Because I was nothing more than a warm body at night.
28
RYDER
Michael practically stumbledout of the house with Blake, his eyes wide and frantic as I approached with the family lawyer I’d spent all day trying to convince to take the emergency hearing.
“What is this?” Michael snapped. “We still have the hearing! You’re not taking him!”
Stepping in front of him, I pressed my hand against his chest before he did something stupid. “This is Marie Jacobs. She’s a family lawyer, and she’s agreed take your case.”
“What? No, I told you I wanted you!”
“I’m not versed in family law,” I emphasized, hoping he’d calm his shit down and listen. “There are procedures and so much other shit that I can’t possibly learn in a day. I’ll be there with you at the hearing, but Marie can effectively argue your case.”
“Parker,” Blake said quietly, placing her hand on his arm. Slowly, he backed off, the muscles in his body loosening just a little. “Let’s hear her out.”
“Marie is going to stay with you and get up to speed on the case.”
“Wait, you’re leaving?” Michael said, suddenly worked up again.
“I have other cases I need to deal with, and a secretary who arrived early this morning for her first day on the job. I wasn’t there, and I’m not even sure if she’s still there. Trust me, Marie is very good.”
It didn’t matter how much I told him everything would be fine. He was on edge and would be until this whole thing was over.
“Can you drive her back to town when she’s done interviewing you?”
“Yeah,” he nodded.
But it was Blake who guided Marie into the house while Parker stood outside, trying to regain his composure.
“I’m not just shoving this off on another person. This is the best route.”
“I know that,” he croaked out. “I’m just…”
Shoving his fingers through his tousled hair, he paced away from me.
“Your devotion to Wes is a positive thing, but if you go into that courtroom and look like you want to murder someone, you’ll only lose. Listen to Marie and give her everything she needs. Don’t hide a damn thing from her. Any surprises will only hurt your case.”
He nodded. “What about…the dishonorable discharge?”
“You have the letter from the president. Make sure you give that to Marie. Explain the entire situation, how you came to have the charges overturned, and the heroic actions that earned you the right to have your case reviewed. I know you see that DD as a stain on your reputation, but you saved the whole fucking world. Any judge will see that and know what a true hero you are.”
“Or they’ll see me as reckless.”
I clapped him on the shoulder and gave a squeeze, hoping to reassure him. “Like I said, Marie will know how to handle this. Trust her.”
Sighing, he finally agreed and headed inside. Checking my watch, I cursed myself in the fading sunlight. This day had turned out to be nothing like I had planned, and instead of breaking in a new secretary, I’d left her alone at the office. I wasn’t even sure if she’d waited for me.
Getting back into my car, I headed back to the office, wishing I could just drive across the property and lay my head down for a few minutes in my bed. Hell, I’d take the couch right now, even if it was too damn small.
Pulling up to my office, I was more than a little concerned when I saw not only police tape around my office door, but Mav, Remi, and his brother Wayne all standing on the sidewalk.
All in their uniforms.
“Fuck,” I whispered to myself, wondering what the hell happened now.
I shoved the door open and barely had a foot out the door when I was attacked by a weeping Ellie, who wrapped her body around mine, squeezing the life out of me.
