He lets my words linger for a second, and then gives a one-off chuckle. “Another thing I love about you—your ability to cut someone down with that tongue of yours. It does amazing things.”
“As much as I’ve enjoyed your inappropriate comments, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“You’re determined to clean up the streets of Northam. It’s noble and altruistic. I can respect that,” he interrupts. He strolls from behind my desk and stops in the middle of the room. “But it’s not practical. You’re stepping on a lot of toes, Phi. As much as I love seeing you dominate in the courtroom, it’s creating a conflict of interest.”
“Is that your tough guy way of saying you’re worried I’ll bust you?”
He rubs his jaw. “It means, I’m concerned for your safety. You have a future as Northam’s DA—it’s breaking down barriers. But some guys don’t take so kindly to some Black chick locking them up, no matter how nice of an ass she has.”
“Amazing, I always love a misogynistic threat with a side order of racism—”
“It’s not how I feel,” he says, brows raised. “It’s howtheyfeel. I’m here to warn you. You need to be careful what affairs you poke your nose into. Brave and empowered as you may feel, I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
Another stretch of silence passes between us. We stare at each other, at an impasse. I can’t figure out if he’s subtly threatening me, or if he’s genuinely concerned. During our relationship, as intense as he was, Salvatore always made me feel safe and protected; even knowing hints of his background, I never once felt afraid of him. He’d never hurt me… would he?
The concern must bleed onto my face, because he takes another step closer. “Phi, you need to listen to me. The streets are talking about the Belini verdict. You need to tread carefully.”
“Please go.” I don’t dignify him with even a glance as I turn my back. “I want you to leave, Salvatore. Right now. No more games.”
He releases his first audible breath. Though I don’t turn around, I know him well enough to guess he’s scrubbing a hand across his jaw again. Still a habit of his after all these years.
“If that’s what you want,” he says finally. He cuts across the office in the direction of the door, and then holds back. “But here’s my offer: meet me for dinner and drinks tomorrow at Grimaldi’s on Grant Avenue. Does eight o’ clock work for you?”
I give a cynical laugh. “You’re unbelievable, do you know that? You come to my office, you threaten me, and you have the nerve to ask me to dinner?”
“It was no threat. Just a warning from a friend.”
“We’re not friends. We’ll never be…anything… again.”
“Eight o’ clock,” he repeats. “I’ll reserve the entire restaurant just for you. All the secrecy you need to protect that reputation. To hide from your father. I’ll be waiting.”
Those are his parting words as the office door drifts shut behind him. I wait until the pad of his footsteps die away before releasing a growl.
“The audacity!” I work off the sudden shot of adrenaline inside me by pacing the length of my office a few times. “I’ll be waiting—who the fuck does he think he is? I can’t believe I almost fell for it.”
I move to the window, chest tight and agitation needling at me. I feel foolish and stupid for even allowing him into my space for as long as I did. Security or no security, I should’ve kicked him out as soon as he showed up!
I glare out the window at Northam’s skyline of bright lights and tall, silhouetted buildings. Several stories below, Salvatore Mancino strolls to the expensive car waiting for him, and drives away.
The streets are talking about the Belini verdict. You need to tread carefully.
“No,” I say to no one but myself, “I don’t need to tread carefully, Salvatore.Youdo.”
3. delphine
Salt and Pepaare waiting for me when I walk through the door. Pepa purrs and curls her smoky gray body around my leg as I set down my purse and briefcase. I crouch low and scratch under her chin.
“Hey girl, how was your day? Did you keep Salt in check?”
As if understanding the question, Salt gives a disgruntled meow from his perched position on my built-in wall shelf. Salt’s an American Curl with a fluffy white coat and little bendy ears resembling devil horns—perfect for a mischievous, snooty cat like him.
The moment I pass through the entrance hall of my high-rise apartment, he leaps from the shelf and follows. Pepa's already trotting at my side, slinking along my ankles. The three of us cut across the wide-open floor plan, where a spacious living room flows into the kitchen and dining area, and then we enter my bedroom.
I keep my apartment as neat and minimalist as my office. Nothing but a clean and natural design palette—beech wood and linen paired with whites and grays and the occasional pops of color. Some plant life and cat posts along with personal touches like candles and books.
Situated in the center of Northam, overlooking the scenic park grounds, the luxury apartment once belonged to Dad and cost a pretty penny.
But it’s worth it. Once home, I can stuff the ADA cape in the closet, and trulyunwind.