CHAPTER 23
ROMAN
For the past few months I’ve been going back and forth to court with Carter and Ryan at my side. First, for Terry’s plea hearing, then his sentencing. James was up next for his part in the whole thing, and now it's my turn.
I’m sitting beside Eric at the defense table with Ryan and Carter nervously waiting in the spectators' seats behind me. This is the preliminary hearing for the exoneration of all my charges and to seek restitution from the state for wrongful conviction. This is day three, the day the judge will inform us of their decision based on the evidence provided, if we will go to trial or my exoneration is granted.
Watching Eric over the last two days, eviscerating not only the cops but the whole case against me has been a highlight of my life. The guy is an absolute shark. It’s no wonder his assistant Jordy has drool on the side of his mouth watching him. I make a mental note to ask Pete if his best friend Jordy is getting it on with my attorney. Eric seems a lot older than Jordy and I kinda get straight vibes off him but I could be wrong. Either way his big dick energy takes over every room he steps into.
There is always the possibility that this could go all the way to trial, with a jury and everything, but with the amount of evidence that Eric has, that would shine a seriously bad light on the police department and the prosecutor's office. So, they settled on overturning my conviction, removing all marks of it from my record and handing me fifteen million dollars in restitution. When Eric first mentioned some type of compensation for my wrongful conviction I didn’t really pay it any mind until now.
The judge said it so quickly that I'm not sure I heard it right. Carter jumping up to wrap his arms around me from the spectator pews behind me doesn’t even shake me out of my disbelief. I lift my eyes to look at Eric who is casually packing away the paperwork like he didn’t just win me fifteen million dollars. I must have heard that wrong. There is no way.
Nothing in life is that easy, not for me anyway. Karma already gave me my family back and Carter to spend my life with. I would have been happy with my name cleared, so that people can stop looking at my mom and Ryan with looks of distrust or disgust. This was never about the money for me, but Eric told me that even though I can never get all those years behind bars back, that I deserved something to help make the rest of my life the best it could possibly be.
Shock still has a hold on me when Carter's face floats into my vision and I force my eyes to focus on his. “It’s over, Roman, we can go home now. Everybody knows you didn’t do that shit and they know who the real monster is.” He grips the sides of my face making sure that I focus on him. He did the same thing the day that we sat in court to hear Terry’s sentencing. The coward pleaded guilty so that he didn’t have to face a real trial and have all his dirty laundry aired to the world and his religious family.
Even though he pleaded guilty and took some kind of deal to save the taxpayers money on his trial, he was sentenced to twenty-five years with the possibility of parole in fifteen. It should have been more. He should have had to face a trial and face all of his victims, me and James included. It seemed somehow unfair that he got off easy, but James reminded me what the other prisoners will do when they realize what he did. I’ve seen it firsthand and I wouldn’t wish that on my enemy. So good riddance.
James was a key witness in both my exoneration and Terry's conviction. Eric presented all of the good work that James has done and the fact he is willing to accept whatever punishment the judge felt like he deserved. Thankfully, the judge was on our side that day. He ordered James to pay a fine of ten thousand dollars for the assault charge, which was indeed dropped to a misdemeanor due to the circumstances, and four hundred hours of community service which can be done at the shelter where he works, because of course, Derek wasn’t going to fire him and ban him from the shelter.
I offered multiple times to help him pay the fine, even the guys at the shop offered to chip in but James refused. He feels like he owes at least that much. His guilt still eats at him. I know it does. I can only hope with time and therapy that he can move on. What I do know, is that he is my friend and I will be there for him.
Carter lightly taps my cheek, bringing me back to reality. The concern on his face and in his voice when he calls my name, makes me think that isn't the first time he's tried to talk to me.
“Are you okay, Muscles?” he asks with cute frown lines on his forehead. I take in his beautiful face with those forest green eyes that sparkle with every smile he sends my way. My eyes drop to the collar of the button-up shirt he's wearing and the little bit of black ink that's peeking out of it. My mark, my name. I have no idea what I’ve done to deserve this much luck but I'm not about to waste it.
Nodding, I finally stand up and turn to my brother, hugging him against my body as he tells me how proud of me he is and how I deserve this chance to start over. He’s going to make me cry, so I quickly step back and shake Eric's hand, thanking him again and warning him to take a cut from that money. None of this would have been possible without him. It wouldn’t have been possible without James either but I already know he won't let me pay his fine so I won't insult him by asking again.
