Chapter 29 Willow
Willow
“It’s going to be okay.”
Cammie squeezes my hand from her position next to me. Hades’ new trial lasted a week longer than the original, and now we’re waiting outside the courtroom for the jury to return with a verdict.
“It has to be.”
I wasn’t nervous, having always believed in his innocence, but this waiting is killing me. Gordon let me sit at the defense table, as his second chair, despite me not having a law degree yet. I am in night classes, but it’s going to take a few years for me to finish and take the bar exam.
The courtroom door opens, and my father steps out.
In a fucked-up turn of events, he was the prosecuting attorney for this trial.
One would think he’d go a little easy on Hades since it’s so obvious that he’s innocent.
I was also hopeful since Hades is the father of his granddaughter.
But no, ADA Crane—within the walls of this courthouse, he’s not my father—must keep up appearances and act according to his belief that a criminal is a criminal and second chances shouldn’t be given.
“Can I speak to you, Willow?” he asks when he stops in front of the bench we’re sitting on.
“Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of Cammie.”
He sighs. “Your mother would really like it if you and the baby came over for dinner.”
“No,” I reply without giving any thought to the pathetic request.
“Why not?”
“Where do I begin?” I sass. “First of all, you can’t even say her name.
Millie. Your granddaughter’s name is Millie.
Second, it didn’t even occur to you to invite Hades.
Ya know, the man who I’ve committed my life to, the father of your grandchild, the innocent man you insist is guilty and deserves to die.
” I take a deep breath. “Are those reasons enough for you?”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
He walks away without another word. Part of me hoped he would get through this trial and finally recognize that Hades is a good man.
He might do illegal things, although not the crime he’s on trial for, but he’s not a bad person.
Shit, he makes me happy, and that should be enough. It’s not, though, and it never will be.
“I’m sorry things have never gotten better,” Cammie says quietly.
“It’s okay,” I tell her, and I mean it.
With the DOAMC, I have a huge family, and not a single one of them would think twice about accepting every part of me, even when I’m in mama bear mode.
“I bet Evie is chomping at the bit to hear what’s happening,” she comments.
She stayed home with Millie, at Hades’ request. Evie wasn’t happy about missing the trial, but she adores her niece and will do just about anything for her brother.
Except dump her boyfriend, Damon. That boy really will be the death of Hades.
Levins and Jilly stayed behind with the two, so all of our loved ones are safe and sound. Although, Levins doesn’t go by Levins anymore. Two days after I left the Factory and K.C. behind, the club voted on his patch, and Levins became Warden.
My cell vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to read the text.
Gordon: Jury’s back
I grab Cammie’s hand. “They’re back.”
She stands, pulling me along with her. “Let’s go do this.”
I fight the urge to run in the other direction. A guilty verdict seems impossible with all of the evidence presented by Gordon, but Hades shouldn’t have been convicted the first time around, so what made me think this time would be any different.
Everyone takes their seats in the courtroom, and Hades finds my hand under the table.
“I love you,” I whisper to him. “No matter what.”
“I love you, too,” he says. “Always.”
“Will the defendant please rise?” the Judge prompts, and Hades stands with me and Gordon flanking him on both sides. “Has the jury reached a verdict?”
“We have, Your Honor,” the foreman announces.
“Please hand the verdict to the bailiff,” he instructs.
A piece of paper is exchanged between the foreman and the bailiff, who then hands it to the judge.
“On the count of murder in the first degree of the bank teller, we, the jury, find the defendant, Craig Hunter, not guilty,” the judge reads.
“On the count of murder in the first degree of the bank teller’s daughter, we, the jury, find the defendant, Craig Hunter, not guilty.
And on the count of murder in the first degree of the bank manager, we, the jury, find the defendant, Craig Hunter, not guilty.
” Hades throws his arms around me as I burst into tears. “Mr. Hunter, you are free to go.”
“I can’t believe it’s over,” I cry into his chest.
“It really is,” Hades agrees.
We both face Gordon. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done,” he tells my boss. “I’d be dead by now if it weren’t for you.”
Gordon shakes his hand. “No, you wouldn’t. I have no doubt Willow would have fought tooth and nail for you, whether or not she had my help.”
“Damn straight,” I quip.
“I just wish the real murderers could be brought to justice,” he says. “It’s a shame they went missing.”
I stifle my grin. Fingerprints were finally run on the murder weapon, and a match was found. The club tracked down the man who pulled the trigger in the bank all those years ago and sent him through The Factory. They were able to extract information from him, like who the second shooter was.
In the end, both men succumbed to the effects of a long acid shower.
Gordon knows none of that, though.
“We do, too,” I say.
On the ride home, Hades takes a detour, and I frown when I realize where he’s taken me.
“Why are we here?” I ask.
“This is where you were shot.”
“I’m aware,” I snap, annoyed and more than ready to get home to Millie.
“Bones is the only unresolved issue, and I need you to know, I won’t stop until he’s caught and punished.”
I reach up and cup his cheeks. “I know this, my love. You told me the same thing the night the partial plate was traced back to him. And you’ve told me many times since.
I have no doubt that you will do exactly what you say you will.
” Rising to my tiptoes, I press a kiss to his lips. “Will you take me home now?”
“Under one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“When we get there, Preach marries us. Now that I’m really and truly free, I don’t want to waste another second as anyone other than your husband and Millie’s father.”
“Deal.”