Chapter 44
Andilyn
Just as Raiden opens his mouth to speak, his phone rings.
He spares it a quick glance and forwards the call to voicemail.
Scrubbing a hand over his face, he takes a seat on the coffee table in front of us and reaches for my hand.
The exhaustion etched into the fine lines framing his dark brown eyes is more apparent up close, and a wave of regret washes over me for all he’s sacrificed in the name of being the rock I desperately needed.
It doesn’t excuse him for keeping secrets, though.
“It was never my intention to keep this from you, minha luz,” Raiden states, his thumb stroking the pulse point on my wrist. “I just didn’t want to worry you unless I had to.
” He exhales roughly, his shoulders sagging with defeat.
“I had Mia contact an attorney that she knows out of Biloxi. He’s the best at what he does.
After Ada insinuated that you could’ve conspired with Seth, I felt it was crucial that we seek additional counsel, or at bare minimum, get his opinion on how we should proceed.
He thoroughly vets potential clients, and during that process, he uncovered a Discord server that’s dedicated to Veritas sympathizers.
Someone within that group has been following us and taking photos that would ultimately raise questions with the public about your involvement with each of us.
“As luck would have it, the new Deputy Director of the FBI has been investigating one of the defense attorneys that’s representing Veritas.
He has suspicions that whoever’s been spying on us is also in contact with Ada, as there’s an unaccounted-for visitor on the facility’s logbook.
Their working theory is that said defense attorney is the one pulling the strings and orchestrating the off-the-record visits, probably in hopes of them conspiring together and formulating a plan that will bring into question the validity of your testimony. ”
I sit there, completely numb, for several minutes after Raiden has finished explaining.
No one speaks, allowing me the time I need to process the overload of information.
I have so many questions I want to ask, but the first thing I voice when my lips part is, “Sympathizers?” My incredulous tone reveals my sentiments on the matter, but I’m truly astonished that humanity could stoop so low.
“I’m sorry, minha luz,” Raiden whispers, squeezing my hand in comfort. His phone rings again, but he silences it without checking to see who it is.
“I’m so confused,” I whisper distractedly. “Why would one of the defense attorneys risk sneaking in an unauthorized visitor when he himself has access to Ada? And what does this mean for the case? Will there be a mistrial?” My throat constricts at the prospect.
“No.” Raiden firmly shakes his head. “That was one of the first things I looked into. Cantmeir is one of several defense attorneys representing Veritas, and there’s no proof that any of the others have knowledge of his crimes.
Unbeknownst to them, they’ve been vetted by the FBI many times now, and nothing was found.
As for Cantmeir’s lack of a backbone, he’s likely trying to avoid any culpability, on the off-chance they’re able to piece together something damning against you.
He obviously has no qualms about acting unethically, but he’d rather keep his hands clean and delegate others to do his dirty work.
His goal is to breed doubt about your recollection of events, and from the information I was given earlier today, it seems they’re planning to bring into question the entirety of your time with Veritas,” Raiden states apologetically.
“What information?” Dayton demands, asking the question we’re all curious to know the answer to.
“They’re going to argue that you and Tobias were in a consensual relationship for several years, and your accusations are nothing more than that of a scorned lover,” Raiden responds regretfully, looking disgusted to be relaying such a disturbing statement.
“Consent can be revoked at any time, whether it’s emotional or physical,” I grind out, trying to keep my temper in check to avoid causing Hudson any distress.
“You’re damn right it can,” Colsen growls. “And to what end? They do realize that Andi isn’t the sole accuser, right? Fabricating holes in her testimony will only go so far when other victims are slated to take the stand.”
“I don’t think it’s about proving Veritas’ innocence so much as it is about making Andi look incompetent. Ada sees her as the catalyst for their downfall, and in turn, her son’s death. She wants revenge, in whatever way she can get it,” Raiden answers, silencing yet another call.
“Do you need to take that?” I ask, nodding at his cell phone.
“It’s just Mia; I’ll give her a call back shortly,” he replies, pocketing the device once again.
