Free WORTHY, Part 3 (The Worthy Series) by Lexie Ray

parents were passionate about bringing criminals to justice. I’m passionate about taking down Wharton Group.”
    “But you don’t even know whether they’ve done anything wrong,” Milo pushed, closing the file in front of me and making me look into his green eyes. “What’s your beef with Wharton Group?”
    “I just have a feeling something is going on, all right?” I lied. “I can’t explain it. I’d sound stupid if I did. But there’s something rotten at the core of the Wharton Group, and I need to let it see some sunshine.”
    “I have to be honest with you,” Milo said. “I’ve been hearing some of the other guys talk, what with all the resources you’re aiming at the Wharton Group case right now.”
    “People have mouths,” I said, shrugging. “People can talk about whatever they want to talk about. It’s a free country. I’m not going to stand in their way.”
    “People think you’re on a personal vendetta,” Milo said. “People think you’re running this firm into the ground because you hate Wharton Group.”
    “Who said that?” I asked sweetly, grinding a mental axe in my brain. I didn’t need any divisions in my firm, not when I felt we were getting close with things. Well, Milo told me we were getting close to the end of analyzing all of Wharton Group’s tax returns. I wasn’t sure if that would be the end of it.
    “I don’t feel right repeating names,” he said.
    “What?” I asked, spreading my arms. “I just said it was a free country, that people could talk.”
    “Uh-huh,” Milo said, unimpressed. “I’ve also had a front row seat to that temper of yours, and I don’t want anyone getting fired just because I’ve repeated some office gossip to the CEO.”
    I shook my head. That temper belonged completely to April. When she didn’t get what she wanted, or when something disappointed her, she blasted off no matter where she was. In my previous life, nothing was worth getting angry over and making a scene. All I wanted was to blend in, to not attract attention. But with my scar gone, I could fly off the handle, scream in a crowded room, or go dancing down Michigan Avenue for all I cared. I welcome everyone’s eyes on me. It had been too long since I’d been in the spotlight.
    “How about you let me finish looking at that file?” I said, raising my eyebrows at Milo.
    “How about you let me take your mind off of the Wharton Group for a little while instead?” Milo suggested, moving so that he stood behind me and putting his big hands on my shoulders. He squeezed, and I felt all of the tension vanish in a gush of warm relaxation. For a lawyer, he was stunningly good with his hands, and I had enjoyed the fruits of his skill many times.
    But what Milo would never understand was that I would never turn my mind from Wharton Group — not until it was in ruins at my feet. Obsession? I preferred to call it a devotion to find the truth, to exact justice on the people who had ended all of my joy.
    I didn’t think it was a bad thing that I took so much pleasure in it.
    “Sir, you can’t go in there. Sir!”
    Muffled voices on the other side of my office door and the sounds of a scuffle made Milo pause in the sensual massage he was giving my shoulders. I looked up, raising my eyebrows expectantly at the intrusion — whoever was about to interrupt me in my sanctum with Milo rubbing my tense muscles was going to get fired — and I almost fainted away dead, sitting right there at my desk.
    My husband glowered at me from the door.
    “April, I told him he couldn’t go in there,” my secretary said, poking her head in. “He doesn’t have an appointment or anything.”
    “Have this man removed from the building,” Milo said, and the secretary trotted off to comply. “That’s quite an intrusion, Mr. Wharton.”
    I was startled, at first, that Milo knew Jonathan, but with all of his work on the Wharton Group case, I realized he must’ve stumbled upon a photo of the