Leaning down I drop a kiss to Carter’s temple. “Let's get out of here, I've seen enough of this courtroom to last me a lifetime,” I whisper, squeezing both him and Ryan on the shoulder as we head for the exit. Leaving one long-drawn-out chapter of my life behind and heading full force into another.
CARTER
The past few months have been absolute hell for Roman. Naturally, seeing Terry again in the flesh at the hearings, had Roman’s nightmares returning in full force. He kept trying to sleep in the guest bedroom so he would stop waking me up, but fuck that. We are a team, I am his person and he is mine. His dick and my neck say so.
I countered his offer of abandoning me and forcing me to sleep alone and lonely, with therapy sessions with a therapist that specializes in past trauma and sleep regression. He was unsure at first, but meeting Mia just once quelled all his reservations. I’m not sure he would have been able to get through the last few months without her help. Of course, the judge being lenient with James was a massive weight off his chest but he wasn’t ready to celebrate just yet. He wanted to get his preliminary hearing out of the way before he let his guard down. I get it, he has had a lot of shit go south for him, especially in courtrooms.
I have no doubts though. I am one hundred percent confident that he is going to walk out of here an innocent man, with the paperwork to prove it to the world. I am so confident, in fact, that I have had the guys reschedule all their appointments for the afternoon to go decorate our place in celebration. I make sure that James and Eric are invited, but pinkie swear them to secrecy, and of course, Mama Joyce.
The second the judge bangs the gavel sealing his decision, to not only overturn Roman’s conviction but to wipe it from all records and award him fifteen million dollars in restitution, my heart explodes for him. I jump up and pull Roman back, hugging him excitedly before moving to hug Ryan too. When I reach Eric he humors me with a pat to the back, the dude is not a hugger. Kickass attorney but lacking in the platonic affection department.
Roman is still in his seat and staring off into space. Calling his name to get his attention, I tug him into a hug before jumping over the little railing separating those involved in the trial from those just here to watch. Big guy here is stunned. I start to contemplate how I would carry his big ass to my car when he finally comes around and reassures me he's okay.
Fifteen million is a lot of money but if I know Roman as well as I think I do, he’s going to donate a large chunk of it, if not all of it. Likely to the shelter, but maybe some other organization for kids.
Ryan immediately calls their mom as we exit the courthouse and I can hear her cry of joy from here. She wanted to be here, but Roman begged her not to come to this trial or any of the others. He didn’t want her to hear what happened and then look at him differently. I don’t think Mama Joyce ever would, but he was adamant she not go through it. Hearing how emotional she is, how happy she is for her son to finally be free from these accusations has tears welling up in Ryan’s eyes as he hands the phone to Roman and walks away wiping his face with the sleeve of his suit.
I jog ahead to catch up with Ryan, letting Roman have his moment with his mom. He has no idea he will be seeing her this afternoon and I can’t wait to cry like a baby when he wraps his arms around his tiny mom, who I hope is cooking up a storm in my kitchen right now. I did place a catering order with Asher, but still, I bet his mom’s home-cooked meal will be the cherry on top of the best day ever.
I reach the car as Ryan turns his back to lean against it. “You ok?” I ask, clicking the button to unlock the doors.
“Of course I’m okay, dipshit. I’m so fucking happy for him, for you and my mom and even for me. It’s all finally over, I guess I'm just overwhelmed.”
I smile and step up to him, wrapping him in my arms and holding him in a tight bear hug.
“Ugh, get off me,” he complains, but he doesn’t actually try to get out of my grip. He loves it really.
Letting him go I jump into the driver's seat and shoot off a few texts to make sure everything is ready and that the cake was delivered. It would be an actual crime to have a party without cake, and like Roman said, we have seen enough of courtrooms. With confirmation that everything is ready, I turn my attention back to Roman who is walking toward the car, his eyes looking suspiciously red now too.
Rather than point it out though, I just lean over and drop a kiss to his lips, ignoring Ryan’s grumbles from the back seat about not wanting to see his brother making out with his best friend.
“When we get home, I’m burning this fucking monkey suit in the backyard,” I say, pulling at my tie to loosen it. I doubt I will be able to put this suit on in the future and not be brought back to these last few months. No, this suit has bad vibes. “Yours too, Muscles, they gotta go.”
The fact that he smiles and agrees to my crazy plan without a single question makes me fall even deeper in love with him.