Page 62 of Devious Roses
City hall.
Why the fuck would Delphine be at city hall? She no longer works there. She has no business there unless…
“Is she speaking to Polk?” I grit out.
“I’m not sure, Boss. Would you like me to go in and collect her? We’re not supposed to show our faces in there, but I can if you really want—”
“Give it another five minutes. If she doesn’t come out, go in there and bring her out. I don’t care how pissed she is.”
I hang up on those orders. What the hell is Delphine up to? Has she been getting mixed up with Polk? Is that why I was suddenly released from jail and granted house arrest?
Given how mischievous and clever she is—an incredibly dangerous combination—it could be anything. She could be working a case,orshe could be up to something I’d vehemently disagree with.
It wouldn’t be the first time she’s disobeyed me, nor will it be the last.
But I refuse to let my wife get mixed up in my legal troubles and suffer potential consequences for it. The guys in power like Polk would love nothing more than to throw me in the slammerandget Delphine too. It’s important she remains far removed from my crimes.
Knock. Knock.
I look up at the sound of knuckles on my office door.
Stitches pokes his head inside a second later. “Psycho, Suarez is here for your meeting. He’s in the conference room. Should I bring him to the loft or…?”
“I’ll come. I have a task for you.”
Stitches and I fall into step with each other leaving the loft and venturing down the hall outside.
“Delphine’s hiding something,” I explain as we walk. “Find out what it is. Fabio’s a fucking dumbass and too slow to put anything together.”
Stitches wraps a hand around the back of his neck, rubbing it with a look of uncertainty. “I might have a clue.”
I stop short. “What the fuck are you talking about, Francis?”
“Don’t get mad!”
“We’re far past that.” I walk him back a couple steps ’til he’s backing up toward the wall. “Explain. Now. Then I’ll decide if you get to keep both thumbs.”
He gulps. “It’s got something to do with that Newton lady. Mrs. Phi has been having bad nightmares ever since she took on that case.”
“She gave the case to Carlos.”
“Uh…” Stitches sighs. “I’m not so sure that’s true. At… at first, I think it was. But I suspect she took it back. That Newton lady is trying to put up a fight against some people in power. Polk’s one of ’em.”
“You’ve known Delphine is representing Sasha Newton and you didn’t say anything?!”
He holds up his hands. “I don’t know for sure. Just suspicions. Mrs. Phi… she brought me with her to go intimidate Polk. She showed him text messages and photos and mentioned Newton had had his baby. Then she demanded he release you and drop the charges—”
I growl like a beast, so forcefully Stitches jumps back and hits the wall. “DelphineblackmailedPolk and you’re just now telling me?!?”
“You try being stuck between the two of you! A migraine is putting it lightly.”
“Let’s get one thing straight. In case it wasn’t already abundantly clear,” I warn, stepping into his face. “You work for me, and me only. If there’s something going on with Phi, then I want to know about it. I don’t give a fuck where I am, or what I’ve got going on! I could be burning in hell, and I still want to know. Is that fucking clear?”
“Y-yes, Psycho. It won’t happen again!”
“It better not. My fucking wife blackmailed the DA on my behalf. If she winds up in serious trouble, guess who I’m blaming for taking her?”
Stitches gulps and then mumbles that he understands. I send him off on his task—retrieve Delphine and bring her back to the loft. Fabio isn’t competent enough to accomplish it on his own. Stitches practically flies out of the compound trying to make my request happen.