Chapter Fifteen
Poe
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” I ask in disbelief.
“Because the trial has to be seen by a judge in your county, everything has been delayed.”
I rub a frustrated hand over my face at the lawyer's bland words. This may be a simple case to him, but to me, this is my vengeance for Addie. That compromise I made with her is biting me on the ass.
“With everything in that town in an uproar, I’m not sure when this case will be seen. The likelihood of Mr. Bennet settling is almost guaranteed.”
“I don’t want him to settle,” I grit out through my teeth.
I want to drag William Sinclair out into the street and take a baseball bat to him. The damage he did to Addie’s state of mind is something he deserves to be punished for. I won’t rest until I manage to make it happen.
“It would be best for everyone if he did,” the lawyer cautions. “Do you have any idea what’s happening in your part of the world?”
“No,” I glance up as my manager, Murphy, walks through my office door with a wide grin.
I gesture to a seat with a frown to get him out of my focus. I like the man, but his timing is horrible.
“Judges and lawyers are disappearing all over that county. Whatever is happening is bad news, and none of us wants any part of it. Judge Fullerton? The one assigned to see our case? Yeah, her husband shot her and then killed himself. The lawyer for Mr. Bennet’s defense? Died in a house fire. There have been rumors of some kind of sex trafficking ring getting busted with a lot of high-profile names on the list of clients. Nothing has been substantiated because they’re all vanishing into thin air. And no news reports about it? I’m not going anywhere near Ander Spring. Someone out there is cleaning up loose ends. Have you thought about moving back to LA?”
Of all the excuses to keep a trial from moving forward, this was nowhere on my list.
My shocked silence prompts him to go on.
“Anyway, my best advice is to settle or drop this case. It’s not going to go anywhere right now. And neither are we. Your city is falling apart.”
“It isn’t like you aren’t getting paid regardless,” I grumble.
“Good point,” he chuckles.
I disconnect the call with a heavy sigh.
Between this setback and the random problems that have been cropping up with the expo I have planned, my mood is foul.
I started thinking about a larger gathering of the SoT members after the site got leaked. That one action caused a lot of people to suffer and rethink being a part of the group. Like Addie, everyone assumed that once everything was out in the public eye, the judgments would consume their support.
The idea for an expo came from Addie. A large gathering of like-minded individuals with private access is something I’d never considered before. I’m not the best at being social, but Addie is.
“Problems?”
I glance at Murphy with a scowl. “The justice system here is corrupt?”
He blinks in surprise and then sinks lower in his seat. He knows how I feel about that. With all of the manipulations and bribes my father handed out to keep his image clean in the past, it’s not a surprise that I would want to burn their courthouse to the ground.
“Is any place not a little corrupt?” Murphy tries to defend the unforgivable.
“Why are you here?” I pace away from him impatiently.
“Well, it’s about the rumors running around, actually.” He clears his throat in discomfort at my flat expression. “The higher-ups are asking for you to go out. Be seen in public. An example that not all the rich are scumbags.”
“How flattering,” I deadpan.
“Just a little dinner? At a popular restaurant? Addie would love it.”
“Addie would hate it,” I rebut furiously. “She doesn’t need to be thrown into another media frenzy. The answer is no.”
“Then take her to LA for a week or two. Isn’t the timing perfect?” He offers hopefully.
“If she says yes, and the ring isn’t here yet,” I grunt and fall back into my chair.
“Special orders take time, Poe,” he reminds me for the hundredth time. “Could you not be a dramatic artist for five seconds? I need business Poe, not angsty Poe.”
“You’re lucky Addie likes you,” I glare back.
“I know,” he agrees wholeheartedly.
A gentle knock at the door interrupts us as a familiar face peers around the door.
Grace raises an eyebrow at me with a mocking smile.
“Can I come in?”
“No,” I glare.
She ignores me, like she always does, and steps inside.
“I picked up a little something for you,” she taunts me, holding something behind her back. “You’re lucky I stopped by your house before coming here. They left a note on the door for you to pick up a package. If Addie had seen it, your surprise would have gone to waste.”
That perks me up better than anything.
“It’s here?” I can’t help the anticipation in my voice.
“I’ll come back later when you can be rational,” Murphy sighs and exits as Grace pulls a package from behind her back with a wide grin.
“Poe, you need to take your time with this,” Grace starts another lecture as I round the desk and snatch the box out of her hands.
This is it. It’s here. My hands are shaking, making it hard to read the shipping address. I already know what it is.
Take my time? I ordered this ring the night Addie had her breakdown. I didn’t want to listen to Grace’s advice then, and I don’t want to now.
This is the missing piece to make us whole. She’ll have a glaring reminder that we’re in this together for the rest of our lives.
If she says yes.
