Wait, what?Shock is scribbled all over his face as he looks at his phone reading the message. The humour is sucked out of the atmosphere.
“For what?” I ask baffled, undoing my seatbelt so I can turn toward Adam.
He scrolls through his phone. “Apparently he was caught in a drug trafficking scheme. He was just taken in and isn’t being granted bail—he’s facing like ten years.”
I've got so many thoughts running through my head at the moment. Firstly, I'm baffled at how horrible our justice system is considering he's facing ten years for something as menial as drugs, but didn't get an ounce of punishment for being a psychopathic rapist.
Secondly, I have no doubt in my mind that Juliette is responsible for this. She is the only person I've ever told and she holds an insane amount of power, so this had to have been her doing—it wouldn't be hard for her. Why is my heart fluttering at the thought of it?
“Wow,” I utter breathlessly, leaning back into the seat with a sigh.
Relief floods my veins at the news. While my brother did paralyze him, I don't think that was enough punishment, considering he's been out this whole time and God knows how many other women he's attacked. I tried my best to keep tabs on him after Adam went to prison, but him and his family fell off the grid.
But now, he is probably going to be behind bars and I can't be thankful enough right now.
“I'm just glad that rapist is finally gonna be locked up.” Adam says, his eyes downcast and his fists clenching the steering wheel.
Not only did that monster ruin many women's lives, but he also ruined my brother's; he stole years away from him. His troubled expression reminds me of what Juliette asked me a few days ago, if I ever resented him for what he did. I realize it never occurred to me to tell him that I didn't resent him. I just assumed he knew.
I touch his shoulder. “You should know I never resented you for what you did to him; for going back and burning his house.
I could never resent my brother for that, why would I? He did the right thing, something any decent human being would do. I was glad he went back and burned their house. They didn't deserve to live in that cushy mansion after hiding away their son's crimes.
“Why?” he questions, rubbing his eyes. He always does that before he starts crying. “You were only a kid and I had to leave, you were left to provide for yourself and you had to stay withhim.”
“I would do it again. I'd do everything the same way; you saved a life that day and they deserved to watch their house burn. I could never resent you for that, I love you for that.”
I was a kid and I had to work, my father spent most of his time drinking and I had to step up because my brother had been sent to prison.
There were days that I spent seven straight days working and could barely make enough money for groceries that week. I didn’t even let Miss Kim know how bad it was. Then my father died and I had no choice but to feel like a burden to her as well. Yet, I still wouldn't change a single thing.
“I love you too.” He sniffles, wiping his tears away. “You did a good job holding down the fort these last few years.”
I can tell he feels guilty about me having to work at that age and the fact that I was left with my father. Regardless, he has spent every single day trying to make up for it, even though he doesn't need to. I am grateful though, because now I don't have to work as much as I did before.
Adam does everything for me and still has a smile on his face, even though he didn't get to live out his twenties properly. Even before he went to prison, he was like a father to me—he still is—much more than my own father ever was.
“I did, but you're back now so I can mooch off of you,” I joke, using my hand to wipe away his tears and he leans into my palms laughing.
“Can I pick you up later?” he asks changing the subject trying to regain his normal breathing.
I nod gently and pull him into a hug. He melts into my arms and sniffles into my shoulder.
Hugging him reminds me that I should talk to Juliette, after all, she's the reason that Ben is finally being punished. I won't thank her, but I have to at least give her credit where it's due.
Damn Juliette for making me respect her.
***
Once again, I'm in the locker room, only because I left my water bottle in here during my fight with Juliette and my forgetful ass only just now remembered.
I rummage through the room, thankfully it's empty, but my bottle is nowhere to be found. Some thirsty bitch obviously stole it.
God, I need to start chaining my stuff to me so it doesn't get lost—
My back collides with a body behind me and I yelp out in surprise, my thoughts halted. I turn around and come face to face with a very angry looking cheerleader, surprisingly not Juliette. It's Stacey, the same infuriating brunette who slushed me. She's lucky I let her get away with that because of my own guilt.
“What do you want?” I question, already annoyed.
