Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
E verything happened in a blur. I reacted out of fear. And not for myself. But for Mabilia. Most guys would be freaked out that their girlfriend shot three men without blinking an eye. The only thing I was thinking about was how I’d never let her go down for doing it.
I took her gun, wiped her prints off, replacing them with my own, and then shot the one guy she left alive. I didn’t need any witnesses who could argue that it was her, not me. I’m taking the blame for this. I will also take whatever the cops throw at me. Because the thought of her being in this position, cuffed in a cold room while being interrogated by a bunch of asshole detectives does not sit well with me.
So, I sit here and keep my mouth shut. They’ve tried to get me to turn a dozen times, asking me the same thing in different ways. They want me to say I saw Mabilia do it. Instead of continuing to answer their fucking stupid questions, I don’t say anything. I’m not an idiot. I know they’re trying to trip me up, which won’t happen.
The door swings open and none other than Matteo Valentino struts in. “My client won’t be answering any more questions. Leave the room. Now!” he directs to the detectives. “And turn off any recording devices.”
“Fucking hell, should have known you’d show up,” one of them says.
Matteo waits until they leave before he sits down and looks up at the camera. The blinking light stops blinking. He then places a pen on the table, clicking it down. “It’s a scrambler. If they left anything in here, it won’t record,” he explains.
I have no idea what to say to this guy. Why is he even here?
“I didn’t hire you,” I blurt out like a fucking idiot. I have the city’s best defense attorney sitting across from me and I’m insisting that he’s not my lawyer.
“Mabilia did. Now, tell me what happened tonight,” he says, pulling out a pad and a new pen—a real one.
“Three guys tried to attack my girlfriend. I shot them in self-defense to protect her.”
Matteo stares at me. “Try again. This time, I want the truth.”
“That is the truth.” It’s the only truth anyone is going to get from me. I keep my face neutral.
“Right, well, Mabilia claims she did it, and for some reason, you’re taking the fall for her,” he says.
“She’s confused. It happened really fast. Traumatic events can lead people to believe things that didn’t actually happen.” I shrug.
“Are you calling my niece a liar?” Matteo glares at me.
“No, I’m telling you my girlfriend is confused and scared. She’s going to say whatever she thinks will get me out of here.” I don’t care if he’s Mabilia’s uncle. She’s mine and I’ll do whatever it fucking takes to keep her away from this.
“You’re right. She would. But she’s not a liar and she certainly wouldn’t lie to her parents,” Matteo says.
“Does it really matter? They have the gun. The only prints they’ll find on it are mine. The swabs they’ve already done on my hands will come back positive for gunshot residue.”
“Fucking hell. Okay, what have you told them?” Matteo asks. “I need to be able to form a strong case in your favor, and in order to do that, I need all the facts.”
“I told them exactly what I told you. Three men approached us. They tried to take my girlfriend and I started shooting.”
“Mabilia says you’re in law school.”
“Second year.” I nod my head.
“This is going to ruin any chances you had at a career. You sure you want to keep with that story?”
“Would you give up your career to protect the woman you love?” I ask him. I haven’t admitted to myself or anyone else how strong my feelings are for Mabilia. It’s insane and way too soon to be in love with her. But I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t.
“I would never have let myself get caught,” he says with a cocky smile.
“You think you can get me out of here?”
“Not tonight. I’ll push for a bail hearing first thing in the morning. You have a clean record. You’re at the top of your class with perfect reports from your professors. I don’t see any reason a judge won’t post bail.”
“Okay.”
Matteo pulls out his phone and curses. “She won’t stop calling if I don’t answer,” he says. “Mabilia, sweetheart, now is not a good time…”
My back straightens at the mention of her name. I can’t hear her voice, though. At least I know she’s okay and that’s all that matters.
Matteo presses a button on his phone and places it on the table. “Okay, you’re on speaker,” he says.
“Tommy?” Mabilia’s voice cracks a little, breaking my heart.
“I’m here,” I tell her. “You okay?”
“Am I okay? Am I okay? Are you fucking kidding me right now? What the hell did you do? Why? Do you have any idea how serious this is, Tommy? You need to tell them the truth.”
“Mabilia, babe, I told them the truth. I’m fine. I’m going to be fine. I’ve got the city’s best attorney on my case, thanks to you.” I try to keep things light.
“You’re in there because of me,” she says.
“Mabilia, this isn’t your fault. I’m fine,” I repeat. “Can you get a message to Denny for me, though? Tell him I’m going to be held up for a day or so.”
“A day or so? Zio Matteo, when is he going to get bail?” Mabilia asks.
“I’m working on it,” Matteo says. “I gotta go, Mabilia. Stay home. Do not leave the house. Do you hear me?”
“Stay home? Sure, I’ll just sit at home while my boyfriend is being charged for murders he didn’t even commit!” Mabilia yells.
“Babe, stop. You can’t say that,” I remind her.
“I can say whatever the hell I want to say,” she shouts. Then her voice softens again. “Get him out of there, Zio Matteo, please .”
“I will.” Matteo cuts the call before turning back to me. “Guess we better work on a game plan to get you out of here—otherwise my head is going to be on her chopping block.”