Chapter 36
Owen’s trial drags on for a week, and the ruling happens to fall the day before my own trial starts.
I’m nothing but nervous energy, my legs bouncing frantically while I sit on a crowded bench in the courtroom. Owen’s trial couldn’t have gone better than it did, but that doesn’t mean he’s off the hook. The best-case scenario is a reduced sentence or house arrest.
I’d take either one.
The courtroom silences as the prosecution enters. A minute later, Owen walks in with his lawyers, looking as though he didn’t get any sleep last night.
My heart clenches at the sight of him. All I want is to wrap myself around him so we both can finally sleep again. But I know that even if he gets to go home, I won’t be going with him.
Declan must sense my tension because he puts a supportive hand on my knee, easing it to stillness.
I blow out a breath when Owen finally sits.
The judge comes in next, followed shortly by the jury.
There’s a tense silence as the judge asks the jury for their verdict. I don’t think a single person takes a breath.
The judge scans the verdict, not a single muscle changing in her expression.
When she looks around at the jam-packed courtroom, she finally allows a small smile to grace her lips.
“The jury finds Owen Mills innocent on all counts, citing self-defense.”
The courtroom instantly erupts into shouts and cheers. The prosecution looks as shocked as I feel.
Innocent on all counts? Not possible.
Everyone is out of their seats in a second, trying to get to Owen. I stay seated in stunned silence, the crowds’ bodies blocking my view of him. Declan sits with me, squeezing my knee even harder.
I know I’m in shock as my hands begin to tremble fiercely.
Declan grabs them and rubs them between his own. “Nova?”
I meet his eyes, and there are unshed tears there. “What are you going to do?” he whispers among the loud commotion all around us.
My voice wavers when I answer him. “I wasn’t expecting him to go home.”
Declan gives me a comforting smile and holds up a hand to stop whoever is approaching us. “He’s going home because of you.”
I nod, not really registering anything.
“Are you going to try to talk to him?”
“He’ll never forgive me,” I whisper.
“You’ll never know unless you try. You’ve done harder things than this, Nova. Isn’t it worth a shot?”
I might sob, so I deflect. “I’ll try if I don’t trade places with him and land my ass in jail tomorrow.”
Declan doesn’t fall for my antics, rolling his eyes. “You won’t end up in jail, dumbass.” He throws my insult back at me. “You took down the largest crime syndicate in the world and provided evidence that landed your target in jail—and then provided evidence clearing him.”
“But I broke about a million laws and rules to do so,” I grumble like a child.
Declan shakes his head, finally pulling away from me and standing. “Allow yourself a win, Nova. You deserve it.”
I nod, but it doesn’t feel like a win if Owen never wants to see me again.
I don’t ever work up the nerve to speak to Owen in the courtroom before security starts kicking everyone out.
I’m too afraid and too wrapped up in conversations and congratulations from everyone at Regenerative Industries.
The few times I catch sight of Owen, I don’t think he even notices I’m there as he chats with everyone around him.
He still looks tired, but the tension has fallen away from his shoulders. A small win.
I walk out of the courtroom with Declan, Jax, Evan, Ella, and Eagan surrounding me. No one speaks, which I’m thankful for because my emotions can’t handle any questions.
I’ve gotten Owen free. The relief finally hits me along with severe exhaustion, and I almost stumble down the concrete steps.
Declan grabs me under the elbow and holds onto me until we get to the car, where he gently settles me into the backseat without a word.
Jax and Evan flank me on either side as Declan slides into the front and says a quick goodbye to Ella and Eagan. They pile into the car next to us. Ella gives me a quick wave, along with a concerned glance, before heading back to my apartment.
My brain decides the best thing to do with the emotional overwhelm is to fall asleep with my head on Jax’s shoulder.
Jax carries me up to my bedroom, cradled in his arms, and deposits me gently on my bed. Neither he, Evan, or Declan say a thing as they pile on the bed, surrounding me with their warmth.
I almost cry at their silent support but pass out before a single tear falls.
“Up!” Declan’s voice booms, throwing open the curtains, letting the light filter through the window and spill across the bed.
I throw my arm over my face, groaning at being woken up from the best sleep I’ve had since Owen got arrested.
“Time to get your ass cleared and be done with all these trials.”
Declan encourages me to get up by pulling my arm away from my face and flinging new clothes at me.
I look down to find that my friends removed my shoes, but they didn’t touch the clothes on my body, leaving me to sleep in the uncomfortable pantsuit I chose to wear to Owen’s trial.
