Sweet Southern Betrayal
Read Sweet Southern Betrayal Online
Authors: Robin Covington
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #General, #The Boys are Back in Town#3
Sweet Southern Betrayal
Robin Covington
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2014 by Robin Covington. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.
Entangled Publishing, LLC
2614 South Timberline Road
Suite 109
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Visit our website at www.entangledpublishing.com.
Edited by Alethea Spiridon Hopson
Cover design by Heidi Styker
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62266-190-9
Manufactured in the United States of America
First Edition January 2014
Table of Contents
For Kelly Combs Necessary
1968-2010
Thank you.
Chapter One
Teague loved Washington, DC.
He loved the city, the streets teeming with people at all hours of the day and night, the restaurants and bars, and the majestic man-made monuments and buildings created to intimidate enemies and inspire citizens.
But what he loved most was the power.
For the past seven years he’d risen in the ranks of Harrison & Duff, an international firm of the finest lawyers money could buy, and also earned a place at the table of power players in the DC political circuit. He was a fixer—the guy they brought in to handle the big issues, the problems that were seemingly impossible until he tackled them. And he was damn good at his job…the best.
It felt so good to be back in DC, even if only for a couple of days. The Teague he had to be in Elliott was nothing like the man he was here. There were too many expectations and too much damage to repair after his father ran off with his paralegal and left clients high and dry. Yes, he had a plan and it had gotten him where he was today, but if the good people of Elliott knew how easy it was for him to shed the Southern gentleman image and maneuver with single-minded ruthlessness to his goal, they’d hold prayer meetings for him. But his servitude in his small town was almost over, and he was a few short weeks from being named the youngest partner in the firm. He was more than ready to take on that title, and everything that came with it.
Money.
Women.
The backing of the firm and key clients for his future political career.
Key clients like the man sitting across the table from him and his boss, Leland Duff, in the main conference room of H&D: Anthony Giambetti. The man was also known by other names—“Big Tony” and “The Boss” among his employees, and “The Fucking Bastard” by his enemies. Tony was a brilliant man, an expert strategist, and well-read for a man who had never been to college, but he was also a ruthless man who Teague knew ran his legitimate businesses with an iron fist.
His illegitimate businesses were not a concern of the firm or Teague—Tony had inside counsel for that work—a fact the mobster would like to change.
“Tony, I hope the issue with your nephew, Ricky Olivetti, is resolved to your satisfaction.” Teague addressed the older man as he gathered his papers and shoved them into his legal binder.
“It is and I thank you,” Tony said as he leaned on the table with his beefy arms. “My nephew is a fucking moron, but he’s my sister’s kid so…”
Teague knew what he meant. Ricky
was
a fucking moron and he’d run into a little trouble with the liquor commission in Las Vegas and that made it impossible for him to work in his uncle’s casino. It had taken Teague a few phone calls, a couple of favors, and a clever negotiation to get Ricky placed in a probationary status that allowed him to keep working.
“It was my pleasure to help out, Tony,” Teague lied. He didn’t do this kind of petty stuff anymore, but when one of the firm’s biggest clients asked for someone
by name
the firm tried to grant the request. And since he still wasn’t officially a partner, he’d dutifully fixed little Ricky’s problem.
“I know this type of stuff isn’t your usual work, but I knew you’d get it done.”
“No problem. Just make sure Ricky follows through and he should be fine.”
“I like your work, Teague, and that’s why I’d like you to come work for me.” Tony paused for emphasis. Teague had known this was coming, but he was surprised Tony was doing it in front of his boss, and he mentally gave Tony points for brass balls. “I could use a lawyer in DC to look out for my interests. I want the best.
You
are the best.”
Leland jumped in before Teague could respond. His usual polished tone was edged with enough ire to let Teague know this was a total surprise to him, too. “Tony, I can’t believe you’re trying to steal him right out from under my nose.”
Tony ignored him and kept his gaze on Teague, who was soaking in every word. He’d known this was coming—the increase in requests for him by name by Tony in the last six months, the private investigator he’d noticed following him a few times. A quick call to his best friend Jack Cantrell had informed him that Tony hired the guy. He didn’t like being in the middle of the Giambetti family spotlight, but he wasn’t spooked—yet. The firm regularly had him checked and followed. He was an investment and his actions outside the office were just as important as his work behind his desk, in court, or lobbying on Capitol Hill. A man like Tony couldn’t be too careful about who was digging into his shit, and this was par for the course.
In the end, Teague wasn’t interested in working for Tony, but only a fool wouldn’t listen to the entire offer before making a decision. Teague was no fool.
