Bailed Out (The Anna Albertini Files #2) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,76

that asshole,” I hissed.

Aiden grasped my arm. “Yes, you are. We owe him one, and I don’t have time to piss him off right now. I need him doing what I want.”

“Why?” I asked, jumping on the advantage. “Tell me why you need that jackass.”

Aiden’s eyes burned a deep blue. “All right, Angel. Here it is. I owe him a favor, and he’s asked that you represent him. If you refuse, I’ve reneged on a deal, and he’ll be angry. I’m not afraid of Pucci, but he’ll come after me, and I’ll have no choice but to put him down. Is that what you want?”

My mouth dropped open. What was this? Sons of Anarchy? “Are you crazy?”

“No, but I am in a bind. So are you going to do this or what? Can’t you go in and explain that you were just hired and need weeks to prepare?” His hand remained firm but gentle on my arm.

I didn’t like any of these alternatives. “What business are you doing with him?”

“He’s training my guys in tactics,” Aiden said.

“Why?”

Aiden made that growling grunt sound that he made a lot around me. “Let’s just say that I might’ve pissed off a couple of clubs when I recruited in California. My guys need training and fast.”

What? “Are you kidding me? You’re setting up for a motorcycle club war?” My voice rose.

He winced. “Quiet it down. There won’t be a war. The best defense is one that shows you can mount a hell of an offense if necessary. The stronger we look, the safer we are.”

I cocked my head to the side and studied him. Clear eyes, unmoving body, no signs of deception. “I’m pretty sure you’re full of crap,” I said.

His eyebrows rose, and a glimmer slid through his eyes so fast I barely caught it. Respect? Intrigue? “It’s time.”

I glanced at the stately clock on the wall and huffed, walking into the courtroom and sitting by Pucci. Aiden sat next to me, and I straightened my light blue skirt that I’d paired with a white shell and pretty floral jacket.

Judge Grizzio was already seated, so there must’ve been a hearing or two before this. The judge was in his late forties with shocking white hair, intelligent blue eyes, and a fit physique from playing basketball. A bailiff stood to his right, the court reporter was in front of him, and his clerk sat to the side taking notes. He shuffled case files on his desk before speaking. “All right. We’re about fifteen minutes behind today already.”

His clerk handed him a piece of paper.

The judge read for a moment. “Okay. We have settlements in the first two cases set for trial today. The third set is Peterson vs. Milton, Elk County Case CV-21402. Are we ready to go?”

Two attorneys and their clients moved up to the tables past the short balcony barrier. “Yes, your Honor.”

Oh, thank goodness. I let my body relax.

The judge looked at the attorneys. “We’re set for one day. You still think you can be done today?”

“Yes, your Honor,” both attorneys said in unison.

Shit.

The judge looked around. “All right. Then we’ll have the State vs. Richard Pucci start at nine a.m. tomorrow.”

I stood up. “Judge? If I could be heard?”

Everyone looked at me, and I tried not to blush too hard.

The judge motioned for the attorneys and parties up front to sit so he could see better. “All right. Who are you?”

I tried to steady my nerves. So the judge didn’t read the paper. Good to know. “I’m Anna Albertini, and I was just retained as the defendant’s attorney. As in five minutes ago. I request a continuance for a couple of weeks to get up to speed.”

Alice stood from the back of the courtroom. “Alice Mitchell from the prosecuting attorney’s office, Judge. The defendant in this case has fired three attorneys, gotten seven continuances, and somehow managed to get witnesses to forget their original statements. Enough is enough. The State is ready to go tomorrow.”

The judge flipped through what looked like a fairly substantial case file. “Agreed.” He looked up at me, and his eyebrows were as white as his hair. “We’re on for tomorrow, Ms. Albertini. Let your client know that if he fires you, he’s on his own because we’re still going forward with trial.” He banged down the gavel.

Wonderful. “Thank you, Judge.” I moved down the aisle to the door, at the moment not caring if anybody followed me. Of course, Aiden, Rich, and Krissy were right