I smell coffee and bacon and groan again, but this time out of pure pleasure.
Declan laughs. “Jax and Evan made breakfast.”
I snap my head to him, wagging my eyebrows.
He shakes his head like I’m a child, and I giggle like one.
“I don’t know whether to hug you or punch you for interfering with me and them,” Declan says.
“The correct answer is to thank me.”
He snorts, pointing at the clothes I’m supposed to change into. “You have five minutes, or we’ll be late, and then the board will definitely throw your ass in jail.”
I huff, but it sounds more like a whine.
Declan chuckles and shakes his head again. “Five minutes.”
He’s out the door before I can protest.
I take a deep breath, straightening myself out. I can do this. I can get through this one last thing.
I flip through the notifications on my phone before heading out to the kitchen, where the three men are flirting with each other. It’s filled with messages from Ella, Parker, and Noah, all checking in with me and asking if I’ve heard from Owen.
The answer is a resounding no.
I try not to pout while I make my way to the kitchen, but of course they all notice, frowns falling on all three faces.
“Haven’t heard from him?” Jax asks as Evan rounds the counter and plops a plate of food in my face.
I shake my head, not hesitating to dig in. I can’t even remember the last time I ate a full meal without feeling queasy.
“Have you tried contacting him?” Declan asks.
I nod. “I texted him to tell him congratulations on the outcome of the trial.”
“And nothing?” Evan asks, surprised.
“Nothing,” I say, my heart in a vice.
No one speaks. What can they say? I know Owen is mad. I just hoped he’d at least say something.
I interrupt the awkward silence. “I’m meeting with Parker about my current position with Regenerative Industries and requesting a transfer, obviously. I can’t be Owen’s assistant anymore, and plus, I already gave the position to Peyton.” I wink, trying to hide my devastation.
None of them falls for it. They all frown at me.
I throw up my hands. “Can I just get through today, and you can all hound me about this tomorrow?”
They nod and rush to help me get out the door.
I’m grateful for them, but there still seems to be a gaping hole in my chest, and I don’t know how the hell to get it to go away.
The board peppers me with a million questions, and I answer them with nothing but the absolute truth. I present my case in a way that lets them know I didn’t follow protocol, but I use the evidence to help them understand why I made the decisions I did.
Declan testifies in my favor, which isn’t common for directors to do.
They are supposed to remain unbiased. Declan made it clear from the start that he had no intention of remaining neutral, and if he loses his job, then it is a sign that he shouldn’t work for the organization anymore.
I agreed to his request to help me, even though I wanted to protect him from this.
We’re both exhausted as the questions continue past lunch, and the board doesn’t make any move to release us for a break.
“You went against protocol five times. You lied to your director. You omitted important information. You were involved in thirty-five civilian deaths…” The director continues listing off all the things I’ve done wrong, and I flinch at each one.
When he puts it that way, I deserve to be locked up.
“But,” he says, pulling off his glasses and looking me in the eye, “You took down a crime circle we’ve been hunting for twenty years, and the number of lives that will be saved as a result… Well, it’s not measurable, but it’s invaluable.”
I hold my breath, waiting for the decision I suspect they’ve already made.
“It has come to our attention that you no longer desire to work for the CIA?” he asks.
I nod because I don’t think I would be able to speak without a tremble in my voice.
“In light of that information, we would like to let you know that your job with the CIA is not at risk. You have the position if you want it. And we will not be pressing any criminal charges against you. Nor will Italy be pursuing any criminal charges. Internationally, you are free to go.”
My mouth drops open, and Declan is smiling so widely that it seems like his face might split in two. I don’t say anything, flabbergasted.
The board member who read my sentence shuffles his papers before standing and smiling at me.
“Don’t be so surprised, Miss Riley. You’re an excellent agent, and you did what you needed to.
What many haven’t been able to do for two decades.
If you broke a few rules, well…” He shrugs and then gives me one more grin before he disappears from the conference room.
Declan and I watch as the rest of the board members leave, all nodding at me and offering smiles. When the door clicks shut on the last person, Declan finally turns to me.
“Holy shit,” he says.
I’m still not able to say a word. None of this feels real. Not this hearing. Not Owen’s trial. Not the fact that I took down the largest crime syndicate in the world.
Nothing makes sense anymore. I should feel relieved, but instead, I feel numb.
Somehow, this all means nothing without Owen.
And I’m so very tired.