The Prosecutor

The Prosecutor By Adrienne Giordano


Two attorneys with everything to lose fight for justice in THE PROSECUTOR by USA TODAY bestselling author Adrienne Giordano

Chicago assistant state’s attorney Zac Hennings just got handed a political hot potato: keeping the convicted murderer in a high-profile case behind bars. He’s up against his most formidable—and alluring—adversary. First-year law student Emma Sinclair is passionately fighting to free her brother. But she needs the take-no-prisoners prosecutor’s help.

Caught between attraction and letting a killer go free, Zac walks a tightrope. Until evidence surfaces that the real culprit’s still out there. With his career and Emma’s life on the line, Zac races to right a terrible wrong. Refusing to back down, he’ll bring a cunning lawbreaker to justice—or die trying.



“Something tells me that down deep, you don’t agree with what you have to believe.”

Her touch spilled heat into Zac’s gut. He was no saint, but he could honestly say he hadn’t felt that kind of fire in a long time. Whether it was wishful thinking or plain wanting action, he didn’t know, but he liked it. Given his current status as the prosecutor on her brother’s case, thinking like that would lead him nowhere good.

Emma snatched her finger back. He smiled and her cheeks immediately flushed. Too damned cute. Even if he should be running like hell.

“I need to go,” she said.

For safety, Zac stepped far enough out of reach so he didn’t do something stupid and touch her. “Yes, you do.”



Acknowledgments

Thank you to my husband, who continually offers support and incredibly corny jokes that make me smile. You are the love of my life and I’d be lost without you. To Gigi Giordano Pallitto, you rock, girlfriend! Thank you for your never-ending patience while I tackled legal research. I’ve always said it’s good to have a lawyer in the family. Hopefully, I haven’t mangled the massive amount of information you provided!

To John Kocoras, I so appreciate your early input while I plotted this story. Who knew I’d find Brady and Giglio material so fascinating?

And now for my usual suspects, whom I couldn’t complete a book without. Thank you, Theresa Stevens, for once again pushing me on the tiny details in my writing. I wish I could bottle all you’ve taught me and share it with other writers. You’re the best! To Tracey Devlyn and Kelsey Browning, thank you for your constant support and for traveling this road with me. It’s been an amazing ride. Lucie J. Charles and Misty Evans, you always allow me to disturb your day with critiques and brainstorming ideas, and I’m continually thankful for your help.

John Leach, there aren’t enough words to thank you for sharing your law enforcement knowledge. With each book, you give me new possibilities for my stories.

Thanks to my editor, Denise Zaza, for joining my lunch table the day we met. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with you. It’s been a wonderful experience. To Dana Hamilton, thank you for your guidance throughout production on this book.

Finally, to my son, who reminds me every day why love is so important. I love you.




CAST OF CHARACTERS

Zac Hennings—He’s a bulldog assistant state’s attorney in Chicago. When he steps into court, winning is the only option.

Emma Sinclair—A law student working to prove her incarcerated brother was wrongly convicted of murder. Emma doesn’t care who she has to battle as long as she eventually sees her brother a free man.

Brian Sinclair—Emma’s younger brother, who was convicted of murdering his friend and a Chicago police officer’s beautiful daughter.

Penny Hennings—Zac’s smart-mouthed younger sister and Brian Sinclair’s new pro bono defense attorney. Penny wants nothing more than to step out of her hotshot defense attorney father’s shadow and beat her brother in court.

Gerald Hennings—Senior partner from Hennings and Solomon who is known in Chicago for winning unwinnable cases. Also Zac and Penny’s father.

Alex Belson—The overworked public defender who handled Brian Sinclair’s murder trial.

Ben Leeks Sr.—Chicago police detective whose son was the murdered woman’s boyfriend. He will stop at nothing to protect his son.



For Elisa and Chris, who make the complexities of sibling relationships easy to navigate. I love you.