Chapter 29
Maggie
Setting my makeup brush on the counter, I stare at myself in the mirror, taking a moment to study the woman I’ve become and reflect on the journey that got me here.
I look basically the same as I did two years ago, when I was still stuck in a life that was filled with terror, anxiety, and anger.
But I can tell my time away from the chaos that was my life for many years has softened the hard edges, erased some of the tension that used to line my features.
I haven’t seen Reese in a very long time.
I don’t know how I’ll feel seeing him again.
He terrorized me and caused irreparable harm to so many people and families, including my own.
But there is a small part of me that is grateful for what I went through because his actions led me to something that’s turning out to be beautiful and healing.
Although I will never be thankful to him for what he did, the current state of my life helps ease the heavy burden of regret and anger toward him and myself.
A soft knock at the door draws me back to the day ahead of me.
“Maggie? You almost ready?” Ian’s deep voice fills my soul as he opens the bathroom door.
He looks exceptionally sexy today. There’s something about an excessively muscular man fitting perfectly into a tailored suit that appeals to me on a visceral level. As if the suit is doing the work to conceal and control the power and strength that lie underneath.
“Do you have to get suits custom-made?” I ask, noting how every seam appears to be made to fit him.
He stares at me in the mirror with a look of amusement and a hint of the desire that’s always present between us.
“Not custom-made, but I do get them tailored. If I don’t, they either look sloppy or are horribly uncomfortable.”
I smile. “Makes perfect sense. You look good.”
He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me back to his chest, kissing the side of my neck. Goosebumps spread all the way down my back from where his lips touch my skin.
“You look even better, beautiful.”
I’m dressed in a simple, conservative long-sleeve black dress. It may be basic, but it does accentuate my figure.
Perfect for a murder trial.
My smile falls, and my shoulders deflate.
Ian notices the change and turns me to face him.
He cups my cheek, and his warm, rough palm has me tilting into his hand to get more contact.
“Maggie, I’m at a loss right now as to how to help you.
If I’m being completely honest, my instinct is much more violent than society allows, so I’m trying to tame that side of me, and whenever you look like that, it gets harder and harder to do that. ”
I reach up and pull his lips to mine. Even though I started the kiss, Ian is quick to take over. He kisses me like this is our first and our last.
Breaking the kiss, I look up at him. “I have no idea how you got it cleared so you could not only come here with me but also be by my side even in the courthouse, and I don’t know how I can ever express how much that means to me.
” I fight the tsunami of emotion that overtakes me, but Ian misses nothing about me these days.
He gently pats his thumbs under my eyes in case any tears fall. “No crying, baby.” His eyes roam my face, and his lips tip up. “You can show me tonight how much you appreciate it. With that ass.”
Rolling my eyes, I laugh and jump away as he swats said ass. I needed that. I needed something to pull me back from sinking too low. Today will be hard, but remembering the good things I have in my life right now will help keep me from slipping even further. And right now, Ian is that for me.
We walk back into the room, and I pick up my phone. They should be here any minute to pick us up. Blowing out a slow breath, my eyes squeeze shut as a knock sounds at the door.
“You ready, beautiful?”
I pivot and paint on my brightest and fakest smile. “Yeah, let’s get this over with so we can move on with our lives.”
“Fuck yeah.” Ian holds out his hand for me to take.
When he opens the door, Jenson’s glaring face greets us, along with Franklin’s friendlier one.
Franklin steps forward and holds out his hand for Ian to shake. “Ian Murray. Simpson told me about you. It’s good to meet you. Name is Paul Franklin.”
Ian takes his hand. “Good to meet you.”
Last night, after we arrived at the hotel, I told Ian about Franklin and how differently he treats me compared to Jenson. Ian said he was glad at least one of the agents wasn’t a “fucking incompetent idiot.”
The walk to the waiting vehicles is silent besides a few murmured words between Jenson and Franklin. The whole way, I cling to Ian’s arm, telling myself that as long as I’m touching him, everything will be okay. I can borrow some of his strength and get through this.
