49. Youre Getting A Woody
You're Getting A Woody
Dani
A week later
"Why am I being charged? He broke into my house and attacked me!" I yell, tossing the papers on the table.
"I’m just as confused as you are, Dani girl." Gabe states from his seat.
"Ugh! I’m so sick of that man. I just want this to be over with." I let my head fall back on my shoulders. "How much do you think it’d cost to take out a hit on him?"
Gabe laughs. "I’ll do it for free, baby girl."
"Jesus, you two, don't say shit like that out loud," Mark scolds. "You never know who might be listening."
I'm sitting with Gabe and Mark at the kitchen table in Gabe's condo on Bathurst Street. He texted me this morning to let me know that Josh has pressed charges on not only him but me as well. I had asked Mark to meet me there seeing as how Josh also added these charges to the countersuit.
The front door opens and heavy footsteps grab my attention. I lift my head in time to see Luke standing next to the table. His eyes roam over my face, down to my broken wrist and back to my face. Fury sizzles in his ice blue eyes and he exhales through his nose hard.
"How are you feeling, Daniella?" he asks.
I shrug. "Okay."
"And Mason?"
My heart slams so hard against my chest, it knocks the air from my lungs. "He's…better. Thank you for asking." I breathe.
"I will always ask how you two are doing. Always."
I duck my head to hide my burning cheeks from him. "Thank you."
"I told you he'd press charges, Gabe." Luke says, grabbing my attention and changing the subject.
"I thought you couldn't represent family."
"I'm not, I'm only here to help."
"Then who's your lawyer, Gabe?"
Gabe fires me a beaming smile, popping out his one dimple. "Me, baby girl. I'm representing myself. It may surprise you to know that while I didn't become a lawyer, I did attend law school."
"So you have a law degree?" I ask, stunned at this new information.
"Fuck no," he laughs. "I only made it halfway through the second year before I realized it wasn't for me. However, I learned enough to be able to represent myself in court if need be."
Mark hands Luke the new papers and he begins to read them over while pacing the kitchen. "They are dismissing the video evidence, saying that it can be altered? That’s a fucking load. They’re charging Gabe with assault and you as an accomplice to the assault. Are they fucking serious?"
Luke continues to read through the papers. My heart jumps into my throat every time I catch him glancing at me. It feels like I’m meeting him for the first time all over again. My pulse races, my hands become clammy and my body flushes.
He sits next to me, stealing Gabe's laptop and begins making notes while speaking to Mark in hushed voices.
"It’s bullshit, Archer." I mutter after a bit.
"I know, baby." He answers, not looking in my direction.
I fire a glance at Gabe, his hands are clasped behind his head, leaning back in his chair with a smirk.
"Did you just call me baby?"
"It slipped out," he mutters.
"I smell bullshit."
He rubs his temples, finally meeting my eyes. "Sweetheart, now is not the time to argue."
My heart melts at the endearment. One I’ve missed hearing these last three months.
Gabe chuckles. "Yeah, Dani girl, it turns him on."
He flips Gabe off.
"It turns you on?" I ask.
"It does not." He retorts.
"Yes, it does. You’re getting a woody right now." Gabe chimes in.
"Shut it, Gabe." Luke barks.
"Isn't arguing foreplay for you two?" Mark pipes up and we both flip him off.
Mark goes back through the papers on the table. "John has been lining the pockets of the judges for years to make sure Josh’s cases get thrown out. This is going to be no different," he informs us. "I hate to ask this, but would Mason testify against his father?"
"Fuck yeah he would," I confirm with a thump of my fist on the table. "After what he witnessed, he wouldn’t think twice about it."
"Would he be comfortable on the stand or would you like me to work with him?" Luke asks.
The sincere tone of his voice has me fighting back tears. No man—besides Dad—has ever offered to help Mason with something.
"That…that would be great. Thanks, Archer."
He smiles, flashing those dimples I love so much and nods once.
"Anything for you, Sweetheart."
I’m sandwiched between Mark and Gabe, watching my baby take the stand. Something I never thought I would ever witness. We only had four days to prepare Mason for court. The case was bumped up extremely quickly, I have a feeling John and Helen had something to do with that. He did really well at home, but I can see the nervousness in his eyes as he sits.
I give him a smile and blow him a kiss, hoping it helps him relax.
Josh’s lawyer stands and starts with the questioning. "State your name for the record please."
"Mason Carter."
Josh huffs. "She didn’t even give him my last name. Selfish bitch."
I roll my eyes and glance to where Josh is sitting. He has three sets of stitches and a busted nose. I peek at Gabe and stifle the laugh that is fighting to get free. He smiles and kisses his busted-up knuckles, giving Josh a finger wave.
