Diana smiled slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Rossi. No further questions."
Emilio was excused. He walked back to the gallery with his head high. Sat down in his usual seat. Didn't look at me.
I wanted to go to him. Wanted to thank him for handling that with such grace. Wanted to apologize for putting him through it.
Instead I sat at the defense table and kept my expression neutral. Like he'd asked.
Judge Morrison called for afternoon recess. Diana leaned over and whispered, "He did well. Better than most witnesses under that kind of pressure."
"He's brilliant."
"He's also very clearly in love with you. The jury saw that. It helps and hurts us simultaneously."
I looked back at the gallery. Emilio was gathering his things. Preparing to leave.
Our eyes met across the courtroom.
He gave me that small nod again. The one that said we're okay. We're together. We'll survive this.
I nodded back.
And tried to believe it was true.
CHAPTER 21: EMILIO
I DROVE TOInferno on autopilot. Hands steady on the wheel despite the adrenaline still coursing through my system. I'd testified in court before. Had been cross-examined. Had faced hostile questioning from opposing counsel.
But never like that.
Never with my entire relationship laid bare for a jury to dissect. Never with someone I loved sitting twenty feet away watching me defend both of us. Never with the stakes this high and the consequences this permanent.
Roberto had tried to make me look corrupted. Bought. A kept man who'd sold his integrity for money and affection. Part of me wondered if he was right. If I'd become so thoroughly compromised that I couldn't see it anymore.
The parking attendant at Inferno waved me through to the VIP section. I took the elevator up, expecting to find Sandro alone in his apartment. Instead I heard voices from the private conference room. The door was partially open.
"—made him look sympathetic," Matteo was saying. "Like Sandro's victim instead of his accomplice. That could help us."
"The jury seemed sympathetic," Elio agreed. "Especially the women. They saw a young attorney trying to do the right thing by withdrawing from the case when he recognized the conflict."
"Doesn't matter how sympathetic they found him if we can't prove Matteo's assault was justified." That was Luca. "The prosecution still has medical records. Witness testimony. We need to discredit their timeline."
I stood in the hallway listening to them dissect my testimony like it was just another piece of trial strategy. Which it was. But hearing it analyzed so clinically made my chest tighten.
"He did well." Sandro's voice. Quiet but firm. "Better than most witnesses under that kind of pressure. Roberto tried to break him and failed."
"Because he's loyal to you," Matteo said. "Question is whether that loyalty makes him look honest or compromised."
"It makes him look human." Sandro's chair scraped. "Now if you're done analyzing my boyfriend's performance, get out. All of you."
Footsteps. I stepped back as the door opened fully. Matteo emerged first, followed by Elio and Luca. They all stopped when they saw me.
"Emilio." Elio's expression was carefully neutral. "You handled yourself well today."
"Thanks." My voice came out rougher than intended.
Matteo studied me for a moment. "You could've destroyed Sandro up there. Given the prosecutor what he wanted. You didn't. That means something."
"I told the truth. That's all."
