twisted into a neat chignon. I needed this meeting to go well because I had no Plan B.
A knock sounded on my door right on time, and I opened it to find Zane standing there with another of his gangster dudes.
"Ho-ly shit, Madison Kate," the leader of the Reapers commented with an appreciative whistle. "Maybe my little brother was onto something by wife-ing your ass before anyone saw it on the market."
I curled my lip in disgust. "Don't be a sleazy old man, Zane. You were almost my daddy... and not in the sexy way."
Zane's companion snickered a laugh, and the Reaper leader himself just grinned broadly. "Sassy bitch, just like your mom. Come on, then." He stood back so I could lock my door, then his buddy shadowed us out of the building.
"Madison Kate, this is Roach, by the way. He's gonna keep an eye on you this morning because I have some business to take care of downtown." Zane jerked his head to the shaved-head, tattoo-covered punk. Despite his hardcore gangster look, he didn't seem like a bad guy. He even offered his hand to me to shake.
"Worried about keeping your insurance policy safe, Zane?" I taunted him with a raised brow as Roach unlocked an old-school muscle car across the street.
The Reaper's leader just shrugged and lit up a cigarette. "Based on the amount of blood you and Steele were wearing the other night? I'd be stupid not to be concerned. You two were up to no good, and that shit has a way of blowing up if you're not watching out."
I couldn't disagree with that statement, so I just nodded and followed Roach into the car. Apparently Zane wasn't coming with us at all, because once I was strapped in, Roach pulled away from the curb.
We drove most of the way in silence. I was lost in my thoughts, and Roach seemed to have nothing to say beyond offering me a cigarette when he lit up. I declined. The Reapers laced their tobacco with weed, and I needed all my wits about me.
When he parked, I was surprised to see him get out of the car with me.
Roach just shrugged. "Boss says to keep eyes on you at all times."
Given what I now knew about the hit on me, I wasn't going to argue with that. Not that I believed I wasn't being watched by anyone else as well. One of the three boys would have eyes on me.
I couldn't wait to see what they'd do when they realized who I was meeting with.
Roach and I took the elevators all the way up to the thirty-fourth floor of the high-rise, earning all kinds of curious looks from smartly dressed corporates. I gave my name to the girl at the reception desk, and we were ushered through to a waiting area.
We’d only sat there a few minutes before an attractive, middle-aged woman with auburn hair exited an office and approached us.
"Madison Kate?" she asked with a warm smile. I nodded, standing, and she held out her hand. "It's nice to meet you; I'm Demi."
I shook her offered hand. "Thank you for squeezing me in, Ms. Timber."
"This way," she invited me, indicating I follow her into the office. I shot Roach a warning look, telling him to stay put, but he seemed like he wanted to argue.
"She's perfectly safe with me, Roach," Demi told my bodyguard. "You can see her through the window, okay?"
The tough guy looked uncertain but didn't protest as I continued into the office and Demi closed the door behind us.
"Take a seat, Madison Kate," she offered, rounding her huge desk to sit down herself. "Now, why don't you start from the beginning. How does a smart, well-connected girl like you end up married to a D'Ath without knowing about it?"
I grimaced. "I wish I knew," I admitted. "But I guess the real question is, can you get me divorced?"
A sly smile crept across Demi's face. "Not annulled? You were underage; there's possible grounds."
I smiled back at her, letting all my spite and malice shine through. "Annulment sounds so very painless, don't you think? I want to hit Archer where it will hurt."
My new attorney snickered an equally malicious laugh. "In his wallet? I like your style, Madison Kate. Alright, let's get your name back and half the D'Ath fortune to boot."
22
My meeting with divorce attorney Demi Timber lasted much longer than my allotted appointment time. After I discovered she had all kinds of ties