Page 43 of Truth Forever
“If you have your usual legal team, email me.” She passed over a glossy white card. And Wicked took it, slipping it into his back pocket without a word. His face was pensive as he looked between us. A worry line appearing between his thick eyebrows.
“I will pass over any notes I have.” She didn’t even look at me as she thrust out her hand. He didn’t hesitate in taking it. “Thank you, Cali.”
She nodded once. “Was my pleasure.” Her eyes skirted to my face and then away as if it hurt her to look at me. “Take care of yourself.”
I didn’t know whether she was talking to him or me and it didn’t really matter. She was already walking out the door before I could open my mouth.
“How did she know…” my eyes followed her, but my question was to my brother.
He laughed. “I called her Truth. I called her, and she dropped everything to come and make sure your ass didn’t get thrown in jail.” His heavy arm thrust forward, and I took my cut from him with a sigh of relief. “You forgot hers.”
Unseeing, I stared at the leather in his hand. The patch on the back catching my attention.
Property of Truth.
“I….”
“You fucked up little brother, there’s no denying that, but it isn’t too late. She came when I called, and it wasn’t because of my winning personality. It was because it was you.”
I swallowed hard. “She doesn’t want anything to do with me. She wouldn’t even look at me, let alone listen to me.”
Wicked grinned. Dropping the cut into my waiting hands. “Then you will just have to make her listen little brother.”
Chapter EIGHTEEN
Cali
Ikept myself together, the entire time I was in the same small cramped room as Truth. I wasn’t sure how I had done it, but somehow I did.
“Cali?” Layla’s voice was startled as I crashed through the front door. My legs buckled before I even had time to shut it and I crumbled to the floor in a heap. Sobbing uncontrollably.
“Cali.” My best friend in the world was there in a second. Kneeling beside me, she pulled my head into her dressing gowned breast. “Cali, what is it?”
I couldn’t speak, I could barely breathe. All I could do was sob. Great wracking sobs that made my chest hurt and my throat sore.
“Cali, come on babes. Talk to me.” Gently she pulled me to my feet, and I let myself be lifted. Just like I let myself be lead over to the sofa. Loosing one of my heels as I went. “What’s happened?” Layla’s hands went back around my shoulders.
“Truth.” His name ripped out of my mouth. It was the only thing I could say.
Layla’s eyes blazed. “Did he hurt you?” She looked around like he was right there in the room. “I’ll kill him.”
I would have smiled at the outrage in her voice if I hadn’t been so miserable. She really was a good friend. Although the idea of all five foot of her taking on Truth was comical. “He didn’t hurt me. He’s just in town.”
She paused. “And you have seen him?”
I took a deep breath. Time to come clean with my friend.
“That’s why you ran out of your own leaving party? You went to meet him?” She sounded incredulous.
“I went to represent him. He was arrested for murder.” I watched as her eyes grew round. Disbelief clear on her face. “Ok.” She said it softly. “I think you need to explain that to me again?”
I had to agree with her. I owed her an explanation. I owed them all an explanation, but I would start with giving Layla one.
“Ok,” my voice came out strangled, but as soon as I started to talk, I couldn’t stop. It all came out in a rushed jumble of words. The entire time Layla just stared at me. She had schooled her features into something that resembled understanding, but I knew she had a million questions. I would have as well if I was her. Hell, I had lived through it. And I still had questions.
When I finally finished, she stood without a word and walked out of the room. It was only when I heard the kettle start to boil that I realised she hadn’t run away. She had gone to make tea like she always did when she was freaked.
“You think I’m a crazy slut, right?” I finally asked when she appeared in the doorway with two steaming mugs.
