“I got moved from homicide to vice a month ago. I never expected to catch such a big fish in my first month.” He winked at Ross, and I stepped in front of him. I didn’t have a chance of protecting Ross from Agosti’s gaze, though, not when Ross was much wider and bulkier than me. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Demchenko. You and your client decide.”
He turned his back and walked away, and I let out the harsh breath I’d been holding. I looked at River pleadingly. “Tell me you can stop this.”
River glanced at West, who shook his head and nudged his glasses farther up his nose. Unlike River, West had a kinder face, and he reminded me more of an older brother whose main mission in life was to take care of the less fortunate. He didn’t instill fear like River, but he was another damned good lawyer.
“It’s a solid search warrant, signed by Judge Tamaki. Whatever they got on him must have probable cause because Tamaki doesn’t mess around with a person’s rights.”
“Fuck,” River mumbled before he stared at Ross hard. “Other than being caught with Lane, what else can they have on you?”
Ross shook his head. “Nothing. They have the video of me and Stormy in the stairwell. Shit.” He ran a hand over his head and sighed. “They got some photos of us, too. More money being exchanged.”
“That could be just us going out on dates, right?” I whispered hopefully.
River took his glasses off and squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Could they have pictures of you exchanging money with other… professionals?”
Ross winced, and I knew the answer without him saying a word. I’d heard about other whores having nights with him, too, and I wasn’t jealous. That’s the way our business went, and even though I easily lied to the detective, Ross wasn’t anything but my client. I reached out and snagged his hand, giving it a soft squeeze.
“They never showed me any, but it’s possible.”
“Okay.” River raised his chin and slid his glasses back on. “Then I have my work cut out for me, don’t I?”
“We’re finished here,” Agosti called out from the bedroom. When he reentered the room, he had a pair of cuffs in his hand, and Ross’s eyes widened at the sight of them.
“Is that necessary, Detective?” West asked, stepping up beside River. “Our client has been nothing but cooperative. If you’re trying to make a mockery of the mayor, we won’t allow it, and we’ll be sure to inform the judge of your behavior.”
Agosti dropped the cuffs but didn’t stop smiling as he approached Ross. “Fine. Come on.” He grabbed Ross by the upper arm, and all I could do was watch helplessly as they guided him out of the apartment. The uniforms followed, obviously not finding anything they were looking for, and West was out the door like a shot, probably to make sure they weren’t making a spectacle of escorting Ross out in front of the media.
My gut churned as I blinked around at the mess they’d left. I thought about cleaning up, but I didn’t know where things went. The times I’d come here comprised of me being on my knees or in the bed. I hadn’t taken the time to check the place out.
River touched my shoulder, and I returned my attention to him. “You do realize they’ll use you against him, right? Agosti is proving to be a bastard when it comes to the Courtesans. He wants them all, and he’ll ask Ross to give you up. Technically, me and West being his lawyers is a conflict of interest.”
“I trust him,” I whispered, patting River on the chest. “He wouldn’t give me up. He’s not stupid. Madam Winters would destroy him.”
“He signed a nondisclosure agreement about what happens in the Courtesan, not outside of it. You spent a lot of time with him outside the hotel.” He pursed his lips.
“I trust him,” I repeated.
He shook his head. “I hope that’s not your downfall, Lane. But I’ll defend him.”
“And I’ll pay your bills.”
He guided me over to the barstools set against the kitchen island and sat me down on one, and then he sat in the one beside mine. The coldness in his face warmed, and a gentleness I hadn’t seen before washed over him. “Does your dad know you’re paying me for this?”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s my trust fund.” Squaring my shoulders, I got ready for a fight.
Holding up his hands, he smiled, and that threw me for a moment. “Okay. I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing, Lane. He’s a john, nothing more. Madam Winters would tell you the same thing.”
“Maybe, but he’s a good man.”
“If you say so.” He squeezed my shoulder one more time before letting go. “Do you want to come to the station? You won’t be able to go into the back with him, but if you’re playing the caring boyfriend, it’s best if you come with us.”
“Yes,” I said, without missing a beat. I shifted over to grab his apartment keys from the kitchen island and met River near the door. “I’m coming.”
I didn’t knowhow long I sat in the police station, but it felt like hours. I’d found myself in the waiting area in front of the information desk, watching everyone who came in and out of the door with curiosity. There was an array of interesting characters, from a drunk man who’d wet himself, to a woman who claimed her husband had stolen all the money in their joint account and gone on the run. I kind of wished I had popcorn because it certainly felt like a movie. I didn’t often find myself in a police station.
“Lane?”
I jumped at the sound of the soft voice and glanced up at Officer Caro, who came around the desk with a gentle smile on his face. I always thought he was too kind to be a police officer, but I was used to dealing with people who hated “the scum of New Gothenburg.” Caro wasn’t one of those men. He reminded me of a teddy bear, right down to the bushy beard, soft stomach, and sweet smile.
