The Ruthless Heir

Judge’s [POV]

When I get home that evening, Mercedes is dressed in a little black dress that she looks like she was poured into, along with five-inch heels. Her hair is twisted elegantly to one side and rests in thick waves over her shoulder.

For a moment, I’m confused about why she’s dressed the way she is, but then I remember. The cocktail party. Vivien’s birthday. I’d forgotten.

She turns to me. “You’re late.”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

“I had some things I needed to take care of.” We had to change the locks on both doors, repair two windows and update the locks on those too. There wasn’t any evidence of a break-in, but it all took much longer than I expected.

“What things?”

“Business.”

“What business?”

“Nothing. I’d better change.”

“Nothing. Of course.” She turns her back on me, her attention on the portrait of my grandparents and my father, and I wonder if she sees the similarities between my grandfather and me.

I leave the room, take a quick shower, and then get dressed. Black on black today. Mercedes is talking to Lois when I get downstairs. Lois greets me, then leaves us alone.

“What’s going on, Judge?” she asks, taking the cuff link I can’t seem to slip through the cuff and doing it for me. I watch her hands work with the dark red nails. The gloss of her hair on her bent head. A flash of memory steals my breath. Mercedes was on her knees before me, naked, choking on my dick.

I close my eyes and think about something else. Anything else? But to have her this close, to smell the hint of perfume, feel her warmth, and have her do something so domestic as helping me with a cuff link, it’s all a lot.

“Just work.”

“Liar.” She finishes with the link. “I don’t want to stay long tonight. Maybe you can take me out to dinner after?”

“We’ll see.”

“I just have to show my face.”

“I thought you liked these events. Everyone looking at you…”

She shrugs a shoulder, her mask of confidence faltering before she can turn away.

Stopping her, I tilt her chin up. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to go.”

“That’s your world, Judge. Not mine.”

“You just have to choose to make it yours. What do you care what they think of you anyway?”

“I don’t. I just don’t like people talking behind my back.”

“I’ll be there with you. I won’t leave you alone.”

She bites her lip. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

I know all that’s going on can’t be easy and what she did still hangs over her head. No matter if we discuss it or not. I wonder what it will take to alleviate her guilt over the accidental murder. Because it was accidental, there’s no doubt of that. And that woman was prepared to kill Santiago. Her death is no loss to the world. But she is dead. And Mercedes killed her.

Raul drives us while two more men follow in a second vehicle.

“How much longer with these guys?” she asks.

“Until Abel is caught.” It’s not a complete lie. I am worried about what Abel might do to Mercedes. He had no qualms about having Santiago dragged before The Tribunal and accused of the crimes Abel himself committed while his pregnant wife lay in a coma. I don’t doubt he’d hurt Mercedes in any way he could. But Abel’s been in Tribunal custody for about two months now. He can’t get to her to hurt her physically. But she doesn’t know that.

We arrive at a candlelit event at the IVI compound. The night is mild, so people are milling about outdoors as well as indoors, and as I guide Mercedes through the entrance, I feel the tightening of her muscles beneath my touch. She’s steeling herself.

“I wasn’t sure you were going to make it!” a woman’s voice calls out as I hand Mercedes a flute of champagne. It’s Vivien and beside her are her two friends, Giordana and Dulce. I don’t remember any of their last names.

The three of them cross the courtyard drawing much attention as they sway their hips. They’re dressed to kill with not much left to the imagination. They all glance at me gazes skirting over me, devious smiles curling their pretty mouths. They’re good-looking, but this kind of woman has never attracted me.

“I wouldn’t miss your birthday, Viv!” Mercedes says loudly as they air-kiss and lightly hug each other. “You are the pioneer, after all. Leading our little group into the next stage of life.”

