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

we talk about all sorts of things. It’s like watching a pinball machine as the conversation bounces from one person to another. I mostly watch. The only time I seem to be the center of attention is when we talk about Viviana’s court case.

“Do you think the Russian government is going to be able to rescue her?” Toni asks.

I turn to Walker. “That’s probably a better question for you.”

He pushes back a little from the table. “That’s hard to say. I know the Attorney General has been consulted by the State Department. If they make a deal, it’s out of our hands. We don’t typically go to court unless we are confident we can win. The evidence in the case against Viviana is pretty compelling.”

“When will they know?” Jimmy asks.

“Right now, they’re focused on the murder. Ultimately they’ll move on to the other two charges of being a foreign agent and espionage. The second stage—being a foreign agent—will involve the US senator she was manipulating. There are forty witnesses for that part of the case. That’s expected to last at least four months.”

“Four months?” Landon’s eyes are wide.

Walker nods. “They’re not in court every day. It’s a lot of going back and forth with cross-examining. Right now, the government is determining whether Viviana’s counsel will treat the former senator the same way she did Mia. That will tell us a lot.”

I perk up. “What do you mean?”

“The senator seems to have had real feelings for Viviana. Suppose he was manipulated to fall for her. In that case, he could be influenced to do it again and take the fall for the entire thing,” Walker answers.

“That’s fucked up,” Mason says.

“They’ll have the final stage of the case, which is the espionage. That will take some time too. They have a list of technology that’s under patent and has shown up in the Bay Area and elsewhere. Those attorneys have most of it wrapped up, but the more time they have, the more nails they’ll uncover.” Walker sighs. “Meanwhile, the Russian government can strike a deal at any time, and if they do, Viviana will be shipped back to Russia. The only time she’ll serve behind bars is right now, awaiting a trial that may or may not happen.”

“That is all kinds of fucked up,” Nate says.

“Well, this is quite the downer,” Caroline announces.

“It’s my fault. I was curious,” Toni says.

Our lunch does eventually become more jovial, and it’s almost dinner when we finally stand. Axel looks over at me. He has an early flight down to Los Angeles tomorrow.

“Thank you for this amazing afternoon,” I tell Trey and Sara. “What a great getaway from the City.”

“Are you guys heading out?” Sara asks.

I nod. “Axel has an early flight tomorrow. But before we leave, can I help you pick up?”

Sara waves the thought away. “No way. The housekeepers will come in tomorrow, and this place will look magazine ready. You guys have a good drive back. You’re smart to go before it gets dark. Getting through Mount Tamalpais is tough without streetlights.”

Peter drives us back over the mountain and into the City. Axel and I don’t talk much, yet the silence is comfortable, which is new to me. It’s only an hour drive, if the roads are clear, but on a Sunday evening, the traffic coming back from Napa always doubles the time.

“Now will you tell me about the body piercings you’re thinking of getting?” Axel teases.

I laugh. “Ryder said she met a guy with a reverse Prince Albert.”

Axel cringes, and his hand moves to his crotch.

“She said it was life-changing, and she’s going to require it of all her lovers moving forward. I suppose if you were to get one, I might consider getting my nipples pierced.” I give him a mischievous smile.

He shakes his head. “You’re part evil, aren’t you?”

I laugh out loud. “Me? Never.”

Chapter 32

Axel

Mia pulls the seat belt tight across her lap. She doesn’t typically hate flying, but today all the anxiousness of navigating the airport and the boarding process seems to have set something off inside her.

I don’t know who’s more nervous. The last three weeks have been a blur, but it’s been great spending so much time together. Her app is going crazy now that it’s been opened to the general public in San Francisco. And, it’s starting to pop up in other cities, whether it’s been formally released there or not. That’s a good thing, but it’s exhausting, so we’ve decided a trip out of town is just the thing we need. The Braves-Yankees game tomorrow is the perfect chance to check in on a couple of my players, so we’ll kill two birds with one stone while we’re in the Big Apple and meet Mia’s parents.

A flight attendant steps into our aisle so she can allow a passenger to pass her for the restroom. Then she turns and gives us a too-bright smile. “Ms. Couture, can I get you something before takeoff?”

Mia smiles. “Water is fine.”

The flight attendant then positions herself so her chest is directly in my face. “Hello, Mr. Remington. What can I get you before we take off?”

I continue to study a player report I got just before leaving. “Coffee,” I tell her. “Black. Please.”

She moves on to other people in the first-class cabin. Mia rolls her eyes.

I bump her shoulder. “Don’t get your hackles up. I only have eyes for you.” I reach for her hand and give it a squeeze.

The flight attendant returns after a moment, and her eyes drop to our fingers laced together. “Your coffee, Ms. Couture, and Mr. Remington, here is your water.” She places the glasses on two napkins on the console between our seats.

“Thank you,” we both say.

My brow furrows, wondering if she realizes