Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 154728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 619(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 619(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Though I’d had many people tell me they liked my food in the past, it hadn’t affected me like this. To be fair, I was taken off guard, and being in such a high-stress situation, I almost wanted to cry. Almost.
“Thank you,” I replied, my voice even. “That means a lot.” I looked up at Brax. “We’re going with Victoria.”
His brow twitched. There was no smarmy smile in place then. “Did you not hear what she said? She may not be able to keep Kane out of prison.”
I nodded, keeping my cool although my insides felt like dust. “I heard that part. I also heard that she’s the best at what she does, and I believe her. If we go somewhere else, not only could Kane go to prison, he could go for a lot longer.”
Brax’s eyes narrowed. “This is not your decision to make.”
Dread flooded my veins. It wasn’t. I didn’t know how all of this worked, but I guessed that Brax had power and access that enabled him to make these kinds of decisions. That was his job, wasn’t it?
“Actually, it is,” Victoria saved me from having to respond. “I’ve already been to visit Mr. Rhodes, and he informed me that Ms. Hart has power of attorney over all decisions pertaining to this case and his representation.”
It was the second time in as many minutes that this woman had caught me off guard. Kane had said that? Something bloomed within me. I didn’t have a ring or any kind of title to prove that I was Kane’s, but he’d found a way to make it clear even from behind bars.
Brax looked like his head was going to explode, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
“Fine,” he bit out. “But if Kane goes to jail, make it known that it was your choice.” He pointed his finger violently at me.
Then he stormed out.
Everything passed in a blur. Quickly. Far too quickly.
The trial was expedited. Bail was refused.
On account of Kane’s ‘resources’ which included access to a private jet. He was a flight risk.
Victoria fought. Hard. I could see she was a force of nature in the courtroom. The problem was not just the D.A., who was indeed trying to make a name for herself. It was also the judge who had a bone to pick with those in the public eye. He didn’t even try to hide his contempt for Kane.
There was bias there. Even I could see it. Victoria was outraged. She fought the judge tooth and nail on every ruling, to the point of being threatened with removal from the courtroom multiple times.
In our meetings, I could see her trademark cool was being replaced with pure fury. I knew that fury would hit its mark, knew that those responsible would pay.
But that would be after Kane served time, that much was clear. Kane had already been found guilty of aggravated assault. The only victory that Victoria had gained was getting attempted murder off the table.
Gerald making the first move with the knife, stabbing Kane, seemed to do nothing to affect any charges.
“I’ll make it my mission for the rest of my career to end that judge’s tenure,” she said through her teeth as we awaited sentencing.
Gerald didn’t die. That was our one saving grace. He was even out of the hospital. Somehow, he hadn’t been charged either. And he’d been on a press tour not only to besmirch Kane’s name but mine too.
I’d finally found the courage to tell my story. To say who Gerald truly was. That courage was fueled by a desperation to punish Gerald, to wipe the label of ‘victim’ off his smug face and ensure Kane was not painted as the villain.
Kiera and Victoria set up the interview, with a female journalist at a well-respected publication, a New York institution.
I’d been nervous. More nervous than I had been in my entire life. I was almost drenched in sweat by the time they arrived at my apartment—we’d forgone her office on account of the subject matter. But Kiera was there. She was always there. Through the entire process, since I’d called her after I’d walked out of the lawyer’s office that very first day.
“You’re doing the right thing,” she assured me.
“I know. My problem is, I should’ve done this over a decade ago. It was the right thing then. Now…”
“Now it’s the right thing too,” she squeezed my bicep. “You do not place blame on yourself for how you deal with trauma men give you. Absolutely fucking not. You survived. You thrived. You created a powerful life for yourself in order to ensure you didn’t get victimized again.”
Her words struck true. Not just for me, but it made me recognize the similarities between my and Kane’s stories. Yes, the timelines, childhoods might’ve been different, but we’d both been victimized in different ways, both chasing power over our lives to deal with it. Mine with order, his with chaos.