Champagne Brunch: The Stiletto Sisters Series by Ainsley Claire (easy readers .txt) 📗

husband was arrested a few days ago trying to enter the US with too many Oxy pills and a brick of heroin.”

She looks at me with her mouth wide. “Are you serious?”

“Unfortunately. He’s being held without bond because he escaped Australia while out on bail for domestic battery. He lied to the US Embassy and told them he lost his passport and needed to catch up to his family here in San Francisco. They got him one right away.”

“He sounds like a winner. How did they have such great kids?”

“Alana. All her.”

Peter drives us to the end of Jackson Street and lets us out in front of a large home that backs up to the Presidio.

“This house is stunning,” I say as we get out of the car.

“You should have seen it when they had President Bolden show up for New Year’s. That was crazy. All of their neighbors were pissed. The Secret Service blocked off the street and several were having their own parties.”

“Wow. I’ll bet.”

Mia hangs out with the president of the United States and the wealthiest people in the country. She is one of the wealthiest people in the country. I’m not usually intimidated, but suddenly, I’m a bit out of my depth. As if she senses this, as we walk to the front door, Mia takes my arm and pulls me close. I can feel the pillows of her breasts, and I want so much to turn us around, go back to her house, and spend the day making sure everything is right between us so I can explore every millimeter of her body.

“Don’t worry,” she says softly. “They overwhelm me, too.”

I look at her and smile. She’s magic with me just like she is with Jeremy.

Walker opens the front door in jeans and a T-shirt. “Welcome!”

I shake his hand and give him the oil can. He looks at me, surprised. “Don’t let the packaging fool you. That’s a pretty incredible bourbon. One of the best you’ve ever had—guaranteed.”

“Guaranteed? Well then, I guess we’re going to need to give this baby a spin. Come on in and let’s find a glass to do a proper tasting.”

I nod and follow him while Mia goes in search of Marci.

After pouring us each a glass, Walker smells it and takes a generous sip. His face lights up. “I like this,” he says. “This is really good.”

“I found it by accident at a bourbon tasting room. I searched for it after that and when I found how they bottled it, I bought a case. I guess it’s designed so you can take it anywhere, since the list of places you can’t take glass is pretty long. I think it’s good, too.”

He motions to a sitting area and we settle into chairs. “How’s she doing?” he quietly asks.

“She’s tough.”

Walker nods.

“We both have been thinking about what Marci said last night. It has her worried that she’s going to be walked into betraying Nate. I certainly don’t know him as well as you do, but I figured he’d understand her predicament and she should just talk to him.”

“That’s what Marci wants to talk to her about today. We discussed it last night. As I said before, it would be ideal if Viviana were just going to give up, go to jail, and hope the secretary of state makes a deal that moves her back to Russia. But Marci thinks she’s more vindictive than that. Chances are, Marci’s right. She usually is.”

The women appear, each with a mimosa, and find seats.

“—it’s just a thought, but I don’t think it would hurt,” Marci says.

Mia looks at me. “Marci is doubling down on her reasoning about why I wasn’t cross examined.”

I take a sip of my bourbon. “I think Marci has a brilliant legal mind. So, if she were going to use a prosecution witness to her client’s advantage, she wouldn’t want to discredit them with a difficult interview. It’s something to consider.”

“Can I refuse to testify in January and take the fifth or something?” Mia asks.

Marci chuckles. “No, I’m afraid not. Not answering her questions and being pushed by the judge will only land you in jail. What are you worried about?”

Mia takes a deep breath. “Nate’s my friend. What will I do if they warp the conversations Viviana and I had? Make it look like I was part of the conspiracy?”

Marci reaches for her hand. “I guarantee that’s their plan.”

Mia looks at her lap.

“You just have to be ready for it,” Marci explains. “But even if they did paint you as a conspirator, it would only be to sow doubt with the jury. It’s the US Attorney they’ll have to actually convince. And they don’t have any facts. I wouldn’t worry about it. I know Nate will understand. Chances are they’re going to get him to say awful things about Cecelia, and we all know how he feels about her.”

Mia sighs and requests a subject change, so we spend next little while talking about baseball and the perfect game Jeremy pitched. Then Walker asks me what I see in the college ranks and farm teams.

“I think there are some promising players,” I tell him. “I’m planning a day trip down to LA to meet with an interesting shortstop out of UCLA. I think he’s a potential complement to Nate’s roster.”

“Can they also trim the fat?” Walker shakes his head. “I mean, Jonas Raymond? The kid was supposed to be better than Jeremy, and now look at him. He doesn’t have a quarter of the talent. The team can’t plan their entire World Series strategy around Jeremy.”

“You know, George Jordan made it clear to me that Jeremy is with the Prospectors because of Mia.”

She looks at me in surprise. “When did he say that?”

“Last week, when