Chapter 44
The room was ice cold. Or maybe that was from my nerves. I gladly would have walked into an inferno with or without gear on to break through the freeze happening within me.
I hated how it felt to go numb. I hated how it reminded me of how I coped years ago when I went to the fire academy, alone and heartbroken, instead of to New York City with the love of my life.
Granted now, I could look back and realize she wasn’t for me after all. And I didn’t actually love her. You can’t love someone who doesn’t even know your true self.
And she didn’t know me.
But I had been heartbroken, nonetheless. And when I went off to the fire academy instead of New York with her, I had been so fucking numb inside. I made it through the entire academy and got my first paid position at a fire station, without feeling anything at all.
Now, that same familiar feeling was trying to take root, to wrap around my heart and squeeze it hard enough to just—stop.
Stop everything.
Maybe it was a coping mechanism.
Maybe it was a flaw of mine.
I didn’t know. I just knew I didn’t want to be numb.
“Rhea Dalton.” A lady called from a large set of double doors down the hallway. “You may come in now.”
Goldie squeezed my hand, and Tanner slid his warm palm over my spine, helping me stand from the marble bench in the courthouse lobby. I was walking back into the same courtroom that I had faced two days ago, where people decided the fates of individuals like me every single day.
Normally, I felt a strong conviction in my belief in the legal system.
I saw the inner workings of it every single day.
I saw how hard the different pieces worked together to find justice and prove right from wrong.
Yet I was sitting on the wrong side of that process, and I couldn’t wrap my head around it or get my footing.
I felt like I was being tossed in a washing machine, and I couldn’t find the handle to open the door to get out.
“We’ll be right here,” Lucas, Tanner’s brother, said confidently from the bench at his brother’s side.
I had never met Lucas before today, but I liked him already. I mean, it would be hard not to when he was so similar to the man that I loved, just a few years older.
“And I’m not leaving your side this time,” Goldie said, clutching my hand in hers like it was her lifeline. “I will keep my mouth shut, but I’m not standing in this hall while you face this down again.”
I gave her a soft smile, nodding to Jasper and Thomas, sitting on the bench on Goldie’s other side, and then across the hall to where Elliot and his husband Travis sat, silently lending me their support.
No one in the building knew what it meant to me to have them all here, holding space for me, with me, while I faced this.
And I’d probably never be able to tell them in a way that made sense. I wasn’t very good with words like that.
So, I just turned and walked down the hall toward the courtroom, with Goldie and Tanner by my side. My lawyer, Anastasia Howe, met us at the door, a woman so full of class and grace that she looked slightly alien with her perfect clothes and perfect hair.
Paired with the perfect confidence I thought I used to have.
Before everything got shaken up in the washing machine.
“Let’s do this,” she said with a curt nod and a small smirk, and followed us down to the tables and chairs waiting for us again.
Today wasn’t part of a trial or anything, but it was a continuation of my charges. The judge had called the appearance after reviewing all the information that my lawyer gathered from Tanner and Lucas and sent in as evidence against the DA’s claims.
In the end, the DA’s office didn’t want to take a case to trial that they couldn’t win. But a small part of my mind wondered if they would dismiss the charges because they didn’t know if they could win, or because they actually believed in my innocence.
And that part mattered to me. A lot.
Sitting down at the defense table beside Anastasia, I folded my hands so tightly in my lap that my knuckles were white. Tanner sat behind me in the gallery, but he was close enough that I could feel the heat of his stare without looking. Goldie sat next to me on my other side. Steady. Silent.
Something she never was.
But she was trying so hard to be what I needed right now, and it warmed my heart, cracking through the ice just a little.
Anastasia leaned toward me. “Breathe,” she murmured.
“I am,” I whispered back.
“Not like you’re waiting for the ceiling to collapse.”
Fair.
The DA stood at the opposite table, flipping through a stack of papers he now looked less certain about than he had three days ago.
The judge entered, and everyone rose as I swallowed down the scream of anxiety that threatened against my lips and sat down as the court came to session.
