The Ruthless Heir

Judge’s [POV]

The next few weeks pass in a lasting cease-fire. We are tender toward one another. We make love.

We lie together in bed, Mercedes curling into my side. I hold her and wonder how I will ever sleep in this bed when she is no longer in it.

But I try not to think about that. I want to hold on to this tenderness a while longer. Already the end is near. I received a call from Hildebrand.

Well, a summons. Not me, but Mercedes, although I haven’t told her about it yet. I have put him off, but not for very much longer.

I have a feeling I know what he’ll require of her because she won’t walk away from her role in Santiago’s poisoning scot-free. No one does, not from The Tribunal. But I’m not ready to burst this bubble we’re squatting in just yet. Two interlopers.

Almost happy. Almost because we both know the end is coming. These are stolen moments. She calls her brother and Ivy almost daily.

She asks to listen to the baby coo. Asks questions about how Ivy is doing. How the baby is doing? What it’s like to feed her. To hold her.

She has sent countless presents for the baby. Two full wardrobes and enough toys to stock a shop. But she has only seen Elena three more times since she first met her.

I disagree with Santiago on this. He should give her more of himself, more of them. But he keeps her on the outside, and she is abundantly clear of the fact.

Mercedes is napping before dinner, and I don’t tell her when I pay a visit to the De La Rosa Manor.

Calling would be easier, but I can’t risk her overhearing my conversation with her brother. Santiago and I settle into his office after a brief visit with Ivy.

She’s still skittish around me and won’t be alone in a room with me. I understand even though I try to be as innocuous as possible.

“She will learn you are no threat to her,” Santiago tells me as he pours us each a scotch.

“I understand. It will take time.”

“I heard the night with Clifton Phillips was not quite a success.” He says it with a small grin.

“I didn’t think it would be. He’s a child. Neither capable nor worthy of Mercedes.”

“You’ve gotten to know my sister well. Better than I, perhaps.” “She is different, Santiago.

You should get to know this true Mercedes.” “In time. The courtesan’s brother… has there been any word on his location?”

“No. Nothing. He’s all but disappeared. I have the houses of both Solana and Georgie under surveillance as well as their shops. My home is secure. No one will get to Mercedes there. And I, or should I say she, hasn’t received any more threatening texts on the old phone.”

“Which is worrying.”

“Agree.” “And she still doesn’t know about him?”

“I haven’t told her. I thought it would be best.”

“And this Ezra Moore, you trust him?”

“I do. He’ll find him. He has resources and will use them.”

“Good.” “How is your brother?” I told Santiago about the attack on him but left out the part where Mercedes was concerned.

“Recovering, according to Ezra. I will visit him soon.”

“And he’ll return to the house?”

“We’ll see.” “What happened between you two? There’s bad blood. I can smell it, Judge.”

“It’s hardly worth discussing. Not when Hildebrand is looking for blood himself.”

“Fucking asshole.”

“I’ve put him off for a few weeks, but I will visit him once I leave here. I want to talk to him privately. See what he knows and if I can influence the consequence.” Consequence.

Mercedes’s punishment. Hildebrand, much like my grandfather, is a stickler for the rules. A crime must be punished. Balance restored.

“What will he demand?” In Santiago’s voice, I hear his concern for his sister. She’d be comforted to know it.

“I don’t know,” I tell Santiago. “She was deceived. I can’t imagine more than community service.”

“Which will humiliate her.”

“But it’s better than a harsher sentence.” Payment in flesh. Santiago nods because he understands.

“She doesn’t go into The Tribunal building without you or me at her side. She doesn’t set foot on the compound without us. I don’t trust him not to take her into custody.”

“We’re on the same page. I will protect your sister, Santiago. I won’t let them lay a finger on her.” His head tilts just a little, such an infinitesimal movement it’s almost imperceptible. I clear my throat.

“As your sister, I care for her, much the same as I do you, Ivy, and your child. I wouldn’t let anything happen to any of you if I could help it.”

“Thank you, Judge.” My phone vibrates in my pocket. I ignore it, and we fall into a different conversation. But whoever it is is insistent.

“You’d better answer,” Santiago says, hearing the buzzing. I reach into my pocket and see it’s Ezra, so I do because he’d leave a message unless it was urgent.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Ezra?” Santiago drinks his scotch as he watches me.

“Judge. We’ve located the maid.”

“Miriam?” “Yes. She’s in Florida. Enjoying the sun and sea.”

“Give me an address.”

“No need. I believe at this point it would be a waste of your time. I confirmed she was the one who gave Douglas your location on the day of the attack on Mercedes. She also told him about her allergy.” There’s a pause, and I think I hear her in the background.

“Tell me what you want me to do. I can go through legal channels.” There’s silence.

“Or not.” “Not,” I tell him, angry but somehow calm. “A limp, I think. Something that will remind her of what she did for the rest of her life.”

