“Dammit. Dammit!” Hayes yells, throwing something from my desk across the room. It breaks as it hits the wall, and Lochlan steps into the room, but Hayes holds his hand up without looking, warning him off.
Jesse has already pulled Thea behind his back, planting her next to Callie and Jo outside my office door. He holds his hand out to me, urging me to move away from Hayes, but I don’t take it.
I don’t need to.
“I’m fine,” Hayes barks at Lochlan as his friend steps closer still.
“Give us the room,” I demand, watching everyone’s eyes ping back and forth with worry. Lochlan doesn’t move.
“Lochlan, I need a minute with Hayes, please,” I tell him softly. If he makes me ask again, I’m siccing his wife on him.
He glances at me quickly, then longer at his friend before nodding.
“We’ll be right outside,” he grunts, closing the door behind him, shutting Hayes and me in alone.
I take one full deep breath before turning to Hayes, andas soon as our eyes lock, my knees buckle. He catches me before I can fall, wrapping me in his arms to keep me from breaking apart.
“He touched me,” I cry.
“I know. I’m so sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have let you come up here alone. Fuck, I knew better.”
“I was mad about the trial. I was pouting.”
“I wanted to help. I brought your friends up here to help,” he sighs, stroking my back. “But I let that fucker have access to you.”
“He spoke to me.”
“What did he say?” He growls.
“He asked if I came up here to see him… As if I knew he’d be here.”
“Did you recognize his voice?”
I shake my head against his chest. “I have no idea.”
“It’s okay. I’m going to fix this. I’ll keep you safe.”
“Don’t leave my side anymore. Okay? Even if I’m mean and you change your mind about me.”
“What? Why would I change my mind?”
“I was awful today. I made you feel like crap this morning. I sucked at my job. I left the courtroom alone when I knew you wouldn’t want me to.”
“It’s okay, Liv. You’re human. You needed a minute.”
“I froze. Again. I’m a grown-ass woman now, and I still froze when a man put his hands on me. I didn’t even see his face. I could have ended this whole thing.”
“This is not your fault. Some fucker came into your space and touched you without your consent. Your reaction kept you safe. If you fought or ran, he might have hurt you.”
“I let my guard down because I was drowning in self-pity.”I sniff some of my tears away. “I’m pathetic. Now, getting Jeremiah on attempted murder is up in the air. The jury won’t be able to decide on a verdict without reasonable doubt. I’m such a failure.”
“You’re not a failure, and I have a plan.”
“What plan?” I ask in disbelief.
“It’ll be easier to explain once we talk to Malec and everything here settles. Just trust me, okay?” He looks at me deeply.
I gaze into his eyes as he strokes my cheek, and I know without a doubt that I trust him. With every fiber of my being, I trust him.
