“Hello, open the door so I can go.”
“They are not locked, Abria. You can go.”
He leaned back in his chair like he was defeated.
Only I was the one who felt defeated. How the fuck did I end up on this side of the law being questioned like I’m some criminal?
I walked out of the office and slammed the door so hard I am sure I jammed it.
I stormed through the building with fury and hell trailing behind me until I heard the voice and the laugh of the man who I’m sure was behind all of this. Marcus.
I walked straight up to him and grabbed his arm.
“I need to talk to you. Now, Marcus.”
“Bria,” he said smoothly. “Nice to see you again.”
He tried that casual role with me, but I wasn’t in the mood to be discreet.
“I need to talk to you outside. Now.”
I walked off, and he followed me out the door.
“Can I help you?”
“Listen, cut the act. Why the fuck am I being questioned about a murder-for-hire?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
“No, you tell me. You were just saying something at the park the other day about me being too close to danger, and now this shit? Marcus, this has you written all over it. Threatening my brother didn’t work, so now you’re trying to get me sent to prison? Are you crazy?”
“I’m not crazy. I didn’t have anything to do with this. All I did was warn you because I work in this field and I know the game, Abria. That’s all.”
I shook my head.
“Don’t be mad at me because I offered you advice in advance.”
“You didn’t advise me of a goddamn thing,” I cut in.
“How about I go tell them that you and I have been fucking for years, and you openly prosecuted a case against me knowing we were involved?”
“Oh, so I see my already rich ass losing my license is equal to you going to prison. That will really suck for me.” He spoke sarcastically.
“Listen, Abria, don’t try to throw me under the bus because it is about to run you over.”
I shook my head, but slapping the shit out of him was really on my mind.
“Listen, Marcus. Make this shit go away, or I’ll take you down with me.”
“You can’t take me down. The most I’ve done is unethical practice. I have other businesses across the city that can keep me afloat without practicing law. You, on the other hand, will just be a hoe with nothing but a vagina you can’t even give away because you will be around all women. That’s unless you start swinging the other way.”
He laughed, and I couldn’t help myself.
I drew my arm back and slapped the shit out of him, hoping too many people didn't see the taste leave his mouth. This was New York, however, so even if someone did, people minded their business anyway.
“Damn, angry much.” He rubbed the part of his face that I left my handprint on.
“Make this shit stop, Marcus, or you will regret it. I’m not kidding.”