The judge adjusted her glasses and looked directly at me.
“Ms. Dalton,” she began, voice measured.
“This court has reviewed the supplemental evidence submitted by your counsel.” Anastasia’s hand rested lightly on my forearm, grounding me as the judge continued.
“And while I’m glad the DA filed this motion, I’m highly disappointed that it took the District Attorney’s office so long to do so. ”
My heart raced in my chest as the powerful woman on the bench glared openly at the prosecution bench.
She went on, “I’ve received documentation of corporate filings tied to Bakewell Industries, corroborating reports of similar property damage in neighboring municipalities, surveillance footage and official transcripts establishing your physical presence during all the alleged crimes and sworn statements showing potential third-party interference. ”
The DA cleared his throat quietly, but the women in the room all heard it like nails on a chalkboard, and the judge ignored him.
She kept her eyes on me, which I respected more than anything, to be honest.
“In light of this evidence, and pending further investigation into alternative suspects, the court finds insufficient grounds to proceed.” My pulse thundered in my ears as she raised one perfectly poised eyebrow at me. “Accordingly, all criminal charges against you, Ms. Dalton, are dismissed.”
The words didn’t land at first, even though she said them clearly and firmly.
Dismissed.
Gone.
Goldie’s hand clamped around mine, and Tanner exhaled behind me as if he’d been underwater the whole time.
Anastasia leaned closer. “That’s it,” she whispered proudly. “You’re clear.”
I blinked, shaking my head slightly, “That’s it?”
The judge gave me a long look, not one that was unkind, but firm and honest.
“This court reminds all parties,” she finally turned toward the DA’s bench, and her stare got even deeper. “That allegations carry weight. Ms. Dalton, you are released.”
The DA stood stiffly, “Your Honor, I’d like it noted on record that the state reserves the right to reopen the investigation should new evidence—”
“You may reserve whatever you like,” the judge cut in calmly. “But as of today, this case is closed.”
The gavel came down, the short, percussive noise cracking something inside my chest.
Anastasia stood first, gathering her briefcase, which she hadn’t even opened during the session.
“We’ll be making a statement outside,” she said to the DA coolly.
“One announcing the finality of these charges against my client. And one announcing something that will permanently change the blueprint of this town for generations.” The hair on my neck stood up as I glanced at Tanner in question, as she went on with her cryptic message to the DA.
“It would look good for you, as the leader of justice in this county, to stand at my side during the announcement as though perhaps, you were on board with the plan the entire time.” Turning to me directly, she said, “You’re not just cleared, Rhea. You were targeted, and that matters.”
The DA didn’t respond, and neither did I, as Anastasia turned and started down the long aisle toward the door after a quick wink to me. Tanner’s hand landed on my shoulder as I stood frozen in shock, though he was warm and solid as ever.
“Are you okay?” he murmured.
I nodded once, leaning into his touch. “Yeah.”
Goldie stepped in front of me, eyes glassy but fierce. “I told you.”
I let out a breath that felt like it had been sitting in my lungs for weeks.
“Let’s go see what our fearless bad-ass lawyer has up her sleeve.” Goldie said, wrapping one arm around my waist and walking by my side down the aisle.
I kissed her temple and then turned to Tanner, holding his hand. “Thank you both for being here today.”
He winked at me but didn’t reply. I could feel his commitment to not only me, but Goldie too, through that one mildly cocky, always confident gesture.
When we joined the others back out in the hallway, Goldie held her hands up and cheered, “Free!”
And that one word was exactly what everyone was waiting for. The relief on everyone’s face made me relax with the news a little more.
Jasper came over and made an obnoxious trill with his tongue before he started adjusting and fluffing our outfits. “There are no less than a dozen different media outlets waiting for you on the front steps. We need to get you all looking prim and proper for your daytime debut.”
I slapped his hands away as he tried to adjust the black, gauzy tie of my blouse at my neck and held his stare long enough that he rolled his eyes and moved on to Goldie.
