Chapter 29 #2
The waitress cocks an eyebrow. “I’ll be sure to let my Nonna Luciano know.”
My mouth drops open. The Luciano family has ties with the mafia, and it doesn’t take a genius to understand why she’s dropping that name. It has the intended impact. George’s face loses some of its color, and he mutters, “Fuck you” before hightailing it out of the restaurant.
She exhales and glances at us. “You all can stay if you like.”
Cici is still rattled, so I shake my head. “Thank you for the great service. I’m sorry about him.”
The waitress harrumphs and glances at my little sister.
“You don’t know me and I don’t know you, but you need help, you come back here, understand?
” My sister nods, and the waitress glances at our dads, some type of scolding on the tip of her tongue, but she looks at Cici again and thinks better of it. “Have a good night, honey.”
Once she departs, Cici and I slide out of the booth. Lalo and Josh follow us to the exit, on high alert in case George stayed behind, but he’s long gone when we get outside.
“I’m sorry for alpha barking at you,” Josh says, rubbing his neck. “I just didn’t want him to make you say something you didn’t mean.”
She shrugs, fiddling with her sleeves, and I can tell being commanded twice in a row bothered her.
I don’t know a lot about being an omega, but I do know that the alpha barks can be used in good ways and bad ways.
George was manipulating her. Josh tried to save her.
I imagine it still sucks to realize that you’re at the mercy of an alpha’s whims.
“We’ll see you in court?”
Lalo and Josh nod. “Don’t worry, C. We’ll make sure you’re safe.”
She nods, chewing on her cheek.
“We’re going to go.” I tip my head toward the car, and Cici starts walking in that direction. I give Lalo and Josh a pointed look. “Don’t fuck this up, got it? She’s struggling, and the last thing she needs is more dad-trauma. Okay?”
“Understood, son.” Regret flashes across Josh’s face. “You’re a good brother,” he rasps.
Lalo claps his hand on his shoulder and nods at me. “Take care of her. We’ll make sure George won’t win custody for a second time.”
With that promise, I spin on my heel and jog to catch up with Cici, hoping that court doesn’t turn us all into liars and send her right back into the lion’s den.
There’s nothing exciting about being in a courtroom.
TV shows make it seem glamorous, but in reality, it’s a wood-covered box of hell.
Cici and I are sitting behind Josh and Lalo as the lawyers battle it out.
Josh and Lalo have already hit the stand, being hammered with questions about how fit they are to take care of Cici.
George’s lawyer made a few low blows. Nothing they can’t recover from, though.
Finally, George takes the stand. Cici grabs my hand, gaze intent on the little box where our father sits, and I give her a reassuring squeeze.
Liv takes my other hand, giving me hope.
I honestly wasn’t sure if I wanted her to come witness this mess.
Cici asked her to come, and I’d never deny my sister the comfort she needs.
I only wish that Liv could be spared from seeing the man who created me, for fear of her worrying that one day I’ll become him.
“George,” his lawyer begins. “You fought for full custody in the pack breakup, correct?”
“That’s correct,” George says, glancing at Cici. “I love my daughter.”
That fucking manipulative bastard better stop looking at her.
“And what did Josh and Lalo do?”
George scoffs. “Probably found a willing omega to pay for.”
“Objection, Your Honor!” Thomas, Josh and Lalo’s lawyer, shouts.
“Sustained. Careful, Mr. Wilson.”
George places his hand on his heart and nods. “Sorry, Your Honor.”
“Oh, fuck off,” I whisper.
Cici glances at me. Dammit. I press my lips together to keep from making this situation worse for her. Liv leans in closer, enveloping me in her scent. God, I love this omega.
“And how did you feel when your son took Cici without your consent?”
“Betrayed. Heartbroken.” George sniffs, really playing it up. “I gave him everything, and he took his sister away, kidnapped her from her own home—”
“He didn’t kidnap me!” Cici shouts, standing up.
The judge bangs his gavel. “Order in the court. Young lady, sit down.”
She narrows her eyes at the judge, but I tug on her hand and she sits with a heavy sigh, grumbling under her breath.
“It’s okay, C. His words don’t hurt me.” Not anymore. Besides, there’s no proof of what George is saying, whereas our team has all the proof. His lawyer is simply trying to make George look better when this is all said and done.
“What would you say to Cici now that you couldn’t that night?”
“Objection, Your Honor. Relevance?”
The judge frowns but glances at George. “I’ll allow it.”
Thomas drops into his seat and flicks his concerned gaze at Cici. She tips her chin, probably remembering all the prep we’ve done the last few days. No matter what George says, don’t forget what it felt like to know he was bargaining your future away.
“Cici,” George begins, looking at her. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. Alphas, we make jokes, stupid ones sometimes, and I never, ever meant to hurt you or for you to hear. Of course I’d never do what they’re trying to say. Be smart, sweetie. Daddy loves you, and I’d never let anything happen to you.”
Someone grab me a puke bag.
Cici doesn’t respond, except to glance away. Her fingers pulse around mine, and she fights tears. I hate that she’s hurting. I wish I could rip the pain away. Endure it for her. My little sister deserves so much better.
“Your witness,” the other lawyer says to ours, smirking in a way the judge can’t see. What a fucking dirtbag.
Thomas checks in with her. She dips her head, swipes her cheek, and takes a fortifying breath. Rising from his seat, Thomas strides toward George.
“Would you say you’re a family man, George?”
