AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Peyton nodded and yawned. “Yeah, I know, it just sucks that it took this long for it to happen. That they roamed the streets free for two years since they beat me up with their pinky rings.”
Jordan snorted and Rayma smiled. “They’re pretty boys, just take solace in what kind of time they’re going to have in jail. Because they’re certainly not the kingpin mafia boss kind of pinky ring wearers that will command any kind of respect or strike any kind of fear where they’re going.”
Peyton’s gray eyes gleamed. “We can only hope, eh?”
“Let’s go grab a drink to celebrate our victory,” Rayma said. “Commemorate the day justice prevailed.”
Peyton shook her head with a twisted lip frown. “I can’t. My parents have thisthingthey want me to go to with them.” Her eyes darted to Jordan for a moment then back to Rayma. “It’s a dumb thing, but I said I would go.”
She was being oddly evasive. “Whatthing?” Rayma probed.
Peyton glanced back to Jordan, then back to Rayma. “Uh, a boat thing. A yacht gala.”
“A yacht gala in October?” Rayma asked.
Peyton nodded emphatically. “Mhmm. A yacht gala. People with yachts all dressed up in fancy dresses and tuxes, wandering around a mega-yacht sipping cocktails and talking about how much they love yachts. Very boring. Very elitist. But my parents own a yacht and they were invited and they insist I attend, too. Though, I’d much rather grab a drink with you.” She shifted her eyes back to Jordan who had remained very quiet this whole time.
“Why is this the first you’ve mentioned thisyachtgala?” Rayma probed. s
“It was a last-minute thing,” Peyton said quickly. “I didn’t think I could go, now I can. You know how these things with yachts are.”
“No, I really don’t.”
Peyton leaned in for a big, impromptu hug, squeezing Rayma tight. “Anyway, I must run.” She peeled herself away from Rayma and lifted her fist in the air. “Yay us. We defeated the pinky ring gang. Okay, bye.” Then she ran away. Like literally ran away.
Rayma turned to Jordan on the outside of the courthouse steps. “You didn’t believe a word of that, did you?”
Jordan shrugged. “I mean, a yacht gala sounds like a thing.”
“It’s not and you know it.”
What was her friend keeping from her and why was she lying to Rayma about it? This was not like Peyton at all.
Jordan took Rayma’s hand and together they made their way down the sidewalk to where his truck was parked in the parking garage.
He hit the fob and they climbed in.
“Should we go grab a drink somewhere to celebrate?” she asked, the high from their victory beginning to deflate with each passing moment.
“I think I have a better idea,” he said, pulling out of the parking stall and making his way down the spiraling garage.
Neither of them said much as he made his way across town. They’d been the last case of the day, so the sun was starting to sink low in the sky, lending an orange glow to the city.
It’d been a beautiful day. Brisk, but bright and sunny. Rayma could feel victory in the air when she woke up and went for a run, her breath visible with each puff as she swung her arms and pumped her legs. She’d run an extra two miles, because the motivation to win, to see justice prevail pushed her to keep going. And now, she felt like she was floating, because they’d actually won.
Ten other women had come forward with testimonials and stories about Rhett and Ethan. Similar stories to Rayma and Peyton’s. They met the guys at a bar. Were promised exclusive access to a nightclub, but were instead brought back to the real estate office, offered and or forced drugs, and then assaulted.
It’d churned Rayma’s stomach more than once as the putrid little worms tried to justify their actions up on the stand. Tried to say the women were willing participants. They even tried to claim that Rayma had been the one to hit Peyton, not Ethan.
Then of course, the tears started to fall. Both guys actually cried—naysobbedon the stand.
Rayma had to hide her laughter, then her rage more than once.
Their defense attorney tried to reason with the judge, and portray Rhett and Ethan as young, bright, professionals with great promise whose futures did not deserve to be marked with such a stain. It was at that point Rayma really hadn’t been able to contain her bark of laughter, which earned her a stern warning from the judge.
But, even with her audible burst of incredulity, the judge found them guilty of all charges and sentenced them each to eighteen months in prison. Not long enough, by any means. But at least it was something. They’d also have to register as sex offenders and remain on that list for the rest of their lives. So she took solace in that reassurance, as well.
“Hey, why are we going up Mt. Doug?” Rayma asked, when she realized they weren’t heading back to her house, or for a drink.
