43. Asher #2
Sutton cut her off when she burst out from my side and wrapped her arms around Quinn, pulling her into a big hug. “Thank you,” she whispered, likely because she was holding back tears.
“That’s gonna get me.” Noah cleared his throat and pounded his chest a few times like he was clearing emotion.
“We can bring as many people as we want,” Will assured everyone after a moment. “No rock-paper-scissors necessary.”
“Too bad,” Oli sighed. “I felt a winning streak coming.”
Sutton and Quinn pulled apart, both of them wiping under their eyes. Sophie screamed in excitement, grabbing everyone’s attention as I came back to Sutton’s side.
“You good?” I asked low in her ear.
She nodded, taking a breath. “Not really, but I will be once this is over.”
“So close, sweetheart.” I kissed her head. “Can I get you something to eat?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think I can stomach anything right now.”
Iris came to stand in front of us, clearly hearing what she just said. “Oli brought these amazing pastries. Carbs do wonders for stress.” With a wink to me, she grabbed Sutton by the shoulder and pulled her away. I was relieved when I saw her eating and laughing a few minutes later.
We were sitting in the courtroom two hours later. I had my arms crossed over my chest and was glaring forward. I wasn’t allowed to sit with Sutton. Will had waited until we were here to drop that bomb on me. Only he and Maya were at the table and I was stuck sitting behind them.
Honestly, it was for the best because otherwise I might have walked across the aisle and punched the fucker Ben in the face. My boxing apparently hadn’t cooled me enough this morning.
And if he said something to piss me off, I would still be able to reach him quickly. Sophie didn’t seem to get any of him—she was the perfect replica of her amazing mother. It was like his genes didn’t even try.
I glanced over across the aisle. He had only three people with him. Jaxson had leaned over and told me that they were his parents and his girlfriend. He and his lawyer were at their own table, heads leaning together, chatting.
The part that had me a little smug was the two detectives sitting at the back of the courtroom, waiting for this appearance so they could take him into custody, and based on the glances he was shooting back there, he knew it too.
When the judge came in, we all stood and then settled down once again. The official legal parts started and I just kept my glare on Ben. He noticed it a few times since he would glance back, his eyes widening, and then look forward and adjust his tie.
I was an intimidating motherfucker, and I was really turning it on for him now. I almost smiled—I was getting a lot of pleasure from this.
“You could cool it,” Jaxson muttered low enough for only me to hear. I ignored him and he just shook his head, suppressing his own smile.
Ben’s lawyer started talking first, spouting some shit about a child needing their father and how Sutton had been keeping her from him and a whole bunch of other shit that had me clenching my fists and my jaw.
Will glanced back at me, sending me a look to keep my mouth shut.
He had given me this talk before we came in here too.
Sutton was looking forward, her shoulders set and her eyes on the judge.
Maya was sitting back, one leg crossed over the other, fully relaxed as she watched Ben’s lawyer give his little speech.
He finished whatever bullshit he was spewing before sitting back down, and Maya got her chance. She nodded and stood, sending a scathing smile over to the other side before focusing back on the judge.
“Your Honor, this entire case centers on a man whose family is one wrong move away from cutting him off and whose girlfriend began pressuring him to step up after learning about his past." Ben’s eyes bounced to his parents before he swallowed and looked forward.
“He does not want his daughter; he looks terrified sitting there. I can say all of this because I’ve provided the court with emails and text messages where Ms. Bennett tried to get in touch with Mr. Donovan.
Where she provided him updates and even asked him to sign the birth certificate if he wanted, which we have a record of him never signing.
“Mr. Donovan made a lovely little comment about a child needing her father but from where I’m sitting, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Ms. Bennett has spent the last year providing every single thing she can for her daughter on her own, with no support.
He never once contacted her until recently.
“We could spend time talking about how he lives with multiple individuals who have criminal records or how when he was in his first year of university he was accused of sexual assault that only didn’t go to trial because the woman ended up dropping the charge.
Coincidentally, she also received a large sum of money from Mr. Donovan’s family. ”
“Your Honor.” Ben’s lawyer stood up, looking a little shocked.
I didn’t hide my smirk. His parents paid to bury that shit deep, but not deep enough for how good we were.
I looked over at them. His father’s face was red, his mother’s mouth was agape, and the girlfriend looked a little pale.
“We weren’t given this information,” the lawyer tried.
“I have all the records here.” Maya held up a file. “And I’ve provided them to the court. I assumed since they were your clients’ records you would be aware of all this.”
“It isn’t my problem if your client wasn’t forthcoming with the information, Mr. Reller. Ms. Santos, please continue.”
Maya nodded at the judge, not having once wavered.
“I won’t even bother discussing back payment on child support since Ms. Bennett has never seen a cent from him and doesn’t want anything from Mr. Donovan.
Nor will I mention the warrant out for his arrest from his assault on Ms. Bennett last night, hence the expedited hearing.
Because I think the kind of mother Ms. Bennett is for her daughter and the kind of man Mr. Donovan is are all the facts that need to be considered here.
“It is in the best interests of the child for sole custody to remain with my client. She has spent every day of the last year making sure that the child is safe, protected, and has a strong support system around her despite being kicked out of Mr. Donovan’s home when he first discovered she was pregnant.
Your Honor, I do have an unprecedented request.”
The judge’s eyebrow rose while Ben’s lawyer froze, likely nervous about where this was going. “Please.” The judge waved her on.