“Twenty-five years ago you rejected your Fated Mate whose name is…”
“Your Honor, I have no further questions,” Walker interrupted, turning abruptly and walking back to his client.
“You may step down, madam,” the judge said, then glancing down at the file in front of him, cleared his throat. “Based on the evidence and testimony given today, this Court finds Fionn MacDùghlas is of legal age, with all the rights, and responsibilities it entails.” Then he banged his gavel and left the bench.
Stunned at how fast it happened, Fionn looked at Penn, then Dylon who was grinning at him. “That’s it? I’m free now? No one can tell me what to do?”
Penn chuckled. “Someone can always tell you what to do, but you get to decide if you want to do it. And yes, you’re an adult now.”
“C’mon, let’s get out of here,” Dylon said.
Fionn rose, surrounded by enforcers and, spying Oracle standing off to one side, told them, “Just a minute.” Walking over to her, he said, “Thank you very much, Oracle. You saved my life.”
“You are welcome, sweetie. I am so happy I could help.”
“Oracle, can we give you a lift?” asked Dylon.
“No, I am meeting Mystia, but I will go with you down to the first floor,” she said.
“Good, let’s go.” Penn ushered them out of the courtroom and to the elevator.
Taking a backward glance before leaving, Fionn saw his uncle gesturing wildly while Walker ignored him as he put all his files back into his briefcase.
~/~/~/~/~
Eideard MacDùghlas was pissed—at his snot-nosed nephew, at his lawyer—and most of all at the judge. Sitting, he waited until the courtroom was empty and the bailiff had left for lunch before marching to the judge’s private chamber and opening the door. Scowling, he stood before the asshole who’d wrecked everything.
Looking up from his lunch, the judge grunted. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“We had a deal. You broke it.”
Chewing his food, the judge ignored Eideard. Picking up a pickle spear, he pointed it at him. “You didn’t tell me your evidence was fake. That fiasco is on you.”
“Bullshit. I paid you to rule in my favor.”
“Right. So what the fuck was I supposed to do when an Oracle testified? Ignore her?” asked the judge.
“Yes!”
“Fuck off. I’m not losing my job for you, asshole, which is what would have happened if I did that. Anderson would have filed an emergency appeal to the High Council and when they listened to court transcripts, my head would be served to me on a silver platter. Then I wouldn’t be of any further use to you.”
“Further use? How the hell can you help me now? My fucking nephew is an adult.”
“Look, you told me you wanted custody to gain control of your brother’s hoard and businesses. That can still happen.”
“How? He’s a fucking adult.”
“That part is settled but I still have control of the estate. All you have to do is submit claims against it and I’ll order them to be paid using your brother’s assets to do so.” The judge smirked at Eideard, then resumed eating.
“Claims for what?”
“I don’t care. Just make sure you don’t fuck it up this time.”
“I won’t, butyoumake sure you deliver this time or I want my money back.”
“I’ll deliver, all right, but don’t fuck it up,” the judge reiterated. Then he put the remains of his lunch into its paper bag before tossing into a waste can. “Now get the fuck out and make sure no one sees you.”
~/~/~/~/~
