Maggie sighed. “I’ll do it. Sorry, Mark.”

Mark grimaced. “You did the right thing by telling me.”

Chapter Thirteen

Lindsey stood silently in Greg’s door.

Greg was sitting at his desk, head tilted down as he studied a file.

Lindsey stood silently at his door, assessing him. He was a handsome man, there was no question. His sense of style was classy, his body muscular, his shoulders broad. But there was something empty and cold about him.

Delicately she cleared her throat. His head jerked up and his eyes narrowed. She watched him closely. His expression went from calculating to welcoming. Funny how she never noticed his tactics before, yet they had to have been visible.

“Lindsey,” he said, waving her forward. “What a surprise.” He pushed to his feet and rounded the desk, his eyes making a quick perusal down her body.

He rested his hip on his desk as she moved, putting a chair between them. He was already too close for comfort.

His eyes were shrewd. He knew what she had done. “So, what do I owe the pleasure of the visit?”

Never one to mince words, Lindsey went for the jugular, just as she had in the courtroom. “I went to Vegas, Greg.” She watched for his reaction.

He didn’t even blink. “Oh?” he said. “I’m surprised you managed time for play while running the firm.”

Lindsey shook her head from side to side, disgust lacing the action. “Please don’t insult my intelligence by playing games, Greg. We both know what I found while I was in Vegas.”

If it weren’t for the muscle that jumped in his jaw, she would never have known how angry he was. The man was made for politics. “The only games I want to play with you, Lindsey, are between the sheets.”

His words were meant to rattle her. A sorry method, low down and dirty. Lindsey almost laughed, despite the flashbacks to their past. “I can only be thankful those days are over.” The words were out before she could stop them. She felt them with so much intensity they had simply spilled from her lips.

An evil smirk appeared on his lips. “I don’t believe you. You liked it, and you know it.” His eyes traveled down her legs in a slow, penetrating gaze that made her skin crawl. “I’ve always had a thing for leggy blondes, darling, and you certainly fit that bill.”

His crudeness floored her. This was a new side of Greg. She ignored his comment. “You knew the Vegas murders were connected to the local cases.”

“I knew no such thing,” he said, but his arms crossed in front of his body. A defensive stance.

Her tone alone accused. Her words were like knives. “It didn’t serve your political agenda, so you covered up the connection.”

He laughed, but it sounded bitter. “You’re barking up the wrong tree.” He paused and narrowed his eyes at her. “Kind of like you did with Hudson.”

Lindsey gave him a level gaze. “Nice try, but I know they’re all connected. I was right about Hudson, and you know it as well as I do.”

He pushed off the desk and took a step towards her. Lindsey automatically moved a little farther behind the chair. “You’re getting a little too cocky for your own good, Lindsey.”

She studied him, trying to read his words. “What does that mean, Greg?” she asked. “It sounds like a threat.”

He took another step, but this time she forced herself to stand still. The door was open. She was safe. The thought hit her like a punch in the stomach. Why would Greg be dangerous? But her instincts said he was. As if to confirm the truth, he said, “You don’t want to cross me.”

Lindsey refused to back off. The victims and their families deserved justice. “You cost lives with your little oversight. I think the press would be very interested.”

He moved swiftly, so swiftly that he was holding her arms before she knew what was happening. “Do it, and I can assure you the press will get an earful about Paxton. I’ll be sure your daddy is ruined.”

Shock and anger twisted in her gut. It was hard to believe she had ever been with this man. She responded in a low voice, through clenched teeth. “Get your hands off me.”

He reached up and ran a finger down her cheek. “Aw, but you like my hands, now don’t you, Lindsey?” He moved as if he might kiss her.

Lindsey turned her head to the side and tugged at her arm.

“Let her go.”

Relief washed over Lindsey at the sound of Mark’s voice. One look at his tense jaw, dark eyes, and tightly drawn body told her he was ready for a fight. Greg dropped her arm as if burned, turning to face Mark. His actions spoke of nervousness, but his voice was cool. “Well, well, the cavalry is here. Hot on her trail, are you, Mark?”

Mark’s gaze settled on Greg’s face in an unblinking stare. “What exactly were you trying to prove, or do you make a habit of manhandling ladies?” he said through clenched teeth, not showing any emotions on his carefully masked face.

Greg’s lips twitched. “I was simply renewing an old friendship.”

Lindsey wanted to say something, but it was clear this had become a battle of wills between the two men. She walked to Mark’s side, but he never took his eyes off Greg. She managed a voice that was remarkably steady. “Greg was warning me not to cross him or he would ruin Paxton.”

Mark still had Greg locked in a cold stare. “Is that so?”

“Just a conversation between friends,” he explained. “We were just saying how dangerous it could be to get into media wars. She made her point, and I demonstrated mine.” He smiled with smug satisfaction. “Quite effectively I believe.”

Mark was silent for a long moment, as if calculating his move or calming his temper. Lindsey wasn’t sure which. “We all know what has gone down, so let’s make this simple,” Mark said, a bite to his tone. “Drop the charges against Williams and make this easy on us all.”

Greg crossed his arms, back in his defensive posture. “Not gonna happen.”

Mark inclined his head. “Then we’ll see you in court.”

Mark turned to leave, followed by Lindsey, and Greg spoke to his retreating back. “The media war won’t be friendly. Keep that in mind.”

Mark turned slowly. “No, you keep that in mind. Don’t underestimate my ability to come out on top.”

Lindsey followed Mark out the door, thinking of the ease at which his arrogant exterior slipped into place. It wasn’t a show, though she knew he had a much softer side. She’d witnessed it firsthand. He really believed he was better than most, and with a sigh of resignation, Lindsey thought he probably was. Not that she would ever tell him that.

Calming now, she started to process the events that had just played out. She stopped walking. Mark stopped with her as if he had been monitoring her footsteps. He looked at her expectantly.

“Why are you here?” she demanded.

He stared at her as if she had lost her mind. “This is not the time or place for this conversation.”

Who made him the almighty deciding factor? “I think it is.”

He reached for her arm but she jerked out of his grasp and pointed at him. “Don’t.”

He surprised her by moving so close their bodies were practically touching. “I will not apologize for being worried about you.”

“I can take care of myself. I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Running off alone while a killer is stalking you says different.”

She glared. “Go to hell, Mark.” She started to walk.

His hand snaked out, catching her arm, and turning her towards him. “I am not letting you walk out of here alone. Either walk with me or I swear to God I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here.”

He meant to do as he said. As much as she didn’t want to go with him, she didn’t want to make a scene. Her lips thinned with barely contained fury. “Fine,” she said through clenched teeth.

Together they walked to the front of the building. Lindsey toyed with the idea of darting once she was on the street but decided against it. Immaturity and misplaced anger wasn’t going to get her anywhere. Instead, she let Mark hail a cab.