20. Addison
CHAPTER 20
ADDISON
He trusts me to do the right thing, and I trust him to do the hard thing.
One month later…
“I’m so nervous.”
I squeeze Sunny’s hand. We’re sitting on a bench outside the courtroom waiting on the jury to render a verdict in the case against Kenny. Crow is seated on the other side of her, and there’s a wall of bikers across from us. The entire club came to show their support.
“It’s gonna be okay,” I tell her. “Your testimony was solid. No way the jury is gonna let him walk.”
“And if they do,” Crow adds. “We’ll handle it.”
I’ve long since given up trying to convince him to only operate on the legal side of things. If my short time at the clubhouse and the last few weeks have taught me anything, it’s that Crow is going to do whatever it takes to keep the people he cares about safe, the law be damned.
I’m also learning that I’m not as opposed to that as I thought.
“I don’t wanna hear this,” I sing-song.
Crow grins. “Then don’t listen, Ace.”
It only takes two hours for the jury to reach a verdict so when the bailiff calls us all back into the courtroom, we enter with confidence. Rarely is a defendant found not guilty that quickly.
Once we’re all seated, court is called to order, and the judge enters.
“Madam foreperson, has the jury reached a verdict?” he asks.
“We have, Your Honor.”
“And how do you find the defendant?”
My stomach sinks when the woman glances at Sunny with an apologetic expression.
“Not guilty, Your Honor.”
Sunny bursts into tears, and Crow shoots to his feet.
“This is bullshit,” he snarls.
The judge bangs his gavel. “I suggest that members of the gallery remain seated and quiet. I’d hate to have to charge anyone with contempt.”
Crow sits but continues to mumble under his breath. I reach my arm around Sunny and rest my hand on his shoulder. His head whips to the left, and he locks eyes with me.
“Calm down,” I mouth silently.
Crow narrows his eyes but gives a curt nod. He and I have talked about this, about the possibility that the justice system might fail Sunny. It’s not a perfect system, after all.
And in our discussions, we kept coming back to one thing: trust. He trusts me to do the right thing, and I trust him to do the hard thing. Right or hard, Sunny’s attacker will pay.
After the judge dismisses the jury, pronounces Kenny free to go, and adjourns court, Crow and I escort Sunny out into the hall. Just as we reach the door, a hand wraps around my arm, forcing me to stop in my tracks.
“You’re gonna pay for this, bitch,” Kenny threatens as his lawyer pulls him away from me and outside.
Crow lets out a growl, but before he can go after Kenny, I grab his hand and thread my fingers through his.
“Not here,” I say with a shake of my head. “Not now.”
Crow scowls as he looks over his shoulder. “Ghost, tail him,” he orders.
“On it, Pres.”
Ghost rushes past us, and I have no doubt he’ll keep close tabs on Kenny.
“Addison,” Sunny says, her voice small, like that of a child. “How could this happen? He did it. He beat me.”
“I know.” I squeeze her hand. “And I have no clue how it happened. Sometimes juries just get it wrong.”
“But you said he confessed,” she reminds me.
Which makes this all the more puzzling.
“He did.”
“And twelve people still think he didn’t do it?” she asks.
“C’mon, Sunny, let’s get you home,” Crow says, urging her through the doors. “There’s no sense dwelling on what we can’t change. Just know that Kenny will be dealt with. I promise.”
Sunny nods and quietly lets Crow lead her to the truck parked in the courthouse parking lot. Most spots are filled with Harleys, but she’s not anyone’s old lady, so she doesn’t get to ride on the back of one.
You were on the back of Crow’s.
I shake that thought out of my head. Now is not the time to analyze my feelings for the man. Even if they are continuing to change little by little, day by day.
After getting Sunny situated in the front passenger seat, Crow walks to the tailgate, where I’m standing.
“You gonna be home later?” he asks.
I glance at my watch, which I only wear in court so I don’t have to pull out my cell to check the time.
“Should be home in a few hours.”
“I’m coming over.”
I arch a brow. “Oh really?”
There’s absolutely no annoyance in my tone. Crow coming to my house during the week has become a pretty regular thing, part of my routine. And I go to the clubhouse on the weekends. Nothing has happened between us… not that I’d mind if anything did.
Crow’s actually very sweet. He always makes me feel welcome and like I belong. I don’t know that I’ve ever really felt that before.
“Yes, really,” he says. “Want me to bring a pizza or anything?”
“Nah. We can figure out food later.”
“As soon as Sunny’s settled back at the clubhouse, I’ll head over.”
“Okay. See ya there.”
I return to the precinct and head straight for my dad’s office. He raises his head when I enter.
“That’s not a good look,” he comments.
“The jury found Kenny innocent of all charges,” I blurt as I flop down into the chair by his desk.
“That happens.”
“But he’s guilty as hell, Dad.”
He leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers in front of him. “What would you like me to do about it, Addison?”
His tone sets my teeth on edge. “Nothing,” I snap as I jump to my feet and whirl around to leave.
“Where are you going?” he demands.
“I came in here to talk to my dad because I’m upset,” I explain. “But you can’t listen, can you? You don’t want me to be a cop, but you don’t want me to be your daughter either.”
“Sit down, Addison,” he orders.
“Just… forget it.”
“Sit. Down.”
I glance at him over my shoulder and narrow my eyes. “Are you speaking as my father or my chief?”
“Does it matter?”
I huff out a breath and sit back down. “I’m sitting,” I sass.
“When we are at work, I’m your chief, your boss,” he says. “But I’ll try to be more open to listening to you as your father when you need me to.”
Say what?
“I…” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Thanks.”
“Now, as for the not guilty verdict… it happens, Addison. There are going to be plenty of times throughout your career where the guilty person walks. When that happens, you have to find a way to move on, or it’ll eat you alive.”
I smile. “That’s the first time you’ve acknowledged that this is my career and not just some whim.”
“Yes, well, your Uncle Gary had a long talk with me, made me realize that I need to get on board unless I want to lose you.”
My smile turns into a full-blown grin. “Uncle Gary’s pretty smart.”
Dad simply shakes his head and chuckles. “Go home, Addison. You can finish up any last-minute paperwork tomorrow.”
And that’s exactly what I do.
I go home and wait for Crow.