“It was my choice. I don’t care if it was unsanctioned, the academy has never done a great job at taking care of me, in fact you put me in so much danger that these people had to save me.” Tears burned at the back of my eyes and I blinked them away.
“She isn’t going with you. You might as well take your ten-thousand dollar suit and go back to San Francisco.” Aria informed Bells stubbornly as she held the hospital door open for the woman.
Bells sputtered angrily, “Our lawyers will be in contact.” She managed to say as she stepped out into the hallway.
“Great. It’s a good thing that I also happen to know a great lawyer.” Aria informed the woman, and slammed the door right in her face before clapping her hands together like she was brushing dirt off of them before turning to face us.
She looked at each of our worried faces, “what?” She asked.
“I’m worried, Aria.” I mumbled. The academy had a ton of money, and they could make our lives living hell if they wanted to.
“It will be fine.” Aria rounded the bed and leaned over so that she was eye level with me, “Have I ever given you any reason to doubt me?”
I shook my head and she smiled, pleased, before pressing a chaste kiss to my lips.
“Besides, Bells doesn’t have a former congressman on speed dial. I’ll give Adair Carter a call tomorrow—he’s one of Marcus’s packmates. If anyone can bully Bells it’ll be him.” Aria informed us as she settled in with Matteo again and whispered something quietly to him. The alpha smiled, and they shared an intimate kiss.
“You just focus on getting ready for the trial, Tibby. Let us take care of everything in the background.” Cobb squeezed my hand again.
In all of the craziness of the past twenty-four hours, I’d nearly forgotten about the trial. I gulped and buried my nose into Theo’s chest. The trial was the last thing I needed to do in order to be happy, but I still couldn’t help but feel nervous every time that I thought about it.
CHAPTER 45
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The Court of CriminalJustice was housed in a giant stone building that looked out of place amongst the modern glass skyscrapers surrounding it. A crowd was gathered outside by the time we pulled up in the sleek black town car that Aria had organized to get us to and from the courthouse today.
“You don’t have to talk to any of the press, in fact it’s better just to look for the door and keep your eyes on it.” Aria told me as she fussed with the collar of my white satin blouse. She and Bellis had gone back and forth over the last week about what I should wear and had both finally agreed on a white blouse with a lace collar and a pair of burnt orange slacks that matched my hair. A pair of nude flats was on my feet, because I was pretty sure that I’d trip if I tried to walk in heels today.
The rest of the pack was dressed business casual in dark suits with orange ties, for solidarity they had said, and Aria stood out in her burnt orange pantsuit that hugged her slender frame.
“Is your hair too tight?” She asked, reaching for my pony tail, and I caught her hand in mine and squeezed it.
“Stop fussing, Aria, I’m fine.” I assured her, pressing a kiss to her palm before wiping off the lipstick print that my lips had left there.
“She’s got this.” Matteo said confidently, he’d bounced back from his concussion so fast that Aria and Theo had practically had to tie him down to the couch for the past couple of days so that he could rest.
