldn’t prevent the smile that curved her lips. Talon waited on the top step for her. His bike stood at the curb in a cluster of others from the Shadowridge Guardians.
“Hey, Elizabeth. We need to get you better friends,” he said, straightening at the sight of the Devil’s Jesters who followed her out the door. “Get behind me.”
“Oh, they’re not friends. For some reason, they want to shadow me. I think they’re considering going to jail and needing a defense attorney,” Elizabeth said with a look over her shoulder.
“Behind me, Elizabeth,” he repeated as he kept his eyes on the bikers.
Elizabeth followed his directions and noted the rest of the Shadowridge Guardians stalking forward.
“Looks like he has a trained bitch,” Vengeance joked.
“Seems to me there’s only one bitch here.” Talon’s eyes stared at the large man before them.
“Talon. It’s okay,” Elizabeth urged. She didn’t want to see a fight. Talon was densely muscled, but Vengeance towered over him by several inches and a bunch of padding.