"Gabe," Mark hisses. "Don’t start shit."
I giggle and Gabe smiles brightly. He’s such a bad influence.
"And how old are you, Mason?" Josh’s lawyer asks.
"Eighteen."
The lawyer looks up at him. "Really? You’re eighteen?" he says with skepticism.
Mason nods and reaches into his suit jacket. "Here’s my birth certificate if you don’t believe me."
I made him bring it, he can pass for mid-twenties easily. If I had a dollar for every time he’s asked if he wanted an alcoholic drink when we go out to eat, I’d be living in a huge house that’s fully paid for.
The lawyer waves his hand. "No need. Can you tell me what happened the night Mr. Whitlock came to your home?"
As Mason goes into detail, I watch the judges face. He doesn’t look right. All the colour drains from his face.
The judge raises a hand. "I’m going to have to stop you, Mr. Sayer and call a recess."
"But, Your Honor—"
"Recess, Mr. Sayer." He bangs his gavel and stands.
Mason rushes over to us. "What’s going on?"
I take his hand. "Pretty sure the judge is going to keel over," I give his hand a squeeze. "You did so good up there, Bubba." I smile up at him.
"You did really good, Mason." Mark praises and Mason beams.
"Go grab something to eat. I’m going to find out what’s going on." Mark says, walking towards the chambers.
We walk out and sit down on a bench. "You want me to go get food?" Gabe questions.
I shake my head and dig into my purse, pulling out sandwiches and cans of pop. "I always pack food when I go out with Mason because he’s always hungry." I hand Mason two sandwiches and can of pop. "It’s cheaper than getting fast food every three hours. Mason is not a cheap date."
"I have sophisticated tastes," Mason says, taking a massive bite of his sandwich.
"They know you by name at McDonald's." I deadpan.
"I'm not sorry about that," Mason answers with his mouth full.
I smirk and turn to Gabe. "You want one? I have chicken, ham, and turkey."
Gabe starts to laugh. "You remind me of Mom. She always had food in her purse too because I was always hungry." Gabe takes two sandwiches and a pop.
"She probably didn’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars on fast food either," I snort.
"You’re not wrong." He answers.
"Looks like we’re getting a different judge," Mark says as he walks towards us with Luke prowling behind. If I didn’t know how sweet and caring Luke can be, he would intimidate me. It’s like his suits give him powers or something, he seems larger when he wears one.
"What happened?" I ask.
"He had a heart attack." Mark tells us.
Well, shit.
"Who’s the replacement?" Gabe asks.
"A new judge. Judge Sandford." Mark says. "I’ve never met her, so I can’t tell you which way she’s going to lean."
"And I'm taking over as your acting lawyer." Luke chimes in.
"Why?" I ask.
"A family matter has come up and I need to deal with it," Mark says.
I narrow my eyes. "Really?"
"Truly." Mark says, placing his hand over his heart. "I would never leave in the middle of a case but this is something that needs to be handled asap."
"Mark has sent me everything regarding your case," Luke says. "Including the videos from that night."
I take a deep inhale. "Guess I have no choice."
Luke squats in front of me. "I've got you, Sweetheart. You've got nothing to worry about. I promise."
Two hours later, we are back in the courtroom waiting for the new judge. This time though, we are joined by my parents and the Whitlock’s.
"I really don’t think Mason should be allowed to testify. He never had a chance to get to know his father. To see what a sweet and loving man he is," Helen announces to the room. "Mason only saw what Daniella brings out in Joshua."
I open my mouth to say something when Luke grips my knee. "Don’t you dare. If you lash out, they’ll use that against you." He whispers against my ear, causing a wave of heat to wash over my skin.
His hand lingers a second too long and Gabe leans around me with a knowing smirk. "Dude, stop feeling up your client under the table." He whispers, making me snort and Luke crack a smile.
"You’re just mad it’s not you." Luke whispers back.
"Damn right I am! Dani girl, would you be a dear and grab my phone from my pants pocket," Gabe says.
I slap a hand over my mouth to mute the sound of my giggles.
"Your phone’s on the table, moron." Mason states from behind us. "I’m sitting behind a bunch of perverts, getting scarred for life."
That gets us all laughing.
A door opens to our left and the new judge steps out. She’s young. Maybe late thirties. Josh curse under his breath as she takes a seat and turns to John who's looking a little flushed.
"I can tell by the looks on your faces that there is some confusion as to why I’m here and Judge Rye is not," she moves around some papers. "Judge Rye has suffered a heart attack and has been taken to the hospital. I am his replacement, Judge Sandford."
