Desperate Girls (Wolfe Security #1)(42)
“Time?” Brynn shook her head. “That’s something you don’t have right now, Danny. You’re facing two years, minimum, and your trial’s in nine weeks. You need a real defense team, or you’re looking at hard time.”
His smug expression faded.
“She’s right,” Reggie said. “It’s time to make a choice here, Danny.” Danny looked at his agent. Brynn could tell he was close to a decision. Beside her, Reggie shifted in his chair, and she knew he was winding up for the big pitch.
“Be smart here, Danny.” Reggie leaned forward. “Go with Blythe and Gunn. It’s like I tell all my clients, you don’t want to take a knife to a gunfight.”
Brynn managed not to groan. Or reach for her wine. She hated Reggie’s slogan almost as much as she hated giving clients the hard sell. But this particular client was half-drunk, so subtlety would have been a waste of time.
Danny turned to Brynn with a look that was both lazy and calculating. She’d been on the receiving end of looks like that before.
He nodded at Reggie. “I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t think too long. Trials take preparation.”
Danny looked at his agent. “We ready?”
“Whenever you are.”
Danny flagged a waiter. “Hey, tell them to bring the car around.”
Everyone stood up. Brynn stayed back as the men filed out, not wanting to get swept up in good-byes. Danny’s agent started passing out cigars, and Brynn took advantage of the diversion to slip off to the ladies’ room.
Once inside, she stood before the mirror and sighed. She looked tired. And wilted. Which was precisely how she felt after getting no sleep and being in court all day and then enduring a three-hour Danathon. And what about Hayes and Erik? They had to be just as tired as she was, only they hadn’t had the benefit of a steak dinner. Guilt needled her as she smoothed her hair and freshened her lipstick. Her phone pinged with a text, and she dug it from her purse.
It was Hayes: We’re out front.
Brynn rushed out of the restroom and nearly smacked into a broad chest.
“Hey there.”
She smiled up at Danny. “Hey.”
“You were planning to leave without saying good-bye, weren’t you? I see how it is.”
“Of course not. It was lovely meeting you. Thank you for dinner.”
“I meant what I told Reggie.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m thinking about hiring you.” He leaned his hand against the wall above her. “You might be just the woman I need to get me off.”
Brynn wanted to gag. Instead, she smiled. “Our firm’s record speaks for itself. We hope to get your business.”
He smiled and dipped his head down. Brynn ducked under his arm.
“Thanks again for dinner,” she said, striding down the hall.
Erik stood beside the door, watching her. He shot a look over her shoulder, and if looks could incinerate, Danny would have been a pile of ashes.
Without a word, Erik pushed open the door. The Tahoe was waiting with Hayes behind the wheel. A red Ferrari rolled to a stop, and a valet hopped out.
Brynn ignored the obnoxious car and the even more obnoxious man who slid behind the wheel. She reached for her door, but Erik beat her to it.
“Thank you.”
He didn’t respond as she climbed inside.
They made their way home through the tree-lined streets of one of Dallas’s wealthiest neighborhoods. No one spoke. Brynn was tense, Erik was silent, and Hayes just seemed oblivious to the mood as he navigated across town.
Brynn busied herself scrolling through her phone until they reached the Atrium.
“I’ll park. You take her up,” Erik told Hayes.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Brynn rode the elevator up with Hayes.
“Please tell me you got some dinner,” she said.
“Not yet.”
“I’m so sorry. I’ll order you a pizza.”
“Really, I’m fine.” They stepped off the elevator. “I’m off in an hour.”
Still, she felt guilty as they walked down the hallway.
“Hey, you mind if I stop for a sec?” she asked. “I need to talk to Ross.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
She rapped on the door. It was almost eleven, but Ross was a night owl.
He answered in jeans and a sweatshirt, beer in hand. “Hey, nice dress.” He looked her up and down. “How’d it go with Sheffield?”
“Fine.” She walked past him. “Where’s Skyler?”
“In the control room. That’s what we’re calling it now.”
She turned to Ross. “Danny’s still deciding.”
“Damn, I thought we had him.”
“I think we will.”
“Well, cheers to clients with money.” He lifted his beer. “You want a brew?”
“I just stopped by for an update. You hear anything from Bulldog?”
“Not tonight.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. But don’t sweat it. He’ll come through.”
“I’m sweating it, Ross. I mentioned Perez in my opening statement today.”
“He’ll be here in time to testify.”