Grandma reaches out with a shaky hand and holds my shoulder, digging her fingers in. “What happened to her? Is she…”
“Physically, she’s as well as she can be, I guess,” I croak. “She just woke up.”
“Then why were you crying?” Aunt Jeremiah asks, probably peeved she had to show her emotional side.
“Tears of joy…?” Akiko suggests with an uncertain smile, which crumbles too fast.
I just nod. The family goes in to fuss over Fiona, but Ares and Josh stay back.
“You okay?” Ares peers at me. “You look like you just lost the most important case of your life.”
“I just…” I rub my face, then lean against the wall as all the strength drains from my limbs. I rest the back of my head against the concrete and crank my neck. “Fiona told me everything about what happened ten years ago, and I want to kick my own ass.”
“What did happen?” Josh asks.
“I can’t tell you. It’s too private. And don’t ask her about it, either.”
“Is that why you were crying?” Josh asks quietly.
“The things she told me are just heartbreaking. But she spoke without any expectation of sympathy. It’s like everything happened so long ago and she had to figure out how to stand on her own again…” My voice cracks. “If I’d known back then what I know now, I would’ve gone to prison for two first-degree murders.”
“Jesus. Who are they?” Ares demands.
“Jude.” My voice is laced with stark hatred and poison. “And Aaron.”
Josh’s expression darkens. “Fuckers. They’re under arrest, but they’re going to try posting bail. Want to try to keep them in jail? Maybe we can find a way.”
Having Jude and Aaron caged would be satisfying, but I don’t want them sitting in jail. They’d be protected there, and I promised justice to my wife. But I realize that isn’t all I want.
I want my pound of flesh—and blood—for what they’ve done. The justice system can’t ever make Fiona whole for what she suffered when she was nineteen—or even now. Insufficient evidence. He said, she said. She asked for it. I know all the ways defense attorneys try to spin something like this to their clients off. “No. Let the system do its thing. I’m sure they’ll pay the price.”
My twin brother clenches his hands. “Why not make things harder for them?”
“We’re lawyers, Josh,” I say calmly. “We should trust the system and let it carry out justice.”
Ares frowns. “Didn’t you just say you would’ve been charged for a double murder?”
“Yeah, but that was for nineteen-year-old Bryce. I’m older now. Seeing the bigger picture,” I say with a cool composure I don’t feel.
“It’s still justice to keep them in jail,” Josh argues.
“No. We’renotgoing to interfere with this case. And that’s final.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Fiona
I slump against the pillows, my eyes still swollen. The room feels too big and empty without Bryce, but he said he needed to go out and update the family. Maybe Akiko or Lareina dropped by. Everyone else is probably busy with work.
I look at the pretty flowers—fresh Fiona roses in the vases along with stunning pink orchids. I smile a little, knowing exactly who brought the roses.
The door opens, and Catalina walks in, followed by Prescott, Akiko, Lareina and Jeremiah, who shuts it firmly. Before I can say hello, Akiko cries, “Oh my God, you poor child.”
“I’m okay,” I say quickly.
Lareina rushes over and hovers. “I…” She struggles to find words to express her outrage.
I reach over and squeeze her hand.I understand.
