“Fine,” I relent. “But I’m not drinking. Where are we going anyway?”
Andre’s smile creeps up his face as he realizes he won the argument. He’s probably itching to tell my sister right now. “The Jameson.”
“Aw, fuck,” I mumble. “Is that the new honky tonk in Fort Worth?”
He nods. “Yup. Get ready for some bull riding and line dancing.”
“Fuck no. I won’t be doing that shit.”
Andre throws his head back in laughter as he makes his way to the door. “It’ll be an experience for sure. But hey, I’ll see you at the gym tomorrow night, right?”
“You know it. Night, man.”
“Night, Javi.”
I watch my friend retreat to his house as I turn back around and survey my cold, cement floors again. I’ll need to wait until next week to purchase the tile, so in the meantime I think I’ll install the new bathroom fixtures tonight that I purchased a few days ago.
Reaching into my fridge, I retrieve a beer, taking solace in the fact that at least I can drink in the comfort of my own place without fear of doing something stupid. I pop the cap off and drain almost half of it before stripping off my shirt and making my way down the hallway to the bathroom. As I stand in front of the mirror, I take a moment to appreciate the only personal benefit that came from my time in prison besides protecting my sister’s reputation—a ripped body that I worked tirelessly on every day since I didn’t have much else to do. The new ink I got after I was released compliments my tan skin and muscles, only adding to the don’t-fuck-with-me vibe I strive for. I’m not looking for trouble, but if someone looks at me, I’m hoping they sense that I’m capable of it.
As I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I can’t help but berate the man staring back at me—a poor boy from the wrong side of town that lived up to every stereotype thrown my way—a criminal that is paying for his sins, even though the urge to protect my own is one I will never deny. I’m a Montes, a Puerto Rican-American man that was given the opportunity by my parents to live a better life than they did. And I fucked it up, even though I’m sure my father would be proud of the sacrifice I made. He always told me to protect my mom and sister, to die before I let anything happen to them. And I failed. My sister will be forever haunted by my shortcomings, so I take my punishment willingly—a life of solitude and judgment from others, knowing that given the choice, I’d make the same decision all over again.
Chapter 3
Sydney
“Tessa? Can I get the files on the Young case, please?”
The soft pad of her heels on the carpet alerts me to her making her way toward my office. “Here ya go, boss,” she teases as she hands me a manilla folder.
“Thank you. And I need you to return the calls from Mrs. Harrison too, please. She wants her will finalized by the end of the week. Assure her that we will have it ready for her by Friday. Make an appointment for her to come in and sign.”
“On it. Um, I hate to tell you this,” she says, biting her thumbnail nervously, “but you have a visitor.”
My eyes scour the mess I call a desk, my anxiety flaring knowing that I never let it get this bad but this week has been wildly busy, and now I’m going to be interrupted in my quest to get shit marked off my to-do list. “Please tell them I’m busy,” I spit out, more irritated than I intended.
“Now, you wouldn’t turn your dad away so easily, would you?” The heavy shadow of my father rests over my desk and his voice wafts through the doorway to my office, pulling my head up to greet him.
“Daddy! What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to take my brilliant daughter to lunch. Your mother and I miss you and she formally sends an invitation for dinner Friday evening since she’s busy at the country club today. But I had a break between cases and thought I’d use it to check up on you.” He holds out his arms to the side and ushers me toward him. “Come on. I need a hug.”
The irritation I felt is quickly diminished as I move around my desk and lunge myself into his arms. I can’t blame him for wanting to surprise me, even though a phone call would have been a nice heads up. “I’m happy to see you, Dad. I am. But I am swamped with work right now. Can I take a rain check?”
“Sydney Matthews, when your father stops by to spend time with you, you’d better make the effort to oblige. Tell your assistant to move some things around. I have reservations at The Florence House and we’re going to be late.”
I sigh in defeat and then move back to my desk, arranging the stacks of papers that I’m ultimately going to have to take home with me tonight. The more of a headache this week is turning out to be, the more I’m looking forward to Saturday night. Ally confirmed she and Collin have a babysitter, so we’re counting the days until we can let loose and channel our inner cowgirls.
“Okay. Tessa, please make those calls for me and start on the debrief for the Young case,” I call out to her after she leaves the room.
“On it!” she yells back as Byron Kennedy, my boss and owner of the firm where I work, comes down the hall.
“Judge Matthews, what brings you here today?” He reaches out to shake his hand as my father reciprocates.
“Byron. Pleasure to see you as always. Just here to take my daughter out to lunch. I hope she’s been working hard and living up to the family name.”
“Nonsense. Sydney is fantastic. I know