Once we’re on the road to the courthouse, Franklin, who’s sitting next to me and Ian on the bench seat, breaks the quiet.
“When we get to the courthouse, we have two other agents who will be escorting us in and out of the building. Once inside, it’ll just be me and Jenson.
You need to stay with us, preferably both of us, but at least one.
While your boyfriend here is well-trained, it’s still our asses on the line if something happens to you.
You’ll be called first, but we may have to wait a little while until they are ready.
There’s a small conference room reserved for us, so we don’t have to be in the hallway. Any questions?”
I shake my head, and Ian’s fingers contract where ours are intertwined and resting on his thigh. I lean into him a little more, needing to keep the connection.
It isn’t long before we roll to a stop in front of the ornate courthouse, and lightheadedness overtakes me, making me sway in my seat.
But the familiar warmth of an arm on my shoulders steadies me.
As we step outside, two agents I don’t recognize surround us, and we once again make the silent trek closer to facing one of my greatest fears.
Once inside the conference room, I settle into one of the chairs and try to steady my nerves. The energy around me is restless and filled with a trepidation that makes my skin feel tight and suffocating.
After about an hour, the bailiff enters to tell me it’s time.
Before the words are out of his mouth, my palms are clammy, and my throat gets dry.
I stand on unsteady legs as Ian gives me an encouraging hug and a quick kiss before releasing me so I can follow the bailiff.
Franklin told me that no one’s allowed to accompany me, and that they’ll be waiting right outside the door when I’m done.
I lick my dry lips as the courtroom door is opened.
Straightening my spine, I take a step into the room.
More pairs of eyes than I’m comfortable with turn to stare at me as I make my way up to the front of the courtroom.
I focus on taking deep, steady breaths and making sure I don’t trip.
I’m shown to the witness stand, and I slowly pivot toward the court.
My heart is beating so hard, I worry I won’t be able to hear the questions asked of me.
I avoid looking in the direction of where Reese is sitting, partially hoping I can avoid looking at him throughout my entire testimony.
The bailiff steps up to me. “Please raise your right hand.”
I comply.
“Do you swear the testimony you shall give to the court in this manner shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
Dizziness washes over me, and I quickly say, “I do.”
“You may have a seat.”
Lowering into the chair, I cross my ankles and focus on my breathing.
The prosecutor I’ve met with a few times approaches. “Miss Grant.” Hearing my real last name helps ground me somewhat as I take another deep breath. “Do you know the defendant, Reese McMasters?”
She gestures in the direction of Reese, and every cell in my body fights the urge to glance in his direction.
“Yes, we met six years ago and dated for about five years.”
She nods. “And during that time you were dating, what did you think Mr. McMasters did for a job?”
“He told me he was in real estate development.”
“And you didn’t have any reason to doubt that?”
I hesitate, and my eyes flick to Reese. The look on his face chills me to my bones.
I would be less unnerved if it were fury I saw, but instead, it’s a mix of amusement and condescension.
As if he believes nothing I do can stop him.
Like nothing I say will put him away for the rest of his life, and I’ll spend the remainder of mine living in fear.
“I didn’t doubt him at first, but then I started seeing things that made me think that isn’t how he made money.”
“And what did you see?”
“Meetings with random people at odd times of the day in buildings that don’t look very conducive to a real estate business. Then it was the occasional drug deal, which eventually turned more frequent.” I wet my lips. “I started to see him become violent with people.”
“Do you know who Judge Kelly is, Miss Grant?”
“I do.”
“How do you know him? Was it from the news stories you may have seen?”
“No, I saw him before the news stories. I, uh, didn’t know his name at the time. That I did find out from the news.”
The prosecutor takes a few steps closer. “If the news wasn’t where you knew him from, where had you met him before?”
The moment of truth.
“I saw him the night Reese killed him and forced me to help dispose of the body.”