His Contract: Legally Bound, Book 1 Read Online Free

she got off the T. She walked quickly, the air frigid despite the rising sun. The cold seeped into Lilly’s bones, clutching her with icy fingers that held on as tightly as her nightmares did.
    She pulled off her headphones at the corner and looked at the towering wall of glass in front of her. The law offices of Forrester, Schaeffer and Pierce were located in the tallest building in Boston. Appropriate, given it was the city’s biggest firm. Cassie was waiting at the coffee cart out front. She motioned Lilly over and handed her a cup as they walked inside.
    “We’ve gotta move. Forrester wants us in the conference room.”
    “Us? Meaning me too?”
    “Apparently.”
    That couldn’t be good. They needed to get up there fast, or their boss would be sending out a search party. Or having security dump their things in the lobby.
    They hurried into the elevator, and Lilly’s phone chirped with a text. She read the message and dropped the phone back in her bag.
    “What was that?”
    “Nothing. Just Nick reminding me I can’t back out of going to the pub tomorrow night.”
    “How about I go too?” Cassie suggested with a bright smile. “I’ll stick by your side and make sure no cocky third years try to ply you with tequila shots.”
    “So protective. Must be the Latina in you.”
    “Half,” Cassie reminded her, the same way she corrected Gabe when he poked fun at her for lapsing into her mother’s native tongue. She pushed Lilly’s hair away from her face, the mothering gesture part of the role she’d taken on when they became friends, even though she was only ten years Lilly’s senior. “You can’t stay home forever, you know.”
    “I know.” She knew she couldn’t. It was just so much easier that way.
    Gabe was waiting when the elevator door opened. Lilly yanked off her coat as they raced toward the glass-enclosed conference room.
    “What’s Forrester on the warpath about this morning?”
    “A new case,” Gabe replied. “And from the way he’s acting, it’s a big one.”
    Lilly slid into a chair and pressed her fingers against her hot coffee cup. William Forrester entered the room a moment later, his forehead lifting with the ever-present accusing tilt of his eyebrows.
    “Holbrook Laboratories. Our newest client.” He dropped a thick maroon folder on the table. “Simon Holbrook is a scientist who’s discovered a new way to test blood, making pre-screenings for diseases more accurate. However, his former employers at Giordano Diagnostics claim he stole the formula from them.”
    “Giordano?” Gabe asked, reaching for the folder.
    “Salvatore and Francesca Giordano. Alleged members of the Lombardo family.”
    “Lombardo,” Lilly repeated. “As in Antonio Lombardo? The Godfather of Boston mafia?”
    Forrester nodded. “He’s their uncle.”
    Gabe grinned so wide that Lilly had to stifle a laugh. He loved mobster movies. This case was right up his alley.
    “Mr. Holbrook is concerned,” Forrester continued as he began pacing around the room. “He claims he didn’t steal the formula, and contacted us after receiving a cease and desist. But he doesn’t have a great deal of money.”
    “Then he probably can’t afford us,” Gabe said. “Why are we taking this on?”
    “Because I decided this was a noble cause and offered our services at a discounted rate.” He halted at the window. “And because Giordano Diagnostics is represented by Charles Mahoney.”
    “There it is,” Gabe sang.
    Confused, Lilly leaned toward Cassie and asked quietly, “Who is Charles Mahoney?”
    “He’s Forrester’s arch nemesis from law school,” she whispered back. “We’ve never lost a case to him.”
    That explained it. Pro bono work was not exactly the firm’s top priority.
    “We’re starting on this immediately. Ms. Sterling—” Lilly immediately straightened up as Forrester pivoted around to face her. “I want you to work closely with Ms. Allbright and Mr. Hartley on this.”
    It was a good