“Mrs. Bondano?” the judge said.
“The state withdraws all charges against Mister Marcus Romano, and release all bail holdings. No further actions will be taken against him in this matter.”
Dawn slumped against me, and I clutched my hand over my heart. I heard a little cheer go up from the back of the room, and turning to look, foundallof my friends there. The judge stared at them until they shut up.
“Your honor, you can’t do this!” Roberts said. “He violated me!”
Bondano pulled him close and whispered in his ear. Roberts went white. Sheer, terrified white. She motioned to the officers at the back of the room and they marched forward, pulling out their own set of cuffs.
“Mister Roberts, you are hereby placed under arrest for planting evidence, making a false police report and misdemeanor falsification of hospital records,” the one said. “I’m sure that Mrs. Bondano has more for you, too.”
He turned and narrowed his eyes at Marcus. “You lousy asshole! Why didn’t you just die? Why couldn’t you just fucking go away forever! You’re not worth shit to anyone! You always had to be better than me! Even after I smashed your fucking hand, you had to outdo me!”
Marcus turned and stared at Roberts. “I didn’t know you from a hole in the wall, Ed. And I would have happily let you live in obscurity. You’re nothing to me, you were nothing to me, and now…you can go be someone’s bitch on Rikers and die in obscurity.”
“I’ll fucking kill you!”
“Add that to your list?” Marcus looked at Bondano, who had to school her laugh, and managed a nod.
“Mister Romano, if you’ll see the officers in the room across the hall, we’ll get that ankle monitor off you and you can signed the paperwork for the release of bail, and to clear your records. I hope you continue on the path of a law abiding citizen and won’t be swayed by this misdirection of justice.”
“No, your honor, I’m not swayed,” Marcus said. “Thank you, sir.”
He picked up the gavel and smacked it once. “Case dismissed. Ten minute recess for the next case.”
Marcus walked around the railing, grabbed me from where I had stood after the judge walked out, and kissed me stupid. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For believing me,” he said.
I put my hand on his cheek. “I love you, dumb ass. Of course I believe you.”
Dawn suddenly had both arms around us and squeezed us tight. “My boys will be home without the man watching them tonight! We need to go out to eat somewhere fancy!”
“Can we do delicious instead?” I asked. “Because I’m thinking Eataly.”
She grabbed me away from Marcus and planted a kiss on each cheek. “You are a marvel. Yes! Italian!”
The group of us headed to the back of the room where my—ourfriends were waiting. Before we could get there though, something tall and dark and forbiddenly sexy stepped into our path.
Marcus and I looked up.
Nelson Powers.
“Nelson Powers…” he breathed.
“Mister Romano, I would like to apologize on behalf of my production company,” he said.
I was only able to half hear his words becauseNelson Fucking Powers in gray pinstripes talking to me. Tomy boyfriend. Technicality.
“Mister Powers, it was nothing to do with you.”
“No, I’ve fired the sound producers,” he said, slicing into Marcus’ words. “I’ve already spoke to Jerry Liggit, but I wanted to tell you as well. They’re fired. I’d like to bring on Sonic Boom as our main sound production for this show.”
“Sir?”
“It’s Nelson.” He smirked. “But yes. I’ll expect you in the meeting next week to get the contracts up. I do apologize for this. Ed Roberts had been coasting on his family name. And I don’t abide people who do that. You can have a famous name, but don’t coast on it. Work for it.” He patted Marcus on the shoulder. “Also, I adored your reading ofToo Far the Near Shore.” He leaned in. “And that lovely shorter work,The Man for Me.”
