Chapter 52
Gabriella
It’s funny how similar old courtrooms and old churches are. The smell of carpet that’s been cleaned thousands of times, polished wooden pews, a judge’s bench echoing the power of a pulpit. This one even has stained glass windows fracturing the morning sunlight.
The courtroom is empty. I like to get here early just to calm my nerves. Today should go smoothly with everything already laid out through the plea deal. It’s just that we’re so close to James walking out of here, I can’t help but run worst-case scenarios through my head.
“Hey, Gabbi-girl!” A familiar voice echoes when the courtroom door swings open. I fucking hate that nickname; it sounds like I’m a human version of Lassie. With a deep breath to calm my irritation, I turn to look at one of my biggest mistakes, walking straight toward me.
Chad Winslow is a six-foot-who-cares, pretty boy lawyer with the muscles, blonde hair, blue eyes, and money to make a fangirl out of most grown women. He looks sharp in his three-piece, custom-tailored, charcoal gray Armani suit, oozing power. He’s also the biggest prick I’ve ever met in my life.
I hate that I forgot he was on the prosecution team for this case. How could I forget that? Be nice, Gabriella, no hiccups today. “Hey, Chad.” I try to cover my disdain with a small smile.
He strolls through the waist-high swinging doors in the front of the courtroom, walks over to the prosecutor’s desk, and sets his things down.
“Gee, don’t sound so enthusiastic.” Chad quips as he invades my space.
“You’re not happy to see me, baby? I’m over the moon to see you.
” He tilts his head like a dog. “Shame I don’t have as many cases here as I used to, can’t get to see my girl as much as I’d like. ”
I can’t help but curl my lip at him. “I was never your girl, Chad. We went for coffee, one time.” I accentuate my point by lifting my index finger in his face.
“Ah ah, I also brought you lunch.” He smirks like he has something on me. Fucking nutcase.
“You brought me lunch after I told you not to. Quit making something out of nothing.” I’m trying to keep my voice even, but I can’t help but roll my eyes.
Chad startles me by grabbing my chin hard and angling my head to look up at him. His smirk turns dark, causing my body to stiffen at his aggressiveness. What the fuck? Chad’s a prick, but he’s never been aggressive.
Chad lowers his mouth an inch from mine, keeping eye contact.
My hands fly to his wrist, and I try to pull my body from his, but before I can move, he grabs the nape of my neck with his other hand.
“I missed that smart mouth of yours.” He traces his nose along my jaw.
“ I can’t believe you blocked my number, baby.
” Holy fucking unhinged. I keep struggling, and he locks his hands down harder.
“I heard your hubby is back in town…I wonder what he would think about our sorted affair…”
What the hell? “Chad, you’re fucking crazy. We didn’t have an affair, you psychopath.”
“All a man needs is a point of suspicion. One small seedling of doubt.” Chad’s mouth hovers over mine. I feel bile rising at the back of my throat. Jesus, don’t fucking kiss me.
Just then, deep voices break the tense silence in the courtroom. Chad instantly drops his hand and moves back to his desk like nothing happened.
I’m frozen in place, my whole body trembling with rage. “Gabbi?” Vic’s voice brings me back. I turn without saying a word and walk straight past Vic, Tony, and Kerri, out of the courtroom and into the women’s bathroom.
I make it three steps in the door before I fall against the stark-white porcelain sink, and an angry sob breaks free from my chest. The bathroom is all light-colored tile and marble, creating acoustics that rival historic cathedrals.
My cries echo so loudly that I don’t even hear the door open behind me.
I immediately tense when I feel hands on my waist, but it’s the smell of oranges and mechanic shop that prevents me from freaking out. Vic.
I cry harder as he turns me around and swallows me up in a hug. Sobs racking my body against his as he wraps his arms tighter. Ugh, what’s with the damn crying lately?
“Hey, Rockstar,” he whispers, rubbing my back with slow strokes.
“What was that?... Who is that?... What did I just walk in on?” He doesn’t sound mad, but I’m not sure if he’ll understand.
I could just lie and say nothing. I can’t, though.
He won’t believe one word. We’ve come so far; it’s all or nothing. Right?
I pull back so I can look at him while I tell him one of my deepest regrets and hope to god he understands.
“That’s Chad Winslow. I met him a few years ago when I first moved here with the girls…
” Breathe, Gabriella. “He’s one of the prosecutors for the county.
He was around a lot when I first started my job at the facility, and he was really nice.
” I look for a reaction in Vic’s face, but he’s giving away nothing.
“Chad helped me get to know the ropes around here. He would stop by my office a lot and chat. I didn’t have any friends, so.
..the company was welcome, I guess.” I can feel the prick of another round of tears radiate through my eyes.
“Did you sleep with him?” Vic’s voice is low but without anger or judgment; his eyes never leave mine.
I vigorously shake my head. “No. I didn’t even date him. Like I said, I didn’t have any friends, so when he asked me for coffee, I said sure because…” Why did I say yes? “Because, well…”
“You were lonely,” Vic says matter-of-factly.
