THE BURDEN OF PROOF

THE BURDEN OF PROOF Book One of The Counsel SeriesDefense attorney Eli Caine has one rule: never let a case become personal.He's about to break it for the first time in fifteen years.When art consultant Nadia Vasquez walks into his office accused of murdering one of the city's most powerful men, Eli sees exactly what the prosecution wants him to see - a woman with motive, opportunity, and no alibi. What he doesn't expect is a client who reveals nothing she doesn't have to, in a case built on more secrets than evidence.As the trial unfolds, Eli uncovers a buried history that the prosecution either doesn't know or has chosen to ignore - a sealed filing, a network of people with every reason to keep it that way, and a truth far more dangerous than the charge itself. The deeper he digs, the more he understands: someone wanted Nadia exactly where she is. And they're not finished.With his own career, his partner's safety, and Nadia's freedom all on the line, Eli has to decide how much he's willing to risk for a client he was never supposed to trust completely - and a truth the system was never built to protect.A gripping legal thriller about the cost of justice, the weight of silence, and what happens when the line between defending someone and believing in them finally disappears.