“I’d hardly call twenty-six the next stage. Besides, you’re just a year behind me.”‘

“A year is a year. I’ll take it. Oh! Before I forget.” Mercedes reaches into her clutch and hands the woman a small Tiffany box. “Happy Birthday.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have,” Vivien says but greedily opens it to find a silver bracelet with baubles hanging from it. “It’s gorgeous! Thank you.” They air-kiss again, and I wonder how she stands it.

“You’re welcome. They’re from Judge and me.” Mercedes tucks her arm into mine.

“Well, well,” Dulce says. “So is it official?” She raises her eyebrows.

“Not yet. Not with all that’s going on,” Mercedes says, lowering her voice. I want to shake her. “My sister-in-law…”

“Oh, I know. We heard. How is dear Ivy?”

“The same.”

“You haven’t been to see her. Why not?” Giordana asks, and I wonder if Mercedes hears the note of cruelty in her voice. She’s too surprised by the question, though. I see that on her face. “My sister volunteers at the hospital. She knows all the comings and goings.”

Fucking bitch.

“Well, I’m sure she missed Mercedes’s visits then. You know how the De La Rosas keep odd hours,” I say.

“Judge.” I’m surprised to hear that voice. Although why am I surprised? “Excuse us,” I tell the women and walk toward my mother, who smiles wide, and to anyone watching, I’m sure she looks thrilled to see us. “I didn’t realize you’d be here.”

“I’m escorting Mercedes, Mother. Nice to see you.” I kiss her cheek as is customary. She’d pull away if we weren’t at a Society event.

“I’d have offered Mercedes a ride if I’d known she was invited.” She turns to Mercedes. “I know how much he hates these things. I’ll take you home if he wants to leave early, dear.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Montgomery. That’s kind of you.”

“Ah, just the man I wanted to see,” Hildebrand says. He’s clearly on his way out because he wouldn’t be invited to this party.

“Councilor,” I say.

“Ladies.” He greets my mother and Mercedes both with a kiss on the hand. “Might I borrow Judge Montgomery for a moment? I promise not to keep him long.”

I don’t want to go, but I know I can’t refuse. My mother takes Mercedes’s arm. “Let’s go mingle, shall we?”

“Let’s.” Mercedes meets my eyes only briefly before slipping into the crowd, and I turn to Hildebrand.

Hildebrand’s expression darkens as the women leave. “I’m sorry to interrupt your evening, but I was on my way to your house, so this saves me a trip.”

“My house? Why? Not that you’re not welcome, of course.”

We walk toward The Tribunal building, ascending the curving stairs toward his office. From the window, I see the scaffold outside. It’s unlit but no less eerie. This courtyard is only visible from The Tribunal building. Even the sounds of the party just on the other side of the walls don’t penetrate here.

“Scotch?” Hildebrand asks when we enter his office.

“Sure.” He pours for both of us, then takes his seat behind the desk. I sit across from him and hold his gaze as he watches me. Hildebrand studied law, like me. He was a judge in the outside world like I am. I know he sees me following in his footsteps and becoming a councilor of The Tribunal at some point.

“Abel Moreno has made some accusations against Ms. De La Rosa to The Tribunal privately.”

“Oh? What accusations?”

“That she was involved with his plan to use the courtesan to poison her brother.”

“Did he say that?”

Hildebrand nods.

“Well, I can tell you without a doubt that Mercedes would never hurt her brother. She loves him dearly. He’s the only family she has left. And you and I are both aware that Abel accused Santiago of all the crimes he is guilty of. Not to mention others.”

“True. What is another lie to a liar?” He pauses. I keep my gaze level. “You know, the courtesan seems to have disappeared.”

“Has she?”

“Her apartment has been cleared out meticulously.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, too meticulous, if you ask me.”

“I didn’t realize.”

He takes a drink, letting the silence hang. “I hear Ms. De La Rosa hasn’t been to see her sister-in-law in the hospital. Why is that?” No segue into this change of topic then.

“I haven’t allowed it. I feel it would be too upsetting for all of them.”

“Because the relationship within the family is strained. Hence The Rite.”

