Rich Blood (Jason Rich #1)(22)

“Earth to Jason.” Izzy waved her hands in front of his face and playfully punched his shoulder.

Jason gazed down at the floor, depression beginning to sink in. He enjoyed thinking about the success of his firm and his partnership with Izzy. But, despite it all, his life had spun out of control. “Sorry. Got a lot on my mind. Jana and her kids are in real trouble, and I may be the only one who can help them.”

She leaned close to him and spoke in a low tone. “Why do you want to help her? After all that Jana has done to you. After how she acted after your dad died? And the way she treated Lakin? Why?”

Jason winced at the sound of his ex-wife’s name.

“Why can’t you let her go?” Izzy pressed.

Jason leaned his elbows forward on his knees and placed his face in his hands. “I don’t know,” he finally said. “But something inside me says that I’m never going to be able to do that unless . . .” He looked up at her. “ . . . Unless I go home.”

Izzy stood and paced to the window, which overlooked downtown Birmingham. The sun was setting on the Magic City, and a few blocks over, the Barons were about to start a series with the Montgomery Biscuits. Jason stood and took a place next to her, admiring the city. “Remember when we didn’t have any windows?” he asked.

“That first office off 280 was such a dump,” Izzy said, her voice monotone.

“We’ve come a long way.”

“And you’re going to risk everything by taking on a capital murder trial. What if you lose? What if you embarrass yourself? We could be finished.”

“One case won’t make or break us.”

She turned and looked at him. “That’s bullshit and you know it. In this racket, you’re only as good as your last case.” She paused. “The word is already out, you know. A few reporters discovered that Jana is your sister, and two of them called this afternoon, wanting to know if the rumors were true. That Jason Rich of the Rich Law Firm was going to take on one of the most high-profile murder cases in the last twenty years.”

“What’d you say?”

“No comment. But it’s not going to end. You’re going to put yourself and our firm in the spotlight over there. You’ve never tried a case to verdict. If you lose and you lose badly, as you damn well probably will since the witch is probably guilty, then everything everyone says about us will be proved true. We’re frauds. We aren’t real lawyers. We’re ambulance chasers. Snake oil salesmen. You’ll give each of our competitors an advantage, and we’ll become a laughingstock overnight.”

Jason gritted his teeth, knowing that she was right but not appreciating the insight. “You’re welcome to leave at any time. Just as you were when I was sent to rehab.”

She punched his arm and, this time, there was nothing playful about the gesture.

“Ouch.”

“Don’t patronize me. I’m not going to walk out on you. Without you, I’d have nothing. I owe you my whole career. I would never have broken in as a lawyer if you hadn’t given me a chance.”

“Those other firms were all stupid.”

Her voice began to shake. “No, you were the stupid one. You gave me a chance without any reason to do so.”

“Hiring you was the easiest and smartest decision of my life.”

She wiped her eyes before the tears could fall. “If you represent Jana, that’s going to be the worst.”

“You don’t know that.”

“My gut tells me you’re stepping onto a land mine.”

Jason leaned his forehead against the warm glass. He gaped at the traffic on the highway. “I’m going to drive to Guntersville and check things out. I have to do that anyway.” He hesitated. “They’re my family, Izzy. They’re the only family I’ve got, and they need me right now.”

“You’ve also got me and Harry,” she said. “We need you too.”

“I know.”

“When are you leaving?”

“Tonight. Gonna go check on things at the apartment, then head out.”

“Everything’s fine there. I had it cleaned for you yesterday, and Harry and I have been looking in on things a couple times a week.”

“Thank you,” he said, turning toward her. “I mean it. Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” she said. “I’m really glad you’re back, even if you’re going to risk everything we’ve built.”

Jason started to protest, but Izzy’s smirk stopped him. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Come on.” She bolted past him toward the door.

“Where are we going?”

“If you’re heading to Guntersville to possibly take on the trial of the century, I’m not letting you take that clunky SUV you drove to Perdido. No way, no how. Not on my watch.”

Jason beamed as they reached the elevator. “You got my car fixed?”

After they stepped inside and she pressed the button for the first floor, she inspected him with brown eyes that radiated intensity. “If you’re hell bent and determined to do this, you’re not going as some limp-dicked shadow of your former self.” She poked him hard in the chest. “You’re going home as Jason motherfucking Rich.”