Devil's Advocate: A Dark Mafia Romance (Devil's Playground Book 1) by Vivi Paige (different ereaders .TXT) 📗

“A scorpion?” I asked, leaning into her. “You’re sure?”

“Yeah, I’m positive. Why? Do you know who it is?”

I shook my head.

“I don’t know. Maybe. I know a guy who has a tat like that, like what you’re describing. But I can’t be sure that it's him. And if I’m wrong, it could be a huge fucking problem. So I gotta be right.”

“Indro,” Sophie said, fury rising in her voice, “I was just kidnapped from in front of my apartment building in broad fucking daylight! I’m in this now! And if you know something that could help me, help us, don’t keep it to yourself!”

She was right. She deserved to know everything, as much as I did.

“I know one wise guy, yeah. Known him for years, actually. He’s got a tattoo like that. On his hand, like you said. But there’s a problem.”

“What’s the problem?” Sophie asked with urgency.

“If this is who I think it is, then this guy is affiliated with the Loggia family.”

“So what?”

“So… the Loggias are supposed to be allies with the Maloiks. And if that’s changed, then a whole shit storm is about to go down.”

Chapter Twenty

Sophie

There wasn’t much time to waste on the events of the kidnapping. Indro was up in arms about this possible Loggia crime family connection, but there were other, more immediate matters that needed attention.

Namely, today was the first day of jury selection for his trial. And that required my focus first and foremost.

Indro wanted to come with me for the selection hearings and didn’t seem to understand why he couldn’t be there.

“Let me come!” he said, practically bellowing at me. “C’mon! I’ll be able to sniff out who’s on our side and who’s looking to come down against us!”

“That’s exactly why you can’t come, Indro,” I said patiently. “First of all, it’s not done. The defendant in a trial doesn’t sit there while the jury is being chosen. That’s common practice. And one of the many reasons for that is because there can’t be any opportunity for the jury to be unduly influenced by outside forces. Or threatened in any way. Do you hear me?”

He didn’t really. He scowled and pouted and fumed, but he relented in the end. He didn’t have a choice. So I told him to be patient and that I would be in touch as soon as possible.

“What do I do while you’re at the courthouse?”

“Why don’t you use all the contacts at your disposal and see if you can’t figure out who kidnapped me, why and what we can do about it? That would be a huge help.”

“Yeah, yeah, I can do that,” Indro said. “I’ll see if I can’t get some information for you by the time you get back.”

“But even more important than that,” I said, “what we really need is more intel on Glen Gilberti, who he is, where he’s from, what he’s about. And how the fuck he’s tied up in all this mess.”

Indro nodded his head.

“You’re right. That’s gotta be the priority. I’ll make some calls. We have connections in the church. The Maloiks give a lot of money to Catholic charities. I’ll see what kind of information that can buy us.”

“Good, that would be wonderful. Thanks,” I said, giving him a small kiss as I ran to the bedroom to get ready. “I have to move now.”

“I hear you, go!”

I got dressed for court and headed out the door, promising I would call with information as soon as I could.

As I was leaving, Indro was already on the phone, making calls to his contacts. Hopefully that would keep him occupied for a couple of hours at least.

Arriving in court, I found the District Attorney, Miller, his name was, there and waiting impatiently.

“Little late there, Sophie,” he said dryly.

“Patience, District Attorney Miller. Hang in there.”

We rose as the judge entered and I groaned involuntarily to myself.

It was Judge Moreno. She was as no-nonsense as they came and she didn’t particularly like me.

“Counselors,” she said, taking her seat. “Ms. Vercetti, glad you were able to join us today.”

“My apologies, Your Honor. I was delayed because of—”

“I don’t care. You’re here. Let’s move. I don’t want this to be an endless process, is that clear?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“Good. Bring in the candidates,” she said and the bailiff went out to bring in the potential jurors.

Miller leaned over to me.

“Don’t know why you put yourself in these situations over and over again, Sophie,” he whispered with a little snark to his voice.

“Because I believe everyone is entitled to a fair defense, Miller. Maybe you should re-read your Constitution. Get a better handle on the law, in general. May be good for you.”

He laughed then, a sarcastic sound, and turned back to his notes.

Despite what I’d just said to the judge, I needed this process to stretch out, just a bit. We needed more information about Gilberti, who was the prosecution's star witness. If Indro was able to uncover who was backing Gilberti’s play, then we would be in a stronger position with our defense. I could discredit him on the stand.

But that was a big if. The way I’d heard it through the grapevine, Miller was planning on bringing Gilberti up front and center right away, making this case a simple slam dunk for him. So I had to do everything I could to delay the process.

And right now, that meant dismissing jurors for a variety of reasons. I was only allotted so many jury challenges, so I had to use them wisely to make them count.

The potential jurists came in, a couple dozen of them, and questioning began. First by the DA, then me. In truth, there wasn’t much for me to challenge. The first few were pretty neutral choices. Then, finally, someone was interviewed who was exactly what I was looking for.

“Mr. Anderson,” Miller began, “you served in the military, that’s correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“With multiple commendations and service awards on your record.”

“Yes, sir, that’s correct.”

“That kind of discipline would be welcome on