“What’s it entail?”
“I have to meet with my...” Kennedy paused in search of the best descriptor before calling Relic what she deemed him in thatmoment. “Business partner to finalize a deal. It shouldn’t take more than an hour.”
“Okay, do you know the attorney’s name? I can check if my husband is familiar with the firm to see what we’re walking into.”
“Morrone, but I don’t know his first name. This is the address to his office.”
Kennedy pulled up the message from Relic and lifted her phone for Abiza to see and research their competition. She frowned when Abiza released a snide laugh instead.
“This one is pro bono. I know exactly who that fucker is and how he moves. I know where that office is located, too.”
“You’ve worked with him before?”
“No, but I’ve slept with him before. Mariono Morrone is my husband.”
Kennedy was a bad bitch,but Abiza Morrone was an advanced version that Kennedy aspired to emulate by the time she was that age. Boss energy radiated from Abiza as they strutted through the building that appeared vacant to Kennedy until they rounded a corner and entered a glass door. Paralegals were tucked inside cubicles while a single woman with a greasy ponytail and bifocals perched on her nose sat behind a desk near a large office Kennedy figured belonged to Morrone. As soon as they neared, the woman peered up and jumped into action.
“Mrs. Morrone! So good to see you. Let me buzz Mr. Morrone—”
“Don’t bother,” Abiza clipped, walking past her.
“He’s with a client! I—oh.”
Kennedy tried not to laugh as the woman jumbled her desk phone, trying to catch Morrone before his wife could barge intohis office unannounced. It was futile because by the time she caught up with Abiza, the woman as fiery as her hair burst through the wooden door, causing the black blinds secluding his office to rattle. Kennedy stood behind her attorney, watching Morrone rise from his chair at the most leisure pace while Relic leaned back in his seat with a faint smile. They seemed familiar with Abiza’s intrusions. Both men’s expressions shifted before they glanced at one another after Kennedy moved from behind Abiza, making her presence known.
“Hello, Mario. I guess we’re both on the clock today.” Abiza greeted her husband with that gibe and patted the laptop bag hanging from her shoulder.
Her laptop and a pair of heels were the only thing she had grabbed from her convertible before hopping into the car with Kennedy. She’d tapped her fingers against it non-stop as Kennedy drove while telling her details about the pending agreement.
Kennedy knew Abiza was the perfect attorney for the job when she’d kept her mouth shut and didn’t try to give her input on the absurd things Relic had requested in their agreement. Abiza did her fucking job and nothing more.
“Abiza, my love,” Morrone started, adjusting his suit jacket. “I’m in the middle of an important discussion. Can we do this later?”
“Do what later? Did you not hear what I said? I’m on the clock. Ms. Sutton hired me as her attorney. Should we move this to the conference room?”
“She did what?” Relic stood with those thick brows settling over a brooding glare. Kennedy smirked.
“Well, the dummy mission you sent me on led me to this stunning attorney. Country clubs are a great place to network, don’t you think? Anyway, she warned me that Morrone handling both parties was a conflict of interest. I found that funny sincewhen I called him and asked if he could point me in the right direction of my own attorney, he assured me it wasn’t necessary. Good thing I met your wife today.”
Creases formed in Relic’s forehead before he glanced at Morrone. “You didn’t mention that she called you.”
“Client-attorney privilege. You asked me to represent her. You didn’t pay me enough to run everything back to you that we talk about.”
“The hell if I didn’t!”
“Abiza, let’s step out for a moment. We need to have a discussion,” Morrone told his wife, ignoring Relic.
He didn’t give her a chance to decline before storming in her direction to grip her arm and drag her off. Kennedy stepped in, closing the door behind her as Relic waved his hand for her to sit in the chair he’d occupied.
“When did you reach out to Morrone?” he questioned while leaning against the desk with folded arms.
“After the detectives showed up at my salon. Do you have cameras in my office?”
“No, but I have one inside my safe, and I expect every fucking dollar to be there when I check. Don’t ever in your life steal from me again, Kennedy.”
His icy tone and colder glare made her stomach lurch as she shied away from his stare. She’d taken the money to pay Tolliver for his help but planned to replace it once she could gradually pull the large amount from her account.
“You said I could take money from it, Relic, and I was going to put it back. Nu told me once that Los never takes out more than ten grand because it raises flags, so I didn’t want to do that.”