“Later, Grace,” I absently mutter and hurry to get home.
“Why do I try?” I hear her grouse behind me.
Adelaide
I’m steady on my emotional feet again by the time Poe gets home. I’m cooking dinner for us. I catch the happy grin he gets when he sees me. I wonder if the pleasure of seeing me here will fade overtime.
That’s a little morbid. I shouldn’t think like that. It’s depression talking, not Adelaide.
Talking to Poe has helped a lot. I know now that keeping him in the dark on really painful subjects comes back to bite me. To me, that was the omen for my breakdown. Not letting Poe stand beside me for the fight I never saw coming. I won’t make that mistake again.
“I saw Asher today,” I admit while I stir the sauce for the pasta.
Poe stops. I don’t turn to see his expression. I can feel how tense my body has gotten. As if I’m reliving that moment of painful hope getting bitch slapped by reality. I hate this feeling.
When he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, I lean back into his chest.
His unwavering support holds me up as I tell him about the interaction.
“Did he notice the shop had closed?” Poe’s tone is forbidding.
“He thinks I’m remodeling. I’m not telling him any different. I don’t want to know what he’ll say about it.”
Poe lets out a frustrated breath and kisses my shoulder.
“If you go to meet him, I want to be there.”
I keep stirring, thinking about what I want to do.
He nips my neck, startling me.
“Say yes, siren,” he whispers teasingly in my ear. “Or I’ll bite again.”
“Pipe down, yappy dog. I’m thinking.” I try to sound stern, but I can’t help chuckling.
“Everybody witness this,” he turns to all the plushies. “She’s verbally abusing me.”
I smack his thigh with a scoff.
“Now it’s physical, too. Self-defense, everybody. Say it with me.”
He continues distracting me with his taunting until I chase him off by whipping his butt with a towel. Once he’s gone, I start thinking again.
Every Broussard, including Joseph, hasn’t contacted me for a long time. Months. I didn’t expect Asher to try to reach out personally. After Maman’s lecture, I figured he’d already made up his mind to ban me, too.
Why find me now? To make sure I tore up his pictures?
Do I want to risk the shaky peace I’ve achieved to meet people who probably despise me?
I don’t think I’m ready for that. There isn’t any hope inside to convince me it will be okay to go. I’m already wondering if he’ll tear me apart in front of them to complete my shame. Would he listen if I defended myself?
“I’m not going,” I mutter in a weak voice.
I blink as the words register.
I really don’t want to go. I’m tired of putting on a brave face only to have people rip me to shreds. My own family, at that. I think I should have a little more spine before I meet up with anyone.
Once I find my backbone, I’ll come back swinging if any of them find me again. Until that day, I’m leaving Asher on read. Just like he would do to me.
“Have you decided?” Poe raises a brow as I turn with the pot in my hand.
“I’m not going.” This time, I sound alright. Not mean or determined. Not even sad. Just at peace with the thought.
He seems surprised at my decision.
“Asher’s your favorite,” he prods a little.
“My peace of mind is worth more than whatever he plans to talk about. Besides, I doubt it will happen anyway.”
My casual reaction makes him frown.
“Are you giving up, siren?” He asks quietly. He fidgets in place, refusing to sit down at the table while I serve up food.
“No,” I scoff and roll my eyes. “I’m choosing my comfort instead of his. If it comes off as mean, too bad.”
Poe’s shoulders drop, his tension leaving him, and a smile slowly spreads.
“I’m glad you’re thinking that way. On that note, marry me.”
I almost drop the plate I’m setting down in surprise. Talk about a change in subject.
“Don’t you tease me, yappy dog.” I gape at him in disbelief.
“Who’s teasing, trash panda?” He raises a brow and gets on one knee, pulling something from his pocket. “I’ve been waiting for months for this ring to come in. Don’t spoil it.”
I’m frozen with a plate in my hand. It’s empty because it’s going in front of Racer. Good thing, too, because I’m shaking so hard I’d spill pasta everywhere.
He holds up a ring, and I notice that his hands aren’t any steadier than mine. I’m too busy staring into his eyes to see what kind it is.
“Adelaide, would you do me the honor of knocking trash cans over at my side for the rest of my life?”
Even his voice shakes. He’s trying to smile, but it’s wobbling and ready to fall off at any second. His face has gone pale. I think I can see sweat beading up as I stare blankly at him.
“Even with a walker,” I mutter in a daze. I start nodding slowly at first, and then fast enough that my hair starts whipping around in its tail. “Yes!”
The joy and relief that descends on him makes me think he’s about to pass out. I set the plate down roughly and hurry to support him.
I glance down as he snatches my hand from his arm and pushes a ring onto my finger. We’re both shaking and laughing like fools when he kisses me.