Antonio returned to the stand and testified truthfully this time. He admitted he was extremely intoxicated. Admitted he pulled the knife first. Admitted he threatened Sarah Mitchell. Admitted Matteo's response was proportional to the threat.
The prosecution's case collapsed. Their star witness had just exonerated the defendant.
When court adjourned for the day, I looked back at the gallery. Emilio was already gone.
I went to Inferno and waited. Poured myself a drink and sat in my office thinking about what Emilio had done. How far he'd fallen from the idealistic attorney who'd walked into my life three months ago.
He arrived at 8 PM. Came straight up to my apartment without asking. Stood in the doorway looking exhausted and defiant.
"I know you know," he said. "I can see it on your face. I used my new signing bonus from Diana's firm. Two hundred thousand dollars." He walked inside. Poured himself a drink."I didn't promise Antonio anything. Didn't threaten him. Just made sure he understood his financial burden had been lifted."
"That's witness tampering, Emilio."
"It's an anonymous donation. No different than what your family does for sympathetic witnesses all the time." He drank. "I learned from the best."
"I never asked you to do this."
"You didn't have to ask. I saw what was happening. The prosecution's entire case rested on Antonio's lies. If he told the truth, you'd be acquitted. So I made sure he could afford to tell the truth." Emilio set down his glass. "His bills were crushing him. I took away that pressure."
"By becoming exactly what you swore you'd never be. A corrupt attorney who buys witnesses."
"I didn't buy him. I freed him. There's a difference." Emilio's voice was firm. "And yes, I compromised my principles. I crossed lines I swore I wouldn't cross. I became someone I wouldn't have recognized three months ago."
He walked to me. Stood close enough that I could see the exhaustion in his eyes.
"But you're going to be acquitted. The prosecution's case is destroyed. You're going to walk out of that courtroom free." He cupped my face. "That's worth every principle I sacrificed. Every line I crossed. Every piece of myself I had to compromise."
I kissed him hard. Desperate. "You shouldn't have done this for me."
"Too late. It's done." He kissed me back. "Now tell me you love me and take me to bed. I need to stop thinking about what I've become."
I pulled him toward the bedroom. Kissed him hard enough to bruise. He responded with equal intensity, his hands fisting in my shirt.
"Sandro—"
"Don't talk. Not yet." I backed him against the wall. Kissed down his neck. Bit hard enough to leave marks. "I need you. Right now."
"Then take me."
I stripped him roughly. Buttons scattered across the floor when I tore open his shirt. Didn't care. Would buy him a hundred shirts. A thousand. Whatever he needed.
He was trembling by the time I got him naked. From desire or adrenaline or the weight of what he'd done, I couldn't tell. Didn't matter. I needed him with a desperation that felt like drowning.
"Bed. Now."
He went. Climbed onto the mattress and looked at me with dark eyes. Waiting. Trusting me even after everything.
I stripped fast. Grabbed lube and condoms. Joined him on the bed and pushed him down onto his back.
"I should be gentle with you," I said, settling between his legs. "Should take my time. Worship you properly for what you did."
"I don't want gentle." His hands pulled me closer. "I want to feel this. Feel you. Feel something besides the guilt."
I kissed him hard. Swallowed whatever else he might say. Didn't want to hear about guilt. About regret. About the price he'd paid for loving me.
I slicked my fingers and pushed inside him with less preparation than usual. He gasped and arched. I worked him open quickly. Efficiently. Adding fingers until he was stretched and ready.
"Please," he begged. "Stop thinking. Stop being careful. Just fuck me."