“Understood,” he says darkly. There’s a moment of silence, then something clattering to the ground as a woman, Miriam, lets out an ear-piercing scream before I hear the clicking of a door and silence again.

He is efficient and trustworthy, Ezra. Miriam will pay a dear price.

“Oh,” Ezra casually starts. “I spoke with Theron. He is looking forward to a visit.”

“I’ll go at the end of the week,” I assure him and disconnect the call to find Santiago’s eyes still on me. He raises his eyebrows.

“One down. One to go. Plus Hildebrand.” I check the time and stand. “You’re sure you don’t want me to go with you?” Santiago asks, standing too.

“No. Hildebrand has the idea I’ll one day sit on The Tribunal. Let me use that. I’ll let you know what I learn.” He extends his hand, and I take it.

“Thank you, Judge. For everything you’re doing for my family.” Guilt creeps in, but I nod because I don’t trust myself to speak.

And then I head toward the compound. Predictably, Hildebrand is sitting in his office well into the evening.

He is divorced, has no family in the New Orleans faction, and rarely visits his adult children or brothers on the East Coast.

Which is why he’s so fucking committed to the letter of the law. “Judge. I wasn’t expecting you,” he says as I’m shown into his office.

“I realize it’s late, but I was passing by and thought I’d drop in. We have something to discuss, after all.”

He looks at me like he doesn’t quite follow, which is a ruse, but I play along.

“Ms. De La Rosa. I am her guardian, and as a lawman myself, I will represent her if need be.”

“Well, that is beneath your standing. You are a judge.” I shrug a shoulder. “I am not bothered by appearances or standing.”

“What would Carlisle say about that, I wonder?” He and my grandfather were good friends. As far as men like that can be friends.

“I guess he’d turn over in his grave.” I set my briefcase down and take a seat.

“The Tribunal has called Ms. De La Rosa to appear based on the words of a convicted and executed killer.”

“We’d like her to answer some questions. That’s all. Her staying away raises some eyebrows I can tell you.” “That hasn’t been her choice. She is unaware of the summons. I’ve kept it from her.”

“Why?” I tilt my head, take a moment to study him, then lean forward a little.

“I’m going to be very honest with you. I feel she’s more delicate than she lets on.

And in my opinion, the matter being as inconsequential as I know it to be, it may behoove us all to allow me to mete out an appropriate punishment and move forward without dragging the De La Rosa name through the mud. It is after all a woman’s game she played out of jealousy.” His eyebrows furrow.

“A game?”

“The poisoning wasn’t Mercedes’s doing. We all know that. In hiring the courtesan, Mercedes simply wanted to make Ivy jealous. That’s where her involvement ended.”

“Ah.” He leans back in his seat. I do too. Crossing an ankle over my knee. But the sinking feeling in my gut grows the longer the silence drags on.

“Am I missing something, Councilor?” “Well, yes, you are, Judge. And I’m not sure it’s appropriate for you to be here.”

“What is it that I am not aware of?” “Nor is it appropriate for you to ask these questions outside of the space of The Tribunal.” He stands. I do too. But I don’t leave.

“Councilor, pardon my language, but what the hell is going on?” He exhales, sets his jaw, and nods to the guard behind me to leave. And I know this is for show. He will do me a favor now.

One he’ll hold over my head for years to come. Once the guard is gone and the door closes, he opens a desk drawer and takes out a folder.

He opens it. Inside are several printed pages of minutes. He turns it around so I can see it, and when I read the name of the interviewee, the ground drops out from beneath me. Vincent Douglas.

“Lana Douglas’s brother has been to see me. You know who she is. Or was, I should say.” I shift my gaze from the papers to his.

“Yes, I thought so. He asserts Lana was killed. Says he has evidence in the form of a surveillance video.” No. Santiago’s men would not have missed that. “Surveillance?”

“Ms. Douglas never let go of the habit of making little videos it seems. Married men and the like. It’s one of the reasons she was let go from the Cat House.”

“So trustworthy was she. I’m sure her brother is the same. Where is this brother?”

“I’ve seen the footage, Judge. It’s damning to Ms. De La Rosa.” He doesn’t mention Douglas’s whereabouts, and I know it’s on purpose.

“I’d like to see it for myself.”

“It’s locked in a safe. It will be presented once she appears before The Tribunal, which she will voluntarily do within the week or else.”

“Or else?” He sighs. “Judge, this is very serious for her.”

“I’d like to see the footage before I bring her to stand before The Tribunal. She is a De La Rosa. Remember that.”

“We are all equals before The Tribunal.” I can hear the gossip already. If she’s hauled in here, she’ll be humiliated. And if the video surveillance truly shows what Hildebrand claims, it will be worse than humiliation. There will be a payment.

And it will be in the currency The Tribunal deals in and understands. Flesh. He opens the same drawer to take out a flash drive.

“Because we are friends. Because of your standing and future here.” He hands me the drive. I take it.

“Your charge is in very serious trouble, Judge. I’ll expect to hear from you tomorrow to arrange the time she will appear.”