My long sleeve black blouse was modest and tied at the throat, but paired with the black straight-leg trousers and leather heels I only wore to certain events that required dress codes, I felt confident.
I felt strong.
I felt vindicated.
Goldie wore a black pencil skirt and nude pumps, beneath a yellow bowl-neck sweater that made me want to slide it off her shoulder just enough to bite the tender little spot right at the base of her neck that made her giggle.
Her blonde curls were down, but tamed and contained behind a black headband that somehow made her look not only adorable, in true Goldie fashion but also regal in her own right.
“You’re beautiful,” I said, distracted by her beauty as Jasper pulled one of her curls to pull her attention back to him as he adjusted her necklace.
“Thank you,” She whispered, with that knowing smile on her face.
Turning to Tanner, who watched us with that silent, knowing gaze in his eyes, I took a second to admire the way he cleaned up for the event too.
He wore a pair of dark brown khaki pants that hugged every inch of his muscular thighs, a shiny pair of brown shoes, and a navy-blue blazer that made the crystal clearness of his matching blue eyes pop.
“Don’t you dare,” he said with a smirk, hands in his pants pockets as I let myself openly appraise his attire.
“Don’t what?” I asked, with a shrug, grateful that Jasper was keeping everyone distracted with his fussing.
“Get those sexy little bedroom eyes.” He affirmed, always knowing. “We have a press conference and some big, mysterious announcement from your lawyer.”
“I know.” I smiled at him, cocking my head slightly to the side.
“I was just admiring the view for a moment. I had wanted to say something earlier, as I sat there and watched you piece this sexy suit together over your big, powerful body. But I was too nervous about the hearing to voice it. Now I’m not, though. ”
He growled, a soft little noise in his chest as he came forward and palmed my cheek tenderly before lowering his lips to mine. “Tonight you can tell me all the things you like about it as I take it off. Piece by piece for you. Right before I lay you both out and recharge my soul for a few hours.”
I smiled against his lips, knowing exactly how Tanner Brooks recharged.
By making Goldie and me scream his name on repeat.
“Don’t mind if I do.” I said, leaning back as Jasper came in our direction with his outstretched hands reaching for Tanner’s tie.
“Touch me, and I’ll put the grossest dead rodent I can find in your flashy purple little clown car first thing tomorrow.” Tanner said firmly, and Jasper gasped, throwing his hands back against his own chest.
“You would dare desecrate our sweet lord and savior, Jezebel, like that?”
“You named your car Jezebel?” I deadpanned, raising a brow at him as Tanner moved to stand between Goldie and me, like we’d protect him from the over-the-top man trying to cop a feel and call it wardrobe adjustments.
“No, duh.” Jasper shook his head like I was an idiot. “I’m Jezebel. Your fairy queer father.” He swiped his hair as if it had fallen out of place by his shock. “I’m just trying to make sure my little fashionably challenged babies look good on the news. Gosh.”
Goldie snickered, “We appreciate Jezebel’s services,” she said, and then crossed her arms and put her best mean mug on. “But I will ring your bell with your own foot if you try to touch my man or my woman again. Understood?”
Jasper grinned as if the threat excited him, slowly extending one finger out in Tanner’s direction before Thomas cleared his throat off to the side.
I wouldn’t have believed it had I not seen it firsthand, but Jasper ripped his hand back to his own personal space as if the noise alone had burned him, before brushing it off and pretending it was all his idea.
“Whatevs. Let’s go.”
Thomas lingered to the side, but I watched the way he waited for Jasper to turn his way, slowly raising his eyebrows at the louder man standing in the middle of the group like he was silently….
Dominating him?
No, that couldn’t be right.
“Rhea,” Anastasia called from the door, where she waited with the DA. “Ready?”
“Yeah,” I said, taking a deep breath and putting one foot in front of the other as Tanner and Goldie fell into step right beside me.
Together we walked to the door, ready to face the world.
As one.