Free INK: Fine Lines (Book 1) by Bella Roccaforte

kill you?” she laughs.
    “Funny, Genie. There’s just been a misunderstanding. Is Bill around?”
    Eli is pacing the floor, and upon hearing the name interjects, “Bill Cumming? No, he’s a simpleton. I eat guys like him for breakfast.”
    “Sweetheart, you are on speaker phone,” Genie reminds him. “But whoever that is, he’s right. What kind of trouble is she in?”
    “She’s in big trouble Genie. It’s capital. We want Eddins. He’s a tough SOB. Pull Garner for second chair.” I can see the gears turning in Eli’s head; he’s calculating their win/loss ratios on the fly.
    “Is that Elijah Walker?” Genie asks, pleased to hear his familiar voice.
    “Yes, it’s me.”
    “Well, I’m glad to see you two boys getting along again.” Genie starts clicking away at the keyboard. “Elijah, when are you going to give up civil service and come to work over here?”
    “When they agree to put my name on the building.” Damn, that kid has some balls. I like that about him.
    “Oh Elijah, ambitious as always; you haven’t changed a bit since you and Aiden were boys.” Genie expels a laugh. “If you want the big guns you’re going to have to wait until next week. Eddins is in trial.”
    Eli shakes his head at Aiden. “No, Genie, we can’t wait. Tell him we need to talk tonight.”
    “He isn’t going to be happy about that; it’s already five.” Her tone is apprehensive.
    Aiden puffs his chest out and meets Eli’s eyes. “Tell Eddins the guy with his name on the building needs to talk. Thanks for everything, sweetheart.”
    “Or better yet, Genie, tell him it’s for Shay. I’m sure he won’t mind.” Eli, always the polite one. You would have thought Oliver could have bought Aiden some manners.
    “No problem. Goodnight boys, and send Shay my love. I do miss seeing her around.” With that she hangs up.
    Aiden slides his cell phone back into his jeans, heading for the kitchen. “You guys want a beer?”
    I should be setting a good example for Eli, but I really just want a beer. “Sure.”
    Eli’s expression lightens a little. “Yeah, I’ll have one.”
    “So what do we do now?” I address Eli directly.
    “We start going through all of this, looking for holes in the case against Shay.” He twists the top off the bottle and then heads into his office.
    “How are you holding up?” Aiden breaks the silence.
    “I’m okay. I’m worried about her, though, Aiden.” I don’t look up at him. I continue thumbing through an advanced copy of the first issue of Shayleigh’s comic.
    “She’s going to be fine. We aren’t going to let anything happen to her. I trust that Eli will make sure this case goes away.” It looks like Aiden just swallowed a bucket of sand. He knows Eli’s the one that will be instrumental in getting her out of this.
    I need to set him straight. I look him dead in the eye and tell him, “Aiden, I know one thing for sure: she doesn’t need you screwing around with her.”
    Eli pipes in coming back into the room. “I agree with Harry.”
    “That goes for you too, Eli.” I eye the bottles on the table.
    “Yes, sir.”
    “You are such a suck-up, Eli.” Aiden shakes his head. “Yes sir,” he says in mocking tone.
    Aiden’s right, Eli is a suck-up. Aiden could learn a thing or two from him.

Chapter Thirteen
China
Shay Inhaling Eli’s scent deeply, a sense of peace washes over me. Being wrapped in his down comforter could only be better if he were here with me. Rex picks up his head and wags his tail. “Hey buddy.” I scratch behind his ears.
    The sound of hushed voices drones from the great room. Dad must be here. I wonder if the food ever arrived. Sitting up in the bed I stretch and fasten my bra. A smile rises to my lips thinking about Eli’s slick one-handed maneuver to remove some of my clothing. A rush of heat forces my eyes closed, remembering his touch.
    I dig around under the covers to find my skirt, slide it on. Feeling chilly from being in the warm