Roz let out telepathic sigh. All the courtroom saw, though, was a confident attorney saying, “Your witness.” Only Konrad heard her silently add the wordsucker.
Chapter 21
Sounds of people murmuring and milling about the restaurant couldn’t drown out the pack’s conversation, at least not when it came to the Lycans hearing each other. Roz had to lean in to make out some of the softer voices across the large round table.
The pack that surrounded Konrad and Roz seemed festive, almost as happy as he and she were, and Roz didn’t think anyone on the planet could be as happy as she and Konrad were at that moment.
The French waiter brought two bottles of champagne, opened one for Wendell to try, and when he nodded, the garçon filled everyone’s glasses. The group members waited for the server to leave before raising their glasses.
Wendell’s chest swelled with pride. “To Roz!”
The eight weres surrounding the table echoed his sentiments, and glasses clinked all around.
After everyone had taken a sip, Konrad sighed. “I can’t thank you enough. I had no idea you’d help if I was in trouble.”
Barrett sat next to him and clapped him on the back. “Don’t be daft. We always protect our own.”
Konrad hung his head. “But last I knew—”
Lois held up one hand. “Last you knew we were taken in by a con man, and all of us made a terrible mistake.”
The table grew quiet, and Konrad smiled, sadly. “Everyone makes mistakes. At least it’s over now. Let’s not dwell on it. We’re here to celebrate.” He raised his glass again, and everyone followed his lead. “To renewed friendships.”
Everyone clicked their glasses as before and took another sip.
“Those jurors took no time at all deliberating, did they?” Wendell asked Roz. “Did you know it would go as quickly as that?”
Roz laughed. “I knew we were in good shape when they frowned at the DA during his closing argument. Every one of them looked like they were thinking, “What do you take us for, morons?”
Konrad squeezed her hand under the table. “I was worried there for a bit, but I knew you could do it.”
Roz blushed and looked at her lap. “I’m afraid I wasn’t so confident. Until your pack came to the rescue, it really could have gone either way.”
Barrett looked at her askance. “Even with the guards standing by their descriptions?”
She glanced around the table. “That’s all we had, before you guys testified. As you heard, the DA tried to say the guards were under so much stress that they could have misestimated his height and build, or that he was involved in another way, like the getaway driver.”
“We wouldn’t have let them win,” Lois said.
Roz raised her eyebrows. “Meaning what?”
Barrette quickly interjected, “Don’t worry, we wouldn’t have devoured a whole courtroom full of people.” The others laughed.
Roz had to smile too. It would take some time before she understood her mate’s people. She supposed it was the same for any young woman just getting to know her lover’s family. Er, almost.
“Did you have more evidence up your sleeves?” Konrad asked as he glanced around the table.
Lois chuckled. “Just that I’d give you an alibi, if you needed one.”
“How?” he asked.
“I’d say we spent the night together.”
Konrad’s eyes popped. “But that would have been a lie.” He glanced at Roz.
She didn’t react, just waited for Lois to explain.
“I know. What I’m saying is that I was prepared to commit perjury on your behalf, and the rest of the staff was willing to back me up.”
