Blood in the Water(43)
He studied her a minute. “Sounds like you want a higher purpose.”
“And what about you? What do you want?”
“The usual—ill-gotten gains, notoriety.” His smile was smug, but she wasn’t buying it. She wondered if he was uncomfortable talking about himself.
“You’re from a famous family, and you’ve got a massive fortune you wouldn’t be able to spend in this lifetime. Yet you’re still murdering people. Don’t you want…more?”
Byron watched her with glittering eyes. “Once you’re in the outfit, you’re in for life. Ain’t got a choice in the matter anymore.”
“And would you choose differently, if you could?”
He lifted a shoulder. “It’s all I’ve ever known. You’ve heard the old song, right? Can’t always get what you want. Or maybe it should be, you can’t get what you don’t deserve.”
“What are you driving at?”
“Never mind.”
“I know what you want.”
“Do you?” He waggled his brows.
“Not that. You want power.”
His seductive façade dropped.
That’s how Jane knew she’d gotten it right. “You want Tucker’s position.”
Byron had been slowly moving up the ranks, and the natural progression would be to take his position, become the head of the organization.
“More like freedom. I don’t want to answer to anyone. I want to live on my own terms, by my own rules.” He cleared his throat. “And we’re done talkin’ about it. “
Jane took another swig of moonshine and hiccupped.
Byron chuckled. “Good Lord, you’re three sheets to the wind.”
“Nope, I’m mostly sober.” Jane scrambled into a sitting position, mostly to prove she could still move. The room was dancing the cha cha around her, but she managed to stay upright.
“Yeah, tell me another one.” He watched her carefully. “Even though you can sympathize with criminals, I still rub you the wrong way. Why?”
She couldn’t deny it—Jane found his cavalier attitude about the law exasperating.
“Most people, like my mother, get caught up in the legal system on accident. They make bad choices, or they don’t have access to good opportunities. Sometimes drugs and poverty play a role. There are dozens of reasons, but you chose this life.”
For a long moment, he watched her with sad eyes.
“Naw, darlin’, it chose me. You think anyone in their right mind would pick this life?”
Jane hadn’t thought about it from his perspective. Sure, she’d done her homework but didn’t consider what it must’ve been like to be born into his family.
When she’d taken Byron on as a client, Jane had researched Byron, his family, and his crew. She’d pored through everything she could get her hands on—press clippings, his father’s arrest records, as well as Buckley’s criminal trial transcripts.
Jane hated being surprised in court and defended her acquittal numbers zealously. A career criminal like Byron would deliberately leave things out when she spoke to him—things which could be used against him in court.
“I was born into this family, and as the eldest, I had to live up to expectations. My daddy was a thug, and so was his, and on up the line. I guess you could say it’s my birthright and my curse.”
Byron had probably grown up thinking the mafia was normal.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think….”
“I know.” He held up a hand. “It’s okay.”
“Thank you for helping me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“But why are you helping me?” She couldn’t figure it out. He stood to gain nothing.
“Even the devil does a good deed now and then. And maybe I need to make up for all the wicked I’ve done in this life.”
“Do you think so?” Jane wasn’t sure if she believed in any sort of afterlife. Religion hadn’t been part of her upbringing, but Jed had taught her to do good works.“I’m not so moral myself.”
“What are you talkin’ about?”
“I betrayed my client. Sure, I didn’t tell you anything, but I’m actively working against him. By my profession’s standards, I’m a terrible defense attorney.”
“Maybe, but you’re a good person, if my assessment of your character means anythin’.”
“You can’t be all bad.”
“I’m worse than you think.” He said it flatly.
“I should be disbarred, or at the very least sanctioned. Maybe even thrown in jail.”
“Save me a cell, darlin’. Although somethin’ tells me you’d be goin’ to one of those white collar minimum security places.”