“Then why go into law for the city? If you only cared about money, there are enough corporate legal jobs to have kept you in designer suits for ten lifetimes.”
“And then you’re stuck with partner politics and all the ridiculous BS that comes with getting along well with others.”
Since the common wisdom at the big firms was “eat what you kill,” Sera wasn’t ready to give him the point on that one, but really, what did it matter? He’d created some story for himself that separated him from what he was doing. What she had to do was create enough of her own story to get her and the baby out and away.
Memories of that text message filled her thoughts, pushing her on.
I’ve got you.
Gavin would have put everything into motion by now, so her focus had to be on getting out. Because staying in was the worst thing she could do.
No one could help her inside.
And David had likely rigged everything to his benefit in here.
She needed out.
“I always respected your leadership. It’s why I’ve stayed here. Why I choose to work for the city, each and every day.”
He looked up from where he tapped on his phone, an overbright grin marring his features. “Glad to know the ol’ act worked.”
“If you won’t consider letting me go for me, at least consider it for my child.”
The grin fell, and in its place was a rapid set of calculations. “The cop. It’s his baby. The one you were cozying up to on the police boat.”
The police boat? “What—” The question was nearly out before she realized what he meant. “You have a watchman up at Hell Gate?”
“People get in the way, Sera. Modern tech is so much better. Removes too many sets of eyes and gives me all I need.”
Somewhere down deep, Sera realized that was the final piece of the puzzle. A part of her—bigger than she’d realized—had kept hoping he had been dragged into this somehow. Influenced by darker forces who seduced him with money and promises of even more power.
But there was no one else.
“It really is you. Behind all of this.”
“You seem surprised by that.” The statement was said so clearly as to be almost academic. It nearly tripped her up, because it felt like so many other conversations they’d had through the years. Debating a legal point. Discussing motives. Reviewing various legal theory.
But it wasn’t any of those things. It was just the horrible, terrible truth that one more person she trusted had betrayed her.
“It’s time to go now.”
“What?”
He’d already stood, the gun in hand unwavering as he pointed toward the door with his phone. “It’s time to go.”
“Go where?”
“Where I can get rid of you and still have a shot at keeping my little enterprise going.”
They wanted David Esposito alive.
Arlo had run him through it. Captain Reed had added his requirements via a call before confirming he was on his way. SWAT had been given the same set of instructions.
Unless the risks were too great, the man was to be kept alive at all costs.
The fallout would be enormous, a betrayal on this scale from an elected official in the largest city in America. And the very highest echelons of the department wanted it all on record so they could make an example out of him.
Gavin understood the orders. He even had every intention of following them.
Unless there was a whisper of risk to Sera. Then all bets were off.
He and Arlo had set up with the SWAT team in front of the DA’s office. The fact that Esposito had bombed the sub shop was enough to get the bomb squad in as well, and they were on point should anything suggest David had rigged the government building.
“Heat signature!”
Gavin moved closer to the SWAT team manning the equipment. “Two bodies, on the move.”
He watched the movement on screen. Saw the awkward way the two people walked, like one was restraining the other in some way.
They moved through the third floor, from the back of the building toward its center to a stairwell. Step by step, he could see them walk, before they arrived on the second floor. He’d only been in the building once, but could still picture the large stairwell that ran up the middle of the structure. It had reminded him of high school, those stairs a sort of common meeting ground on the lobby and each ascending floor. Stairs that, once descended, would bring someone to the lobby where you could go out the front door to the main thoroughfare or out the back door to an alley and a small parking lot beyond.
“He’s moving her. Getting her out of the building,” Gavin said, certain they’d exit in the back. Even more certain no one on point in the back would take the needed shot.
With absolute conviction, he recognized the truth. David Esposito was too important. And that made Sera expendable.
He took a few steps back from the assembled SWAT team and the expert manning the heat signatures. He was the only one who had her best interests at heart.
One deep breath.
