On Thin Ice Read Online Free Page A

thought he’d be so damned polite?
    Smart. Sexy. Good-looking. His hand rested lightly, even respectfully, underneath her arm. Why was her skin tingling? What was it about this guy?
    Well, for starters, she thought, he was gorgeous. She glanced up at him and, seeing his smile, wished she hadn’t. Talk about a dangerous attraction. He was the last person she needed stirring her up. Even if he weren’t her prime rival, she wasn’t his type. Leggy Miller beer models were more likely his taste. Probably had one waiting for him now—wearing a slinky black teddy.
    But did he have to be so . . . sexy?
    Forget that, Gabrielle, she told herself. Your career is hanging by a thread. Pay attention to saving your butt instead of indulging your suddenly overactive libido.
    Seated at the scarred rectangular table of the police station conference room, Gabrielle studied Sabatino’s file. Beside her, Devlin studied Gabrielle. A woman of contradictions, or at the least, many adverse layers. He hadn’t quite pegged her yet, and he was good at that. Contradictions, he knew, usually had reasons behind them. Her odd behavior at the office would bear further examination.
    The door opened to admit Sabatino, striding in with a sublime disregard for his jailer. Devlin rose and thanked the police escort before turning to Sabatino. “I’m Devlin Sinclair and this is Gabrielle Rousseau. We’re your attorneys from Christian, Gilmer and Simmons.”
    Sabatino ignored him, staring at Gabrielle instead. “Bellisima,” he said in flawless Italian. His mouth curved into a slow smile, not quite a leer. “Rousseau,” he added musingly, his eyebrows lifting. “Tell me, signorina, have we met before?”
    “Not that I remember,” she said, her eyes flashing a warning Devlin could read as well as Sabatino. “And I have an excellent memory.”
    She made it sound like a threat. Intrigued, Devlin watched both of them. Though pale again, Gabrielle didn’t look as bad as she had in Norris’s office.
    Shrugging her statement aside, Sabatino spoke to Devlin. “About time you got your asses over here.” He took one of the rickety chairs and pulled it out to sit. “I’ve been in this stinking hole twelve hours already. When the hell are you getting me out?”
    Some things never change, Devlin thought. Exactly the attitude he’d expected. “If we get you out,” he said calmly. If Sabatino thought to intimidate him, he could think again. “The judge might not be inclined to grant you bail. Even if he does, it’s going to be high, given the charges against you. Racketeering isn’t a penny-ante crime, not on the scale you’re into.”
    “Your job is to get my butt out, not to lecture me, pretty boy.”
    Devlin quelled an urge to wipe the sneer off Sabatino’s mouth with his fist. “Call it what you want. Those are the facts.”
    “What about you, cara?” he said, turning to Gabrielle. “Are you going to lecture me?”
    “I’m your lawyer, Sabatino,” Gabrielle said flatly. “You can call me Ms. Rousseau or Gabrielle, but that’s as close as we get. You’ll be out in forty-eight hours, with a little luck.”
    “I thought CG and S was supposed to be good.” His eyes narrowed, darkened. “That’s too long. I want out today.”
    “Good is one thing. Miracles are another.” Devlin added a rider to pacify him a bit. “But we’ll try to expedite your bail hearing. Have you considered cooperating with the FBI?”
    Sabatino made a crude gesture expressing his opinion of that idea. “Omertà,” he said simply.
    “A code of silence won’t get your butt out of a sling, Sabatino,” Devlin said. “You should think about it.”
    “It won’t get me killed, either. Besides, I’m innocent. The cops set me up. Entrapment.”
    “You want to plead not guilty?” Gabrielle asked, her tone implying she didn’t believe his innocence for a minute.
    “Sì, signorina. And you will defend me?” he asked with a suave smile.
    “We haven’t