“With all due respect, what are you getting at, Councilor?”

Silence again. I won’t crack, and he knows it. But it doesn’t stop him in his little power play. After an eternity, he smiles and shakes his head. “I’m sure it’s nothing. That young woman surely isn’t capable of doing anything that may cause harm to others.”

“Surely not.”

“Well, anyway, I was going to ask you where your brother is. Your mother told me you knew, but she couldn’t say.”

Goddamn bitch.

“Why are you looking for Theron?”

“I’ve had a call from a family in our Washington faction. Seems there may be a match for him.”

“Is that so?”

“Unless, of course, Ms. De La Rosa and he”

“Ms. De La Rosa and he are not an item.”

He smiles and nods. “And your intentions with the young lady?”

“Excuse me?”

“You should know there are rumors. I know your reputation, Judge. You are above reproach. Just take care. You know how cruel some can be.”

“I do.” Hildebrand included.

“Good. Now that I have you, if you don’t mind, talk through a case with me, will you? I could use some sage advice.”

“Of course,” I say, although all I want to do is get back to the party, where I promised I wouldn’t leave Mercedes on her own, and whisk her away before those vultures can do any more damage. Because they have been talking, stirring up things they have no business in. But more than an hour passes before I return to the courtyard. Guests have grown louder as they drink, and more of them have gathered in the courtyard, but Mercedes isn’t among them.

That’s when I see my mother. Well, I hear her first. Her laugh is too shrill. I walk to where she’s speaking with a group of mostly middle-aged men, and I wonder if she is looking for a new match. It would make sense. When she sees me, she misses a beat but is quick to cover it up with a smile toward me.

“Mother.”

“Judge. Don’t tell me Councilor Hildebrand kept you this long. How gauche!”

“Have you seen Mercedes?”

“She was dancing a little while ago.” I stiffen, and she smiles wide. “Inside.”

“Thank you,” I say tightly and walk toward the French doors that lead inside. Classical music pours from the Baroque room where an orchestra plays. People stop me as I weave through the crowd. I am polite but brief, and I hear her before I spot her, and I swear every fucking muscle in my body tenses.

Someone says something to me, but I barely hear him before pushing past and stalking onto the dance floor where Mercedes is in the arms of a young man, a Sovereign Son no less. She stumbles, and they both laugh, and for a moment, I wonder if she’s drunk. If they’re both fucking drunk. But whatever he’s saying must be the funniest thing she’s ever heard because she throws her head back and laughs. That man that fucking man has the gall to brush his lips over her throat, and I think I’m going to kill him. Right here, in the middle of this room with all these witnesses, I’m going to fucking kill him.

Mercedes sees me just as I get to them. Her eyes flicker in panic momentarily, then something else. Something stubborn and arrogant, and I remember her face when I gave her the pill this morning. I remember the hurt I saw there, followed by the shutting of the door.

And I know what this is. She’s teaching me a lesson.

I also know I have no right to do what I’m about to do. But I close my hand over the man’s shoulder and squeeze. “Excuse me,” I say, eyes locked on her.

“What the?”

The look on my face must say it all because as soon as I glance his way, he releases her, raising both arms into the air in surrender. I set my hand on Mercedes’s lower back and tug her to me.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” she asks. I take in the flush of her cheeks and the loudness of her laughter moments ago.

“Are you drunk?”

“Where were you? Cat House? Is it open for business tonight?”

I tighten my grip on her. “Are you fucking drunk?”

She grins. “I’m not. It would take more than a sip of champagne to get drunk. I’m just enjoying myself, Judge. And what do you care? You don’t want me. You’ve made that abundantly clear. You just want to be sure I take that little pill to erase your mistake.”

I glance around to see eyes on us. “It wasn’t a mistake,” I tell her quietly. “We’re leaving.”

“I don’t want to leave. You go. Your mom said she’d take me home.”

I lean in close to her. “Oh, little monster, that wasn’t a request. And you just wait until I get you home.”