“I’m not thrilled that you guys decided to keep this from me, but I can understand why you did,” I concede.
“I feel like it’s been one thing after another since I walked through the compound gate all those weeks ago, thinking the worst of it was behind me.
I knew I’d have a long road ahead of me, legally speaking, but I didn’t think I’d have to contend with a dirty defense attorney or Veritas building a network of supporters that went beyond their walls.
Honestly, I shouldn’t be surprised. They’ve always excelled at playing the martyr.
I guess I’m just disappointed to see that people are so easily manipulated.
” I heave an exhausted sigh, wondering how much more can be thrown at me before I crumble under the pressure.
Sudden banging on the front door causes us all to flinch, the guys on high alert and forming a protective wall in front of Hudson and me.
Standing from Briggs’ lap, I move behind the couch so there’s something between the person trying to beat the door down and us.
I keep a protective hold on Hudson, positioning my body so he’s not directly visible.
Dayton peers through the peephole, relaxing minutely at whatever he sees before flicking the lock and pulling it open.
Mia comes barreling in, her eyes wild and scanning the room for her brother.
A growl of frustration escapes her when their gazes clash.
“Why the hell haven’t you been answering your phone? Did you think I was blowing it up for shits and giggles?” Mia yells, stomping forward and thumping her brother in the forehead.
“Ow, fuck, Mia,” Raiden swears, rubbing the spot she just abused. “What the hell’s gotten into you?”
“If you would’ve answered my many phone calls, you’d fucking know!”
“Okay!” Col intervenes, trying to defuse their bickering so they can actually have a productive conversation. “What’s going on, Mia?”
“Bel reached out; he found something. Something bad. Really fucking bad,” Mia explains, her thick swallow visible from across the room. She cuts her eyes in my direction but quickly looks away.
“You can say whatever you need to. I’m pretty sure I’m up to speed?” I state like a question, looking to Raiden for confirmation.
“For the most part,” he replies. “Belmont Astor, the attorney Mia reached out to, has been keeping an eye on the Discord channel he infiltrated. Mostly because he was instructed to by the Deputy Director of the FBI, but also as a favor to us. He assured Mia that the information they’ve gathered about you thus far hasn’t been released, but he was keeping an eye on things and would alert us if anything changed.
I take it something has?” Raiden asks Mia, his jaw grinding in anger.
“They have more photos. Incredibly damning photos.” Mia winces, looking uncomfortable that she’s the one having to relay this.
“What photos?” I inquire, a pit forming in my stomach. She glances at Raiden, but I’m the one asking the damn question, and it pisses me off that she thinks she needs his permission to answer it. “What photos, Mia?” I bite out forcefully.
Instead of answering with words, she takes careful steps towards me and hands me her phone.
It’s already unlocked, the screen revealing several stills of Dayton and me on the rooftop from the night he fucked me senseless.
I gasp, tears welling in my eyes as I beg the screen to morph, to prove my sight is deceiving me, but the images staring back at me remain the same.
Our very private moment has been captured in vivid detail, down to the blissed-out expression on my face.
Briggs moves behind me, a calming force as I attempt to process the gravity of the situation.
He plucks the phone from my fingers, sparing it a quick glance before cursing and passing it to Raiden.
“What the fuck?!” Dayton roars, having moved to look over Raiden’s shoulder. “How the hell did they get these?”
“Well, let’s see, D,” Col snarls, his anger an entity of its own as he stares at the pictures in disgust. My chest twinges painfully at his revulsion, knowing it’s far too soon for him to be seeing me in such a compromising position with one of the others.
“You decided to fuck Andi outside, where anyone could’ve seen you, but it just so happened to be the opportunistic asshole who happily took advantage of the gift you handed him on a silver fucking platter!
” He’s vibrating with rage, his raised voice causing Hudson to whimper.
Col deflates at the sound, looking ashamed that his reaction scared him.
Briggs takes Hudson and lets me know that the two of them will be in his bedroom, away from the suffocating tension.
Once they’re out of earshot, I turn to Col and state, “It was my idea, not Dayton’s. So if you’re going to blame someone, blame me.”