She looks up from the papers in front of her. "I see that this case has been added to a countersuit. I will address the original case after this one, so that we don’t have to set another date." She motions to the stand. "Mason," she calls.
Mason stands and walks with more confidence than before. He sits and looks to Judge Sandford.
"I see from the record that you were in the middle of your testimony, but I am going to ask you to start from the beginning." She smiles at him, and he relaxes.
Mason begins, answering Mr. Sayer’s questions without hesitation.
"No further questions, Your Honor." Mr. Sayer says, sitting next to Josh.
Judge Sandford stares at Josh. "You attacked the mother of your child!" she says aghast.
"Only to defend myself," Josh says.
"Defend yourself? You’re a good foot taller than her and a hundred pounds heavier and you had to defend yourself." She shakes her head.
"I didn’t want to," Josh implores, looking over at me. "I’m still in love with Dani."
Judge Sandford gives him a look of disbelief. "Moving on. Mr. Archer, if you will."
Luke stands and I hold my breath, reaching for Gabe’s hand, squeezing it tight.
"Ow, Dani girl. You wanna ease up there before you pop a few stitches."
I drop his hand. "Sorry."
"I only have one question Mason," Luke looks up. "What did Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock say to you when you were recovering in the hospital back in August?"
Mason looks to me and I nod. He never told me what was said, only that they offered him a thousand dollars a week if he cut all ties with me and came to live with them.
"They told me that Ma is a whore and a…" he looks at Judge Sandford, then over at me. I give him another small smile, trying to encourage him but the thumbing of his knee against the witness stand tells me what he's about to say is upsetting him. He only bounces his knee when he's nervous or upset.
"They said she’s a whore who got pregnant on purpose to try to steal money from them by using me to get child support and to destroy Josh’s hockey career." Mason looks down at his hands. "They also said that she earned every beating she got from Josh. That it was her own damn fault it happened because she knew he had a temper, and she pushed his buttons anyway."
Horror and rage causes my muscles to stiffen. They knew the whole time and did nothing about it.
"I see. Is there anything else?" Luke asks.
"No sir, Mr. Archer." Mason glances towards me. "I’m sorry, Ma."
"I have no further questions, Your Honor."
Luke
Mason walks back towards us and sits behind Gabe. Dani reaches over and squeezes his hand. "So proud of you, Bubba."
I’m proud of him, too. It took a lot of guts for him to get up there in front of his family and strangers and do what he did.
Judge Sandford bangs the gavel. "I don’t need to hear anymore. Whitlock verse Carter and Archer is dismissed."
"Your Honor," Mr. Sayer calls out, "I would like to know why you are dismissing this case. You can clearly see my client was attacked."
Judge Sandford leans on the Bench. "This might be true, however, as I was going over this case during recess, I noticed there’s video evidence that was rejected. Care to explain why?"
Josh jumps up. "Because she would edit it somehow to make me look like the bad guy! Dani always made me look like the bad guy!" he points over to me. "How do we know that Luke didn’t attack her, huh."
Judge Sandford turns to me. "I would like to see the video."
"Your Honor, I really don’t think—" Mr. Sayer starts.
"Mr. Archer, do you have a copy of the video?" Judge Sandford questions, cutting off Mr. Sayer.
I pull it up on my phone. "I do."
"Approach the Bench."
I stand and hand my phone over to the judge. "There are two in total." I inform her.
I sit back next to Dani and her hand finds mine. I study the judges face as she reviews the videos. So many emotions cross her face as the video plays. The room is silent, all of them listening to the screaming and what was said.
Judge Sandford places my phone on the Bench, clasping her hands together. "There is no evidence that Ms. Carter initiated the attack nor that she and Mr. Archer planned this attack together. I am dismissing this case. End of discussion." She bangs the gavel on the Bench again. "Now, in the case of Carter verses Whitlock, I’m charging you, Mr. Whitlock, with aggravated assault causing bodily harm."
Josh explodes off his chair. "On what grounds!"
Judge Sandford glares at Josh. "After hearing everything, watching the videos, and your outbursts in my courtroom, it’s obvious that you have anger issues, Mr. Whitlock. I firmly believe that Ms. Carter did nothing to initiate either attack, other than denying you what you believe you are intitled to."
She stands and motions to the two Officers in the room. "Take him to holding until bail is set."
Dani spins and grips my arm. "What the fuck just happened?"
"You won." I say, packing up my bag.
"Wow," she whisper in disbelief. "I won!" Dani lets out a loud cackle. I glance up, finding her doing a little happy dance. She turns to me with the brightest smile. "Thank you, Archer."
“Anything for you, Sweetheart. Always.”