Chapter One~Amber

A few days have passed since I got the good news I had been waiting for and I am still floating on cloud nine. I am finally going to be able to put away one of the most notorious branches of the Italian mafia and make sure they never hurt anyone again. While it won’t get all the drugs off the street, it will help a lot since the dealers will have a harder time finding suppliers. I walk up the steps of the courthouse where my office is located and pull open the door. I am met with the solemn faces of the police chief, a few detectives, and the lead of the drug task force.

“Gentlemen, would you like to step into my office?” I ask them cautiously.

They nod and all of them follow me into my office. It is cramped with everyone inside, but we manage to fit. I look at each of them and see the look on their faces is one of sadness. I wonder what has gotten them in such a sad mood and try not to think of the worst-case scenario as I sit in the chair behind my desk.

“What is it?” I ask as I look pointedly at the chief.

“We just finished processing a crime scene and there was something left behind for you,” he says as he hands me an envelope.

My hands tremble as I take the envelope and slowly open it. I know what’s coming and I don’t want to admit it. I know that what’s inside the envelope is going to ruin everything and I don’t want to face it. I’ve worked so hard to put the case together and just when everything had fallen into place, they pull the rug out from underneath me. Sure enough, I pull out a Polaroid picture of the body of the CI that was the key witness. A note had been scribbled on the bottom of the Polaroid and it read: Better luck next time. See you soon. -D

I want to crumple the picture up in my hand as anger flows through me, but I know better than to do that. I can use the picture as evidence that Dorian had the witness killed. I feel tears of frustration prick at the corners of my eyes, but I don’t let them out. I have a reputation for being a badass in the courtroom and I don’t need people seeing me cry. I can’t have that part of me tarnished. I tell myself I can cry over a glass of wine at home later.

“We have reason to believe he is going to come after you next, Amber. We’re going to get someone to keep an eye on you and make sure you stay safe.” The chief says as the men turn to leave my office.

“I don’t need protecting. I need my witnesses to stay alive long enough to get to trial, that’s what I need.” I mumble as they shuffle out the door.

The chief is the last out the door and he stops in the doorway for a moment looking back at me. “You do need protected and you will take the protection we offer you. He pretty much threatened you in that message, Amber. If you think I am going to stand by and let you go unprotected, you got another thing coming because I won’t do it.” He says as he storms out of the doorway closing my door behind him.

I know now that it is a really serious matter and I should listen to the chief since he is only trying to help me. I never really thought that Dorian would get so desperate that he’d come after an attorney, but then again, he has gone after more prominent members of society than I am, so I should’ve known this was coming. I try my best to make it through the rest of the day without thinking about what might happen if the Silver Tongues catch me out without anyone with me. I can’t let myself think negatively like that, but it’s hard not to think that way when your star witness is brutally murdered in a dark alley.

I know that even though the killing of my witness is a speed bump in the road of the case, I can still bring down the Silver Tongues and their cocky underboss Dorian, I just have to continue to be patient and the pieces will fall into place. I look at the clock and realize it is five minutes until five. I pack up the files on the case and decide to finish looking over them at home since I live alone. I slide the files in my briefcase and head out of my office. I make my way down the hall to the elevator and press the button. I wait patiently for the elevator to land on the floor I am on so that I can get downstairs.

The elevator finally dings, and the doors slide open. I am surprised to see the chief and a few other people I don’t know. One of the men with the chief catches my eye and when he smiles at me, I feel a pull low in my belly and heat pools between my legs. I groan inwardly as I feel my nub swell against my panties. My nipples push against my bra and I know I have to get out of there before I make a fool of myself. I try to sneak past them and get on the elevator, but the chief stops me.

“Amber, there is someone I want you to meet,” he says as he pulls me over to them. “This is Derek, he’s going to keep an eye on you.”

I feel the heat rush to my cheeks as I am introduced to the man that set my panties on fire just moments before. Oh Lord help me, I’m in so much trouble.