The life we were living wasnotthe life I had predicted for us. I was supposed to pull Demi out of the murkiness of her family business, but all I did was submerge her in it more. We were living under Col’s rule, jumping on fucking cue. It wasn’t living, but since it was the only way I could guarantee Demi’s safety, I did everything her uncle asked.
When Ezra first came to me with his proposal, I told him no. I hated leaving Demi alone for sixteen hours a day, so there was no way I couldn’t see her for years on end.
Then Col made me bury a bucket full of unborn babies.
I fucking lost it. I wanted to kill Col. I probably would have if it weren’t for Ezra. He didn’t just remind me that I’d have to get through the increase in security Col ordered to protect him when he moved Demi and me into his home, but he also noted that even if I succeeded in killing Col, my debt would be transferred to Demi—a debt she’d never be able to repay without going into the trade like her mother.
That dampened my desire to go on a murderous rampage, then Ezra completely smothered it.
“Col is so desperate for this matter to go away, you’ll be surprised what he’s willing to negotiate for it,” he said that fateful day a little over four weeks ago while nudging his head to Megan Shroud, the woman we had been tailing the previous two days. “It’s something worth considering. This could be your last chance to get his claws out of Demi.”
I asked for a couple of days to contemplate. In other words, I wanted to run his suggestion by Demi. The decision was taken out of my hands the following day. I either accepted Ezra’s proposal or force Col to be more ‘inventive’ on the ways Demi could repay the debt he wrongly believed she owed him.
Recalling the expression on Demi’s face when she offered herself to Col to save me was one of the many reasons I agreed to his ruse. It was also why I lied to Demi when I made out serving a seven-year sentence was the perfect solution for our predicament. She was willing to face her biggest fear head-on to save me, so I knew without a doubt she’d accept anything Col threw at her to pluck me from the fire for the second time.
Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. A bit of my soul died every day I was under Col’s command, but Demi repaired the damage every night. I could have survivedifit were my choice.
Regretfully, it wasn’t, and I couldn’t even ask Dimitri to intervene this time around. His spontaneous trip to Italy wasn’t for a business venture. Ezra let slip that he’s there because when I investigated people I shouldn’t have been investigating, they assumed I was working on Dimitri’s behalf. That’s why they flew his daughter out of the country the very night Justine was mauled. The men holding his daughter captive assumed he’d be too occupied with Justine to pay their movements any attention.
Little did they know.
Although I’m not responsible for his daughter’s captivity, I don’t think Dimitri would be eager to help me again if he discovers I’m the reason his daughter was taken out of the country. He may have even upped the ante, so instead of admitting to my mistake, I accepted Ezra’s offer.
After a prolonged meeting between Col, Ezra, and myself, it was agreed that Megan’s ‘death’ would be classified as manslaughter under the guise of self-defense. With a guilty plea, I’d be given a seven-year sentence that is generally reduced to three for good behavior.
Some would say I’m foolish for believing Col will abide by the terms stipulated during negotiations, but not only did Ezra and I ensure there were a handful of witnesses for the signing of our negotiation, but Dimitri’s permission was also sought.
Everyone thought Ezra’s plan was solid. I’ll still be in debt to Col until my sentence is over, but Demi’s portion was immediately wiped out. The instant I was arrested for Megan’s ‘murder,’ Demi became a free woman. Her uncle no longer has a hold over her, and once I finish my term, my family will be free as well.
I begged for Demi to move in with Sloane, who’s studying abroad in the United Kingdom, or at the very least, visit her for a couple of months to make sure Col adhered to the terms stated in our agreement, but Demi is as stubborn as she is beautiful. She won’t leave my side for anything.
I wonder if her thoughts will change now that I’ve been sentenced to life behind bars?
“Your honor,” my lawyer squawks, pulling me back from my negative thoughts. “My client was an obliging witness. He assisted the DA with their inquiries on the agreement he would be given a plea bargain. This hearing is merely to sentence my client to theagreedterm negotiated upon his arrest.”
Judge Polst glares at Owen Mitchem, third-year attorney, over the bifocal glasses balancing on his slim nose. “The presiding judge has the discretion on whether he accepts or rejects a plea agreement based on the seriousness of the charges presented before him.” He shifts his narrowed eyes to me. “A seven-year sentence with eligibility for parole in three isnotan acceptable sentence for a murderer.”
“Your honor—”
The judge continues speaking as if my lawyer never interrupted him. “You admitted guilt for your crime. You confessed to the death of a youngwomanin your community.” It dawns on me that we were assigned one of the vigilante judges Ezra warned us about when the judge chokes on the word ‘woman.’ “But you’ve not shown an ounce of remorse.”
“Because there’s nothing for him to be remorseful about,” Demi shouts against the advice of my lawyer. Owen banned everyone but Demi from my court hearing today because he didn’t want my argumentative family making the judge grumpy. With my arrest occurring shortly after Justine’s release from the hospital, things are super tense for my family. Owen wanted to avoid more drama.
It appears as if his worries were warranted but came hours too late. Judge Polst sentenced me the instant he read the transcript I memorized long before my arrest. Col wanted it to be authentic, so he made me retell the scene he had created to him over and over again for days on end—how Megan struck me during a heated argument, that I hadn’t meant to shove her as hard as I did, and that I demolished the bathroom in the cabin with my fists because I felt guilty about the mortal head injury Megan sustained from my push.
My admission of guilt would have been more authentic if I hadn’t supposedly buried her body during a psychosis brought on by extreme mental exhaustion. I’m certain that was the tipping point for the judge. It was for me. Even Ezra struggled agreeing with that part of Col’s terms, but we didn’t have any other choice. There was no way in hell I was going to kill a random woman to authenticate Col’s ruse that Megan was dead, so I had to pretend I buried her in the woods.
To this date, forensic scientists are still looking for evidence of a burial site near the cabin. After spending two weeks under Col’s watch, I can assure you they will eventually find a body. It won’t be Megan’s, though. She’s hundreds of miles from Hopeton. I dropped her off at her new residence myself.
The judge bangs down his gavel three times, silencing the chamber before he locks his eyes with Demi. The look he gives her pisses me off as do the words he speaks. “If you believe that, young lady, it’s fortunate you have at least another sixty years to learn better.”
He throws down his gavel another two times for good measure before he exits the chambers. I stand at the bailiff’s request, but I am incapable of speaking. This wasnothow things were meant to go down. We had all our T’s crossed and our I’s dotted. Col was upholding his side of our agreement. Demi has been out of his clutch for a little over a month. She’s finally free.
I just won’t be a part of her newfound freedom.
Fuck it!
“We will appeal,” Demi whispers into my ear after slinging her arms around my neck. “A second judge will overturn the verdict. I swear. Ezra is working it out now.” Her words come out with a quiver when the bailiff moves to stand beside me. I’m being immediately taken away. I don’t even get the chance to kiss my girl for the final time. “I’ll be okay,” Demi promises when I’m pulled away from her. “You’ve given me the strength to fight. We will get through this.”