George’s eyebrows lift. “Of course.”
Thomas nods. “And what award did Cici win on her ninth birthday?”
Our father falters. He pinches his eyebrows together. “She was dancing . . . they won first place in the state competition.”
“Actually, Cici didn’t dance that year—do you know why?” Thomas walks toward the table with his paperwork, glancing over his shoulder at George, who is scowling.
“I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”
Thomas grins. “You are smart.” He manages to make it sound like a compliment and an insult all at the same time. Picking up a file, he walks it up to the stand. “Maybe this will jog your memory.”
“Objection, Your Honor! We haven’t seen whatever this is.”
The judge looks at Thomas, who offers a copy to the judge and provides another to the other lawyer.
“Apologies, Your Honor, we just got the medical release this morning, but you’ll see it’s relevant to George’s character.”
The judge scans the file in front of him, his expression rippling with disgust, but only for a moment, and then he schools his features. “All right, but tread carefully.”
Thomas nods. “Can you tell me what this is?”
“An X-ray.”
“Of?”
George releases a short huff. “Of Cici’s arm. I don’t understand. This was an accident.”
“Was it? Or was it another one of your . . . jokes?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” George is as stiff as a board now.
“Didn’t you tell Cici to jump off the roof of the beach house to . . .” Thomas trails off and pretends to look at notes. “See if she could fly?”
“She was pretending to be a dragon! We were playing.”
“Playing on a roof . . . which she jumped off of at your beckoning?” Thomas clarifies.
“Beckoning? No, of course not. I simply suggested—”
“Did you use your alpha bark on her?”
“That’s not—”
“Did you”—Thomas raises his voice—“use your alpha bark to tell your daughter to jump off the roof?”
“Answer the question,” the judge demands.
George’s face reddens. “Yes, but we were playing.”
“Right, of course, another joke.” Thomas pulls a pocket-sized voice recorder out of his pocket, and this time, there are no objections as he sits it down in front of George. “Can you tell me whose voice this is?”
The recording starts with a round of obnoxious laughter, but then George’s voice comes through loud and clear. I wrap an arm around Cici, hating that she has to listen to this all over again, but it’s necessary for the judge to hear it.
“She’s a virgin, Carl. You can do better than that.”
“Fine, eleven million, and I get to knot her first.”
George laughs on tape. “Before your sons, huh? Dirty bastard. Fine. You can knot her first, and then you can do whatever you want with her.”
Cici folds in on herself, trying to make herself small as the rest of the recording plays. There are a few counteroffers, but none of them quite match what Carl offered.
Thomas stops the tape. “Who was that?”
“Me,” George says through gritted teeth.
Josh and Lalo are growling low under their breath. Thomas shakes his head at my dad. The judge’s face is twisted in fury. Even he is struggling to keep his composure.
Thomas levels a look at the judge. “My clients would like full custody. No visitation and no contact.”
“Granted,” the judge says quickly, ending the case with one swift smack of his gavel.
“Your Honor!” the other lawyer calls.
Thomas glares at George. “You’re disgusting.”
No one celebrates. Not after that tape, but Josh and Lalo pull Cici into their arms, smoothing her hair, murmuring fatherly things, and promising her the world. Liv’s fingers are threaded through mine. She gazes up at me, sadness shimmering in her gaze, but she’s trying to be strong for Cici.
George’s shoulder knocks into me as he passes. “Watch it,” he snarls.
“Fuck you.”
He turns and lunges, but the court officer is there before he can even take a swing, hauling him back and locking his arms behind his waist. “This isn’t over! You can’t keep her from me!”
“We just did,” I tell him, shaking my head.
“I’ll appeal. You wait,” he says, jerking against the restraints.
The knock of the gavel has us all swinging our attention toward the judge.
“Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear,” he begins, palms resting on his wooden desk.
“My judgment is without question. There will be no appeals. Being the father of an omega, I highly doubt you are unaware of how strict and absolute the laws protecting their designation are. And if you were unaware, you aren’t now.
” He scowls at George. “As for the matter of you inciting violence in my courtroom, you’ll have to wait in jail without bail before your sentencing. ”
“You can’t do that!”
“I can and I did,” the judge snaps, slamming his little hammer down and nodding at the officer.
George is hauled away, kicking and screaming. Best-case scenario, it takes a week or so for him to get out, and then he’ll be at the mercy of the courts. Either way, George won’t be fighting for custody anymore.
“Good riddance,” Liv mutters. “No offense, but your dad is a total asshole.”
I chuckle. “That’s an understatement.”
She nods in agreement, and we both look at Cici, who is blowing her nose as Josh and Lalo talk to her.
“Do you think she’ll be okay?”
“This hurts,” Liv says. “But she’ll heal. She may have a scar, but Cici will be okay. She’s strong.”
I nod, because she is.
“And you are a good brother. You know that, right?”
“I’m glad you came,” I tell Liv.
She cups my cheek, marking me with her scent. “Me too.”
I swoop in for a quick, chaste kiss. “I love you,” I whisper before pulling back.
Her eyes widen before a grin and a blush overtake her features. “My oxytocin and dopamine levels are sky-high when you’re around.”
My eyebrows lift.
She chuckles. “I love you too, Liam.”
Those words wrap around me, and I pull her into a hug, breathing in her scent, letting it soothe the rest of my frustration. I never thought I’d get a chance to see her again, but now she’s mine.
All that’s left to do is make it official.