Chapter 7

I sat in the waiting room of the best law firm in New York, Stern, Lockhart and Gardner. I had been working here for almost six months and frankly it had been fantastic. Law had always been my passion, to serve and protect had not been the correct route for me. My families legacy had always made me proud but I was not cut from the same cloth, they were so much more honourable and selfless then I could ever be. It had been a hard pill to swallow but it had been necessary, despite the residual guilt.

Seven months earlier...

The morning after the night before had not been half as awkward as I'd anticipated, the smell of hot strong coffee had disturbed my slumber. As I'd entered the land of the living my mind noticed many noises. There were the obvious sounds of furniture being righted and cleaners returning the lavish apartment to pristine condition, but their were voices. Low angry voices were obviously arguing in italian.

The argument escalated and just as I contemplated interfering the second man stormed out of the apartment. Noble was dismissing the last of the help as I entered the main living area. A beautiful smile lit up his voice as he spotted me, " breakfast?" it was good, no awkward pauses, no recriminations or regrets. We kept conversation light and on neutral topics, no one wanted to discuss the herd of elephants in the room. Why ruin a perfectly good buzz?

But the real world was always only a terse reply away, Bianca the girl who he had not seen since her brothers arrest just sat opposite him with a shit eating grin adorned on her beautiful face. A thousand emotions flitted across her face, but the predominant hue was that of smugness as evidenced by her opening pot shot. "Did it hurt falling off your pedestal to my brothers feet?" the pure rage taking over her entire being within seconds. The hostility was coming off her in waves.

A shut the hell up glare was aimed at her from my friend? Boyfriend? Lover? But the princess was not listening she had watched as her brother lived the emotional roller coaster that was this fucked up relationship. Trying not to fall in love with his boy and failing miserably, threatening and ultimately killing anyone who had dared cross the mythical lines he had drawn in the sand, No one but her had dared to question his decisions. The worst had been the days leading up to the trial. The general assumption was that noble needed to prove his smarts after having the wool pulled over his eyes.

However no one had seen the raw pain her twin experienced after he had seen the witness list, Noble had killed the head of the family for him and this was his repayment. Bianca chose to ignore everything that was discovered after that point. I mean she had seen her tough, cocky, unshakeable brother pine for christsake. So no the douche soon to be ex cop didn't get a free pass, well at least until after the commitment ceremony.

The three of them spent a very uncomfortable morning together, the snark seemed never ending. Jamie appreciated Noble trying to act as a buffer but a sense of guilt had started to build. He had hurt this man in a thousand tiny ways, he had offended and bruised his ego and heart. But still he stood by him and for him no matter what the consequences, he even went as far as to kill his younger uncle. Yet he had never asked Jamie for anything in return.

Meanwhile Bianca had built up to her final bombshell, " Did he tell you, did he tell you that my uncle kidnapped me yesterday and held me at gunpoint? That he's on his last chance? If he screws up we're both dead. So you better be sure."