ain’t exactly forthcoming about himself, if you get my point.”
Sighing, Dom shook his head. “Dusty, Dusty, Dusty. My willingness to help you with the D.A. is growing smaller as we speak. I know you’ve got ears. And I know you wouldn’t pull something like this unless more than meth was involved. He threaten you?”
“No.”
“Dusty.”
Dusty’s expression hardened. “He didn’t threaten me, man. He just…he’s got money. Pull. Resources, if you get my drift. How often does a Richie Rich land in the jail, willing to make my time a little easier in exchange for something so easy. I’m telling you, that’s it. And I’m not saying anything else until my attorney gets here.”
“Oh, that’s fine.” Dom leaned down close so that Dusty was forced to look at him. The other man’s eyes flickered with fear, which is exactly what Dom intended. “While you wait for your attorney, be sure to think about me. Because if you hurt that woman you attacked, if you ever come near her again, no one, not your attorney, not Mr. Richie Rich, not even your mother, will keep you safe.”
Chapter 6
A n hour later, Mattie thanked the sheriff’s deputy who took her statement and the paramedic who’d come to examine her. When she’d asked who’d called the paramedics, the deputy had told her Dom. Talk about overkill. Although the paramedic had offered to take her to the hospital, she’d refused, just barely able to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Take her to the hospital for what? A few marks on her arm? With the courtroom packed with impatient attorneys and their clients, she knocked on Judge Butler’s door.
“Come in,” he called from inside.
Mattie opened the door and stepped into the judge’s large, airy office. Judge Patrick Butler had graying hair and was of average height, but his lean frame could have belonged to someone fifteen years younger. He rose from behind his desk and waved her in. Mattie stepped inside but froze when she saw the much larger form rising from one of the plush chairs situated in front of the judge.
Dominic.
A slight frown furrowed his brows when he saw her. The nerves that had just started to calm within her tingled with awareness.
Focusing on the judge, Mattie said, “I’m done giving my statement, your honor. We can start court whenever you’re ready.”
“You told me you weren’t hurt, Mattie, but Deputy Jeffries thinks you should be going to the hospital.”
Refusing to look at the man whose gaze she could feel lasering into her, Mattie shook her head. “Deputy Jeffries is being overly cautious.”
“Take off your sweater,” the man in question ordered.
Mattie glared at him and clutched the black sweater she’d donned minutes before as if he meant to rip it off her.
He turned back to the judge. “Her right arm is scratched. With Dusty Monroe’s background, I wouldn’t take that lightly.”
“I’m not asking you to take anything lightly,” Mattie retorted. “I’m not asking you for anything at all. I’m fine. I washed the scratches and the paramedics checked me out. I’d really just like to get back to work now. The courtroom is packed and people are getting restless.”
Mattie paused, fully aware she was babbling. Embarrassment and frustration made her snap, “Shouldn’t you be out there doing your job instead of playing amateur doctor? You’re only here for another few weeks, right?”
His frown deepened, then relaxed. His eyes took on a calculating air that made her automatically take a step back. One he noticed. “She’s right, your honor. I’ll relieve the deputy inside—”
Mattie flushed when she realized someone else had been watching the courtroom while he’d been talking to the judge.
“—and Pete can talk to you as soon as he’s done at the station.”
“Very well. Thank you, Deputy.”
Dominic walked toward the door but paused by Mattie’s side. “Who told you I was only here for a few weeks?”
Feigning a sudden
Sighing, Dom shook his head. “Dusty, Dusty, Dusty. My willingness to help you with the D.A. is growing smaller as we speak. I know you’ve got ears. And I know you wouldn’t pull something like this unless more than meth was involved. He threaten you?”
“No.”
“Dusty.”
Dusty’s expression hardened. “He didn’t threaten me, man. He just…he’s got money. Pull. Resources, if you get my drift. How often does a Richie Rich land in the jail, willing to make my time a little easier in exchange for something so easy. I’m telling you, that’s it. And I’m not saying anything else until my attorney gets here.”
“Oh, that’s fine.” Dom leaned down close so that Dusty was forced to look at him. The other man’s eyes flickered with fear, which is exactly what Dom intended. “While you wait for your attorney, be sure to think about me. Because if you hurt that woman you attacked, if you ever come near her again, no one, not your attorney, not Mr. Richie Rich, not even your mother, will keep you safe.”
Chapter 6
A n hour later, Mattie thanked the sheriff’s deputy who took her statement and the paramedic who’d come to examine her. When she’d asked who’d called the paramedics, the deputy had told her Dom. Talk about overkill. Although the paramedic had offered to take her to the hospital, she’d refused, just barely able to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Take her to the hospital for what? A few marks on her arm? With the courtroom packed with impatient attorneys and their clients, she knocked on Judge Butler’s door.
“Come in,” he called from inside.
Mattie opened the door and stepped into the judge’s large, airy office. Judge Patrick Butler had graying hair and was of average height, but his lean frame could have belonged to someone fifteen years younger. He rose from behind his desk and waved her in. Mattie stepped inside but froze when she saw the much larger form rising from one of the plush chairs situated in front of the judge.
Dominic.
A slight frown furrowed his brows when he saw her. The nerves that had just started to calm within her tingled with awareness.
Focusing on the judge, Mattie said, “I’m done giving my statement, your honor. We can start court whenever you’re ready.”
“You told me you weren’t hurt, Mattie, but Deputy Jeffries thinks you should be going to the hospital.”
Refusing to look at the man whose gaze she could feel lasering into her, Mattie shook her head. “Deputy Jeffries is being overly cautious.”
“Take off your sweater,” the man in question ordered.
Mattie glared at him and clutched the black sweater she’d donned minutes before as if he meant to rip it off her.
He turned back to the judge. “Her right arm is scratched. With Dusty Monroe’s background, I wouldn’t take that lightly.”
“I’m not asking you to take anything lightly,” Mattie retorted. “I’m not asking you for anything at all. I’m fine. I washed the scratches and the paramedics checked me out. I’d really just like to get back to work now. The courtroom is packed and people are getting restless.”
Mattie paused, fully aware she was babbling. Embarrassment and frustration made her snap, “Shouldn’t you be out there doing your job instead of playing amateur doctor? You’re only here for another few weeks, right?”
His frown deepened, then relaxed. His eyes took on a calculating air that made her automatically take a step back. One he noticed. “She’s right, your honor. I’ll relieve the deputy inside—”
Mattie flushed when she realized someone else had been watching the courtroom while he’d been talking to the judge.
“—and Pete can talk to you as soon as he’s done at the station.”
“Very well. Thank you, Deputy.”
Dominic walked toward the door but paused by Mattie’s side. “Who told you I was only here for a few weeks?”
Feigning a sudden
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