Chapter 43 Red
Chapter forty-three
Red
I hop from one foot to the other in the courtroom aisle, waiting for the officers to bring Zack inside. Nerves trickle through me at the thought of what lies ahead. If we don’t get Zack out, the attacks will keep coming, and my alpha might not survive all of them.
A life hangs in the balance today.
Callisto sits at the front desk, skimming his notes and conferring with his paralegal, the kind man who got my name on the witness list last time.
Now and then the lawyer glances over his shoulder to find me, and his lips quirk when our gazes meet.
His hair’s still dyed light brown, but at least now he’s fully clothed.
Yesterday was wild. We ran away with the filming like horses with bits clamped in their teeth. It was hot and beautiful, and we weren’t the only people coming apart during the shoot. No one admitted it, but the scent in that studio bloomed like a street festival.
And it was our silent promise to each other of more to come. I know Zack made the decision to throw Callisto out because he sensed my doubts, but those are gone now, washed away by Calli’s tireless efforts on our behalf. Time and again he’s shown up, proving he won’t abandon me.
Callisto gets a call on his phone, and he swivels around to stare at me as he talks.
“Something’s up,” Rickon whispers, reaching for my shoulders.
The lawyer rises abruptly and shoves through the barrier’s wooden gate, brow drawn with concern.
“What’s wrong?” Rickon asks.
Callisto glances around and then leans in, setting his face near ours. “Zack’s on his way, but I just got the fight’s injuries list from a contact of mine.”
My stomach tangles in knots. “Is Zack hurt?”
“No, he seems to be fine apart from a few bruises. Miraculous, considering twenty prisoners got involved.”
Rickon hisses, and I shake my head in wonder.
Callisto reaches out to touch my arm. “Can you sit down for a minute?”
I slide into the closest seat, and the two men sit either side of me, leaning in to continue our huddle.
Calli takes my hand, swiping once at his lips before continuing.
“Um, so apparently Ray Fibbistachi is on life support. He has thirteen broken bones, including his spine, and a crushed throat. Chances are he’ll be a paraplegic, and doctors say he’ll most likely feed out of a tube for the rest of his life. ”
The feeling that sweeps through me is oddly chilling, like the epic conclusion to a movie that keeps you pinned in your seat for long moments after the end.
My breath catches. After my treacherous climb, I’ve finally reached level ground.
My alpha reduced the man who tormented me to a splintered log, reliant on machinery even to breathe.
I drag in a deep breath, and it feels fresher and sweeter than any air I’ve ever had. I’m free.
“One more thing,” Callisto says, tugging at his tie knot. “Apparently, his penis was stabbed too many times to reconstruct.”
The laugh that bursts out of me echoes loudly in the muted courtroom. I clap my hands over my quivering mouth. “Damn, Calli. I think I need you to say that one more time.”
His lips flatten as he tries to hide his smile but fails. “Ray Fibbistachi no longer has a dick. It got stabbed beyond recognition by an unknown somebody.”
I flop back in my seat to gaze at the ceiling, body suddenly limp. “He really did it,” I mutter.
“Yeah. That and taking half of his ear,” Callisto says, thumb massaging over the back of my hand. “I heard from Keith Alhedy that he explained to Zack in simple terms what Ray did to you. Zack’s restraint in plotting his revenge instead of taking Ray’s head immediately amazed him.”
The intricate moldings on the courtroom ceiling blur together. It’s a kind of poetic justice when I think about it . . . a violent alpha from the pits of despair who learned humanity faces off against an alpha who had every chance at humanity but chose violence.
And me, the omega who connected them.
“Oh gosh,” Rickon says, gathering me up in his arms as the tears well over my lashes and spill down my cheeks. “Come here, my love.”
Tears were a weakness I could never afford, but now I’m safe. Now I don’t rely on masks to get me through harrowing days. A sob catches in my throat.
Rickon tucks my face into his neck and rocks me, and Callisto strokes my back. Their presence surrounds me, the cherry wood and vanilla forming a natural latte that warms me from every angle.
When I settle a bit, I pull out of their hold and swipe at my tears. “Well, I guess I needed to hear that more than I knew.”
Callisto nods. “It’s great news, but the real problem is Alpha Lodgings will use this as cause to keep Zack incarcerated.”
“Do they have video proof?” Rickon asks, jaw ticking with annoyance.
Callisto shrugs, open hands showing his helplessness. “I’m sure they have something, but they’ll reveal it last minute.”
“Can they bring new evidence today?” I ask, thinking of all the hoops we jumped through last time ahead of the court case with Ray.
He nods. “Unfortunately, because it’s an appeal and not a trial, yes. They can raise anything relevant that happens beforehand.”
I pop one hand on my hip and grumble under my breath, “Awfully convenient timing for a prison fight, then.”
Callisto points at me, thoughts running hot. “Good point. I’ll bring that up if I get a chance.”
The bond in my chest fizzes deliciously, and I jerk upright. Rickon turns too, feeling the growing presence of our bonded alpha. The side door opens and Zack shuffles in, hands and feet bound. My heart thuds heavily. A dark bruise stains his right cheek, and his bottom lip has a scab.
I jump to my feet and run forward. “Please let me hug him!” I call to the two guards flanking my alpha.
They wave me in and I throw myself onto Zack, hands wrapping around his neck.
“Red,” he murmurs, nuzzling his nose into my neck. Never has my name sounded more beautiful. He can’t get his arms around me, but he still grasps my hips with his fingers and somehow folds his broad body over me protectively.
My tears fall faster, and my body quivers. Gratitude floods my heart, and I cling to him, running my fingertips through his buzzed hair and squeezing the bulky muscles in his back.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “For everything.”
