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“Billions, and no. Mel and I met because of our fathers, but she hated me in the beginning. She wouldn’t have married me if she did not want to.”
“Really? And why was that?”
The fucker. He was trying to trap me.
“In the beginning, she was misguided in her thinking as to who I was.”
“And what was her opinion of you, Mr. Callahan?” The fucker smirked and again I had the urge to make him identifiable only through dental records.
“She thought I was a spoiled party boy who spent way too much time with the fairer sex.” I’m sure they got my insinuation, but saying it reminded me of a time that felt like decades ago, instead of the few years that actually had been. One of those mistakes was haunting me now and even aiding in this sham of a case.
Fucking Natasha.
“Did she change her mind? How did you persuade her to?” Again I tried to ignore his insinuation. But I’m sure a few molars cracked with how hard my jaw was clenched at the gall this idiot seemed to have.
“She didn’t need to be persuaded. I pursued her, showed her who I was behind the lies and rumors. She wouldn’t have married me if she didn’t see something in me that could provide her with what she needed.”
“And at the same time you would get what you needed.” Again, that fucking intonation.
“I’m sorry?” I asked as if I was clueless as to what he trying to say.
“Her money, Mr. Callahan. You gained control over it all after your wedding, did you not?” As he asked that question I locked eyes with him. I’m sure he saw his future. There were two ways this could go. He could try his hardest to get me put away for life, and in order to do so, he needed to pull out all these underhanded tactics, and then he’d gain the fame and glory of being the one who put the infamous Liam Callahan away. But then he’d die. There was no question about that. It was really that simple. But the alternative didn’t seem to be any better. If he eased up, did a half-ass job, and I didn’t go to prison for the rest of my life, he may live. It was his choice. He would get crucified by the press, probably lose his job or get demoted. But he would live, maybe.
“Objection!” DiMarco yelled standing up, effectively ending our staring contest and stopping the sadistic smile I was sure had started to grace my face.
“Let me rephrase: Did you marry Melody Giovanni to make your family richer? After all, with the Giovanni’s controlling interest in stocks of major corporations, your net worth has skyrocketed.”
I guess he chose his path.
Sighing, I looked towards the jury. Their faces were expectant and eager, as they prepared to latch onto my every word. The press were all intently gazing at me, waiting for me to respond but I wasn’t sure what to say. I looked towards my family, they all sat in the second to last row. Olivia had returned, and was sitting next to Coraline who once more had Ethan in her arms. Olivia didn’t look pleased, but Coraline didn’t seem to care as she handed her phone to Ethan. Lifting him, she hugged him to her chest as Ethan tried to hand the phone to someone sitting right behind them, in the last row. He was babbling up a storm, and was the only noise that could be heard in the courtroom.
Coraline nodded at me, her eyes wide, urging me to speak, but I just kept watching. By now the woman Ethan was “talking” to was visible to me. She had short blonde hair, and a smile that radiated as she looked at Ethan.
I knew that smile.
She glanced at me and she smiled again. It was sadder, but she smiled and I swallowed. Pulling off her sunglasses, she handed them to the woman next to her, Anna from Interpol. Then she pulled off the wig and the bobby pins that’d been holding it in place as she met my stare head on.
Deep brown eyes.
Black wavy hair.
Devious smile.
Mel.
She looked me dead in the eyes and I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming or dead, but I was afraid that she would disappear if I blinked. I could hear ringing in my ears as my palms began to sweat.
“Mr. Callahan!” The prosecutor snapped at me. “Are you pleading the fifth now?”
I spared him a single glance before returning my stare to her, she was still there.
Thank God.
She opened her lips and mouthed, “Cut him down.”
Anna got up slowly and approached DiMarco. Her steps sounded like stomping in the quiet courtroom. She started whispering to one of his assistant who all but beat DiMarco on the back to get him to listen. No one else paid attention to them, they were too busy staring at me. Even my own family was confused, Declan pinched the bridge of his nose, and shook his head at me. Neal kept mouthing something, but I didn’t even bother to try and understand what he was saying. My mother, my poor mother, was on the verge of tears.
“Mr. Callahan, I will repeat the question—”
“Save your bloody questions,” I snapped causing his eyes to widen. “You are a snake. Despicable. And not because you try oh-so-hard to make people believe that you are worth more than the hot air you spew out, but because you are an idiot of the highest order.”
“Mr. Callahan!” the judge screamed at me, but I held up a finger at her.
“Ma’am, you should let me finish, I’m just getting to the good part,” I said as looked at the man in front of me. “You took a case from the Chicago Police Department like a fiend. You didn't need evidence or probable cause. All you wanted was for the world to know your name by connecting it to mine. Well too bad, because I still don’t know it and I don’t care to. You want to make a name for yourself, don’t do it riding on my coattails, because when I throw you off, you will be damaged beyond repair. And before you ask, no, that isn’t a threat, it’s a promise.”
“Mr. Callahan! One more outburst like that and I will hold you in contempt of court,” the judge yelled.
“There’s that Callahan anger we’ve all be waiting for,” he snickered even though I could see the pulse at his neck quicken.
He licked his lips, took a step back, and turned to judge. She looked as if someone had just slapped the hell out of her.
“I think I’ve gotten my point across, Your Honor.”
“Great,” DiMarco smiled, standing up. “Then, Your Honor, the defense is calling for an immediate release of Mr. Callahan and a drop of all the charges.”
“Is there something in your people’s water? Because you all must be crazy! On what grounds?” the idiot asked.
“On the grounds that I’m still alive,” Mel said as she rose up from her seat.
She was dressed in an all-white suit and red shoes. She looked like an avenging angel. Anna and two men followed her action and stood beside her with their badges hanging from their necks. Everyone’s heads whipped around when they heard the commotion.
“Oh God!”
“Mrs. Callahan!”
“Mrs. Callahan!”
“Mel!” Coraline gasped, as she stood up. Ethan, who was in her arms, now had her phone in his mouth. Mel leaned forward to kiss his head for what felt like several minutes before she pulled away.
“Order. Order in my courtroom! I want both the defense and the state in my chambers now!” the judge yelled and sputtered, drawing my attention away from her.
“Mr. Callahan, as it appears that the premise of this case is obviously compromised and no longer needs to be presided over, it will be dropped, pending investigation. You and your family are not allowed to leave the state until we meet for another hearing. Do you understand me? Bailiffs, please escort the jury and anyone who is not family out of the courtroom.”
