Pieces For You by Genna Rulon

for you.”
    This was definitely not going to be a light-hearted chat.
    “Are you with the District Attorney’s office?” I asked, my last glimmer of hope.
    He looked down at his attire as if it was all the answer I needed.  Dammit!  No one working at the DA’s office would be outfitted in Ralph Lauren Black Label.
    “Let’s get this over with,” I groaned.
    I followed him to a set of wingback chairs located as far from customers as possible.  I sat down, uneasy, my posture rigid and defensive.
    “I’d offer you coffee, but I have a feeling I will be asking you to leave before it’s finished brewing.”
    “Are you always so pessimistic, Miss Whitney?” he asked blandly.
    “When it comes to attorneys, Mr. Black, yes I am.”
    He sighed as if put out by my generalization.  I would have felt guilty if I believed there was even the slightest chance I was wrong about the assumption.
    “Miss Whitney, I represent the Varbeck family—”
    “Get the fuck out.  Now,” I hissed at him, blessedly keeping my volume at a respectable level despite my profanity.
    “Now, now, let’s not be hasty.  I have a mutually beneficial offer I think you would be wise to consider.  The Varbeck family is willing to provide you a significant sum of money—with a signed non-disclosure agreement, of course—if you decide not to testify as a part of the county’s case against Heath Varbeck, should it ever reach trial.  Which is doubtful, I might add.”
    Was he saying the name of the sick bastard who raped me to screw with my head?  If so, it was working.  My body began to shake uncontrollably, making it difficult for me to speak.
    “Yyyou nnneed to lleave.  Now!” I forced out with great effort.
    “You’re upset, which is understandable, but you need to calm yourself and think about this rationally.  Do you really want to sit on a witness stand and have your life opened up and examined under a microscope in public?  We all have secrets we would rather keep in the dark recesses of our minds.  Do you really want a defense attorney shining a light into those dark places?  Do you want to subject your family to that ugliness?  Sam, take the money and move on.  Nothing will undo what you’ve been through.  Testifying will not bring comfort or healing—you will only be exposing yourself to further suffering.”
    “Was that a threat?” a voice, unrecognizable in its fury, asked from behind me.
    “Sir, this is a private conversation.  I’ll thank you to mind your own business.”
    “I asked you a question; don’t make me repeat myself.”
    “I have no need to threaten Miss Whitney, I was simply bringing to her attention facts she may not have previously considered.”
    “Since we are stating facts, here’s one for you—if you don’t remove yourself from the premises in the next ten seconds, you will no longer be capable of doing so.  And to save you the trouble of threatening me , I am prepared to deal with the consequences of putting you in the hospital.  I have my own set of lawyers in overpriced suits.”
    Westly rose to leave, but Griffin stopped him with a hand on his chest.
    “Approach Samantha again and you will find out just how far I am willing to go in order to protect her…from any threats,” Griffin said, barely above a whisper—not a threat, a vow.
    The attorney held Griffin’s eyes.  He didn’t appear afraid, which made me question his sanity.  With a quick nod in my direction, he departed unhurriedly.
    Griffin was at my side with surprising speed, scooping me into his arms and sitting us on the nearest couch.  He positioned his body so I had the illusion of privacy while I gathered my senses.  Distress receded and anger rose to take its place.
    “Who the fuck did that piece of shit think he was to come to my place of work and shove a ridiculous bribe in my face like I was a corrupt politician?  To embarrass me, to threaten me!  I should have stomped on his ridiculously expensive