“You’ve been handling stuff for me for a couple of years now and you won’t be surprised that I’ve done my homework. You’re the golden boy, the big swinging dick around here who makes things happen and lots of women happy, from what I hear. You’re smart and know how to work every single fucking angle to my benefit. I know you’ve got political ambition, but I can offer you more than enough to make up for it.”
Teague watched him. Something didn’t add up here. If Tony wanted to really recruit him he’d never make a play in front of Leland—or would he? No. This was a test, and Teague was just going to have to play along until he figured it out.
“I appreciate the offer, Tony, but I’m good where I am,” he said evenly, barely suppressing his laugh when he heard Leland sigh with relief. He decided to lighten the rejection. “I just don’t think there’s room for two big swinging dicks. We’d probably drive each other fucking crazy.”
Tony huffed out a bark of a laugh. “Very true.” He extended an open palm toward Leland, an obvious request for pardon, but the sincerity of the gesture didn’t reach the hard line of his eyes. Tony was not happy with his answer. “I had to ask.”
Teague decided to cut to the chase. This man had known what his answer would be before he posed the question. “What’s got you worried, Tony?”
“Secrets.”
“Ah.” Teague shifted back in his seat, hyperaware of the dark eyes staring him down as he thought of the best way to answer the unspoken question. “I would remind you that we have the protection of attorney/client confidentiality.”
“I know.”
“That’s not enough?” Teague locked eyes with Tony, making sure the other man heard him. The hair on the back of his neck stood at attention, screaming that danger lurked around every corner of this conversation. He wasn’t afraid of Tony, but he knew better than to underestimate him. But Tony was worried about him and that was a dangerous place to be. “The work I do… I deal in secrets. Nothing new. But I’ll be honest, I’m not interested in knowing secrets about the stuff your corporate counsel handles.”
What he left unsaid was the truth that probably worried Tony the most: he knew enough from the legitimate side of Tony’s business empire to give any United States attorney more than enough to get a warrant to dig for the good stuff. Yes, he knew secrets and that’s why he had duplicate files on thumb drives in his safe. He wasn’t crazy enough to think that his luxurious office in DC protected him from men like Tony. Prudence dictated that you stay one step ahead of ruthless men, so Teague made sure he was five steps ahead.
“I appreciate that.” Tony stared back, his lips a thin line of tension, but he nodded in understanding, if not agreement. “But you know that secrets, however small, are power.”
“Yes.”
“And you love that power.”
“And so do you.” Teague let that comment fall into the silence that stretched out a little too long for comfort. But he wasn’t backing down from an obvious challenge. “Working for you wouldn’t get me what I want.”
“More power.”
Teague gave one small nod. “A different kind.”
“Politics aren’t where true power lies, Teague. When you figure it out, the offer stands.”
“I appreciate it, but I’ll pass.”
“I’m not surprised, but you don’t get what you want if you don’t ask.” Tony stood, signaling something to his security guy by the door with a quick glance and a head nod before turning back to Teague. When he extended his hand across the table Teague was surprised because the big man was not one for handshakes—he usually just left the room when he was done—but a piece of paper extended from his beefy fingers. “I understand that you’ll be in my town for a few days to celebrate your sister’s wedding, and I’d like to invite you and your buddies to be my guests at the Gold Coast Casino for an evening.”
Teague reached out and took the piece of paper from Tony’s hand. On it was scrawled a name and a phone number.
“That’s the name of my VIP concierge. She’ll set you up with anything and
anyone
you want while you’re there.”
Teague decided to forgo refusal or acceptance at this point and focused on what he was most curious about. “I’m curious how you knew about my plans. I just finalized them yesterday.”
“Don’t bullshit a bullshitter. My guy told me you spotted him weeks ago so you know I’ve had you followed. I’ve gotta keep an eye on people who’ve got their eyes on my stuff.” Tony unapologetically shoved his huge arms into his leather jacket as he prepared to leave. “You’ve been stuck in the fucking middle of nowhere in that little town your family owns for a while now. You must be close to blowing your brains out. Come to Vegas. Gamble. See the show. Get laid.”
Teague was a guy, so he couldn’t suppress his body’s interest at the last suggestion. It had been a while—too long—since he’d indulged in a nice long fuck with anything other than his hand. But he wasn’t about to start something with a woman back home. Elliott women weren’t the kind who understood that a night in their bed didn’t mean anything more than a good time, and that a repeat wasn’t a love connection or some other nonsense. It was sex, and
good sex
deserved a repeat. Nothing more. One day he’d look for the perfect Mrs. Elliott, but that wasn’t today. And tomorrow didn’t look good, either.
But a night with the boys, blowing off some steam with some liquor, food, and a beautiful woman, seemed like just the thing before he came back to DC permanently.