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

I tried tugging it out of the mud so I could attach the Matjack, but it had been weighted down with something insanely heavy. Working carefully, measuring every breath so I wouldn’t panic, I dug enough of it out of the mud so I could attach the inflatable.

I churned up so much silt I was nearly blind, even with the light, but I got the job done.

Well, here goes nothing…

I activated the airbag, making sure the hose hadn’t gotten tangled. The yellow bladder swelled outward, and the body broke free of the mud. I swam up beside it, guiding the longish shape up to the surface.

When I came up, I saw a very worried Indro gazing down at the water. I gave him a wave, and then tugged the body up to the surface.

“We’re going to need somebody to help us haul it out,” I shouted after removing my mouthpiece.

The somebody turned out to be some of Indro’s transient friends. Twenty of them, to be exact. With all those hands helping, we dragged it out with relative ease.

I unzipped the bag and beheld a pale, sightlessly staring face.

“Hello, Father Glen Gilberti,” I said with a grin.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Indro

I stood in front of the mirror, checking out my new threads. A Brioni three-piece suit in dashing silver, paired with a charcoal undershirt and a tie with a subtle check pattern in gray and black. I wanted to look like a million bucks for my last day in court.

I affixed my cufflinks, sterling silver with embossed eagle designs. I ran a comb through my already perfect hair and turned to the side. I cut one hell of a figure, if I do say so myself.

Sophie had headed out before me, having to set up her big reveal. I added a pair of aviator sunglasses and smiled. I looked every bit the mobster I was.

“See you later, stud,” I said, pointing at my reflection. I headed out of Sophie’s place and walked over a sidewalk recently scraped of snow. I sprang for a ride to the courthouse. No point in being late because I slid into a parked car.

Even though the day was cold, gray, and miserable, I found myself in the highest of spirits. I thought about the events leading up to what Sophie assured me would be my final court date. Who’d have thought I’d hook up with a lawyer, albeit a gorgeous one?

My good mood was tempered somewhat by the knowledge that a full-on gang war was brewing. The Maloiks and the Loggias. Long-time allies, turned into foes. So far the other families seemed to be staying out of it. Hopefully it would remain that way. As it was, the streets were likely to run red with blood before the dust settled.

I couldn’t wait to see the look on that smug prick Miller’s face when Sophie unveiled her little surprise. If the killjoy Judge Moreno hadn’t banned recording devices, I’d have been prepared to snap a picture.

Thing was, though, Sophie wasn’t the only one with a little surprise to spring. I patted my blazer pocket and grinned as I hit the courthouse steps.

I was surprised to see my big bro Flavio standing inside the lobby. He pursed his lips in worry as I approached, put off by my ear-to-ear grin.

“Indro. You’re looking good. I suppose being as you’re looking at your last chance to wear anything other than an orange jumpsuit for the next decade and a half, it makes sense.”

“What makes you think I’m going down?”

Flavio sighed. “Look, Indro. Even if the cops lost their eyewitness, he can still testify posthumously with his recorded statements. Without your girlfriend able to cross-examine him, I don’t see any path forward that doesn’t end with you rotting on Rikers Island.”

“Oh ye of little faith. I guarantee you I’m walking out of here today.”

Flavio knows when I’m full of shit. He also knows when I’m not. A cautious grin spread over his face.

“You’ve got something up your sleeve, don’t you?”

“You could say that.” My smile drooped into a frown. “I might walk out of here, bro, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods. The Loggias have their hooks sunk deep into the Chicago PD, if you catch my drift.” I glanced around. “I can’t talk about it here, but I came across something the Don definitely needs to hear about.”

Flavio nodded. “We’re not in a great spot for a turf war, Indro. Not great at all. The Loggias have us beat cold in terms of manpower and funding. If they’ve got the cops in their back pocket, we might have our backs up against the wall.”

“Yeah, well, us Lastra boys are never more dangerous than when our backs are against the wall.”

“Damn right.” I clasped hands with him and patted his shoulder. “I’ve got to get going. I’ll see you soon.”

I hummed a little ditty while I rode the elevator to the top floor. Using the mirrored walls, I checked my tie, smoothed my hair a bit, and strutted out into the corridor.

I pushed the doors open and saw Sophie sitting smugly behind the defense table, hands clasped in front of her. I came up behind her and rested my hand on her shoulder.

“What’s up, doll?”

She grinned up at me. “A direction?”

“Nice. Haven’t heard that one since prep school.” I settled into the chair beside her. DA Miller frowned at us. We should have been shaking in our boots, and instead we sat there like the cats who ate the canary. “He’s worried.”

“He should be.” Sophie chuckled. “I’ve never lost to Miller, and I’m not about to start now.”

We all stood up as Moreno entered the courtroom. She settled behind the bench and asked if we were ready to present our closing arguments.

“Your Honor, the defense would like to enter one final piece of evidence.”

“Objection!” Miller stood up. “I don’t know what kind of grandstanding stunt the defense is up to, but this is a violation of disclosure