More Than Meets the Eye - Page 130

He tapped his card twice to get them both past the gates and into the station.A rush of people came up the stairs.The southbound train was still on the platform.

“Run!”

Baz took the stairs two at a time and threw himself in between the closing door, blocking it with his arm to pull Sami inside too, seconds before the train started moving.

“This is a red line train to 95th/Dan Ryan.Lake is next.”The automated voice announced.

The adrenaline rushing through him made sitting impossible.He leaned against the metal pole with Sami in his arms.They fit together so perfectly, how could he resist?

“Thank you,” Sami mumbled into his chest.

“Don’t thank me.I love hugging you.”

“I clearly meant thanks for doing all this for me.”

Oh.Well, that didn’t require gratitude either.Helping him was selfish more than anything—Baz wanted to be with him, and he’d be damned to let Ian tear them apart.

They made good enough time to merely power walk the last blocks to the State’s Attorney’s Office, hand in hand.Baz found he liked it that way.Perhaps they could go on walks more often, through Lincoln Park after a long day of work, or maybe to pick up dinner before spending the night at his place.

They hurried down the hall just as Erika’s husband stepped out of his office.Baz had only seen him a handful of times, but the broad shoulders, bald Black head, and perfectly groomed goatee were unmistakable.

“Mr.Dunkeld!Hello.Your wife just called on our behalf.”

Dunkeld sighed.He pushed the door back open.“This better be quick.There’s a hotdog with my name on it downstairs.”

“If you hear us out, I’ll buy you all the hotdogs you want.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”Dunkeld gestured to the free seats opposite his desk.

Baz suppressed the urge to rest his hand on Sami’s thigh, a feat he only accomplished by sandwiching it between his thighs.

Dunkeld eyed up Sami.“I take it you’re the plaintiff?”

“Uh, yes.”

“And I suppose that makes you his lawyer.”

It did, didn’t it?

“Yes.”Baz squared his shoulders.“Sebastian Hadley, I work for Erika.It’s good to see you again, sir.”

Sami’s side-eye was awfully amused.Baz would prove to him there was no one better suited for the job.

The demand for immunity had Dunkeld rolling his eyes, but he did agree, provided they didn’t waste his time.No risk of that.Still, Baz insisted on having in writing that nothing Sami said in here could incriminate him.

And then, Sami laid everything open, even parts of the story Baz hadn’t heard yet; how Ian had coerced him into cooperating, all the false promises of getting him licensed.Names of witnesses from the opposition Ian had intimidated by sending big, bulky guys to scare them out of testifying.Every place where Dunkeld should go digging to legally obtain the same evidence Sami had delivered to him now.

The list went on for so long, Dunkeld had his secretary cancel his two o’clock appointment.

“Is that enough?”Sami wrapped up his monologue, fidgeting his fingers.

“Just about,” Dunkeld deadpanned.He was hunched over the papers, supporting his forehead with his fingers.“I will pass this on to a judge, and I’ll have my assistant draft up a proper immunity deal in exchange for your testimony at court.”

Sami nodded rapidly, slowly smiling.He clutched Baz’s hand.

“Of course!I’ll help in every way I can.”

Dunkeld nodded.The deal was struck.