I nod. “Yeah, I guess. It wasn’t a date, though. At least not for me.”
“But for him it was?” Vic’s eyes soften and look almost apologetic.
“Yeah. He started acting weird after that. Started calling me his girl and texting me several times a day. I blocked his number, but I couldn’t get away from him at work.
I reported him to Patti, but his dad is a prominent state politician, so instead of facing consequences, he was just transferred to another county.
He hasn’t been around much since then. I forgot he was one of the prosecutors on James’ case.
” Just telling Vic about this makes me feel dirty.
I for sure do not want to set foot back into that courtroom.
“Hmm…” Vic looks past me in thought.
“Vic, I’m sorry. I swear I wasn’t trying to date someone. I thought I was making a friend. I…”
“Stop.” Vic interrupts me with his soft command. His hands gently grip both sides of my face, and he brings his forehead to mine. “I’m not upset, baby, well…with you anyway. This is not your fault. What was he saying to you in there?”
I sigh, trying to steady my nerves. I hope Vic doesn’t do anything irrational. “He said he missed my smart mouth and called me his girl.” I see the tick in Vic’s jaw. That’s not good.
“And?”
“And that he was going to tell you that we were sleeping together. I’m assuming to split us up or cause a fight or something.” Vic lets out a chuckle at that last part.
“Okay.” Vic lowers his mouth to mine in a deliberately slow, possessive kiss. My body relaxes with each second his lips are on mine. When he pulls away, the corner of his mouth pulls up. Oh boy, what is this man thinking?
“Okay?” His eyes dance at my question.
“Yeah, okay.” His demeanor is calm. I can tell this is not the end of this.
“Vic, he has a lot of connections,” I warn him.
Vic smiles wider, “Don’t worry so much, Rockstar. Get in there and go get our boy out of his cage.” He wipes under my eyes, turns me, and gives me a playful slap on the ass before escorting me to the courtroom.
Court went smoothly, and the judge even seemed pleased to give James this second chance. Vic, Tony, Kerri, and I all wait at the juvenile facility for James to be out-processed so we can take him to his house. His mom doesn’t have transportation, so she asked us to bring him home.
“Kerri, how do you know James?” Tony asks Kerri as we sit in the waiting room. I’m glad he asked. I was wondering the same thing. I was a bit thrown when Vic told me that James had asked for Kerri to be in court today.
“I came to work with mom for take-your-kid-to-work day last year, and I saw him waiting in the glass phone booth visiting room. They got rid of that like six months ago; now it’s a room with tables and benches.
Anyway, I saw James just sitting there looking like he was waiting for someone.
He looked so sad, so I walked up and tapped on the plexiglass and picked up the phone.
” Kerri giggles to herself at the memory.
“He picked up and we started chatting. After that, I just started writing him, and he called me a couple of times.” She shrugs like it’s no biggie.
“Wow, baby, I had no idea.” I can’t help the surprise in my voice.
“Who was James waiting for that day you met him?” Tony asks. Hmm, that’s a good question.
Kerri rolls her eyes, “His piece of shit father.”
“Why is he a P.O.S.?” Vic asks. He looks intrigued by Kerri’s story.
“He’s an addict, and the day he was supposed to see James, he got high instead.
” Kerri sees the look on my face and quickly adds, “Before you think I’m judging, I understand that addiction is a disease.
I do. One hundred percent. However, you know what isn’t a disease?
Buying your kid a gram of heroin and a hooker for his sixteenth birthday.
On top of other not-so-great things that I’m not going to repeat because it’s not my story to tell. ”
Vic and Tony both nod in respect to Kerri’s explanation. “I’m glad he has someone like you, Kerri. It’s going to be really important for him to have a support system on the outside.” Tony speaks from experience. He told me a bit about his own story when I met with him to discuss working together.
Kerri nods in response, then we hear a buzz and the clanking of security doors.
Kerri looks up at the door to see James walk out in jeans and a white t-shirt.
Vic and I bought him a few things to wear today since he wasn’t going to fit into the clothes he was wearing when he arrived almost two years ago.
We all stand in anticipation. The guard directs James over to the desk to sign one last form.
I already signed the necessary forms to get him released to me so I can take him home. He’s still a minor after all.
James signs, and the guard gives him a pat on the shoulder, then shakes his hand.
When James turns, he sees Kerri first since she’s already walking toward him.
This is interesting. James quickens his steps to Kerri, and there is zero hesitation when they both reach for each other in a heartwarming hug.
My chest feels warm and tingly watching James pick Kerri up by the waist and swing her around.
Kerri’s face is bright and happy, even though tears are streaming down her face.
After a few minutes, they break apart and walk over to the rest of us.
James fist bumps Vic, gives me a solid hug, and shakes Tony’s hand.
As Kerri and James walk out, Kerri reaches for his hand, and they link fingers.
Vic and I look at each other, trying to figure out how the hell we could’ve missed that.
Vic just smiles and shrugs at me, then we all escort James to his freedom.