Zack vibrates with a chuckle and shifts to lean his forehead on mine. He smiles as he studies my face. “Careful, my ohm-ee-ga. You’ll flood this room.” His tongue flicks out, sweeping up my tears.
A fresh sob shakes me, and I clasp his face with both hands. “You’re speaking so well now, tiger.”
He grins. “I learned.”
“You sure have. You’re amazing, Zack.”
There’s so much more I want to say, but his gaze flicks around the court, and then he bumps me softly. “Tell me many times when we get home while I make sex to you.”
I grin at his clumsy but sweet phrasing and step back, blowing him another kiss.
The bailiff calls for order in court and Callisto tugs me back to the lawyer’s table, pulling out the seat beside his. Rickon slides past me to hug Zack, arms tight with desperation. Zack whispers something in his ear that makes my first alpha blush, and then the guards lead him over to the dock.
My heart twists seeing him inside the barred box to the side, but surely it won’t be long now.
We rise as the bailiff announces the judge.
“Now beginning appeal 34922 for the denial of bail for Zackary Jones.” The judge pulls glasses down onto his nose and opens a file.
“The appeal brought forward by Councilor Callisto Wren, and in opposition we have Alpha Lodgings, who claim Mr Jones is a danger to society, and who sought the original denial.”
I fist my hands, nails digging into my palms. No, the danger to society was in the prison where they sent Zack. Rickon leans over and takes my palm in his, easing out my tight fist.
The judge clasps his hands together and studies the lawyers at the front desks.
“I’ve read the files, and I must say, this is quite the conflicting tale.
One side paints Mr Jones as harmless, and the other as a violent psychopath.
From experience, we know that the potential for both lies within an alpha’s nature, so, Councilor Wren, please explain to me why Mr Jones will not be a danger going forward.
” He opens his hand toward Callisto in invitation.
Callisto rises and straightens his jacket.
“Your Honor, my client is on a learning journey of mammoth proportions.
A few months ago, he was an underground pit fighter, forced into this lifestyle by cruel criminals who gave him no choice.
But since meeting his omega, Mr Jones has demonstrated not only remarkable restraint but also a thirst for knowledge.
“As documented in the affidavit from Mr Rickon Jones, my client had his first conversation about law less than two months ago. He’s learning at an amazing speed, but it isn’t ethical to treat him the same as other alphas who are familiar with society’s norms.”
I glance over at Zack. His eyes narrow as he listens to Callisto. If I had to guess, I’d say Zack doesn’t like his difference pointed out, but he remains quiet. Hopefully, he understands Callisto’s trying to help.
Callisto leans down and spreads a few pages on his desk, and I spot colored highlighter dashes on certain words in his neat dot points as a quick reference system. Callisto’s been studying hard.
Our dashing lawyer continues. “You asked why he isn’t a danger, and it’s because his omega and bonded alpha have been teaching him proper behavior.
He needs to be in their company, for everyone’s wellbeing.
You’ve seen the sealed case files from the OCB, which prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Mr Jones was provoked by external forces.
Before that date, he had negligible aggressive behavior. ”
The Alpha Lodgings lawyer interrupts. “Two incidents isn’t negligible.”
“Two?” Callisto asks, spinning to face the opposing table.
“Besides his omega’s colleague, he also attacked a woman with a dog outside the designer Sorentito’s store on Fourth Avenue.” The lawyer smirks as he hands a sheet of paper each to Callisto and the judge.
“I object to the word attacked,” Callisto declares. He glances at the details on the sheet, and over at me.
I beckon him and whisper in his ear. “Zack thought a dog challenged him, and he pulled the leash out of our hands and chased after it. Rickon caught him and made him sit on the ground. Although he roared a bit, he never touched the dog or the owner.”
Callisto nods and turns back to the court.
“Mr Jones never laid a hand on anyone that day.” He throws a disarming smile at the opposing lawyer.
“He simply got startled by his first sighting of a dog, but obeyed when Mr Rickon Jones and Ms Red Jones asked him to stop and sit down on the ground. I’m so glad opposing counsel brought this up, because it clearly shows Mr Jones was under control the entire time. ”
He turns back to the judge. “Your Honor, please place yourself in my client’s shoes. He’d never even seen a dog before, and yet when asked by his pack, he sat down on the pavement to process. This is an alpha showing great restraint.”
Of course, the subject of Zack attacking Sebastien comes up next, but Callisto answers calmly, demonstrating how Sebastien himself understood the situation and took no offense and how Rickon again restrained Zack.
But Alpha Lodgings aren’t giving up. “Your Honor, since Mr Jones arrived in prison, he’s been involved in three separate violent incidents—”
“Allegedly,” Callisto interrupts, looking grim. “All I’m aware of is self-defense.”
The Alpha Lodgings lawyer rises. “We’d like to take this moment to introduce new evidence to the court, which proves Mr Jones is dangerous.”
Tight bands close around my throat. This is the moment our case sinks or swims.
But as the other lawyer steps forward, the man beside him comes into clear view, and I catch a whiff of his scent.
The sharp notes in my nose stir a memory.
Although I was out of it after Zack bonded me, this guard came to the prison in whatever small town they found us in.
While I don’t remember what he said, the prison guard’s voice was always discordant.
But why does he seem familiar, and why is that same man here in the courthouse, if he’s from the prison across state?
“Callisto,” I whisper.
He leans over, eyes still on the presenting lawyer.
“That man beside him, he’s familiar. I think he’s from the prison in Darinian.”
Callisto twitches, eyes widening.