AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey,” I quietly snapped. She turned to look at me. “Don’t do that shit, babe.”
“What shit?” she retorted, suddenly getting angry. I sighed and closed my eyes, leaning my head back, scrubbing my hands down my face.
“Fucking putting yourself down.” I turned my head, narrowing my eyes at her. Her eyes flared with anger. Good. If she needed to be angry to make it through the last little bit of this court session, then I would piss her the fuck off.
I could take care of her when we got home, but the anxiety attacks she’d been having? They were violent, and each one scared the absolute fuck out of me. I literally had to tap back into my military training so that I wouldn’t end up in the same damn position she was in.
Christian? He was a natural at this shit with her. He easily went through the motions of getting her out of the triggering situation and calming her down.
I wasn’t good at this shit, though I tried my damnest for her.
“You’re a dick,” she spat at me.
I arched an eyebrow at her. Christian remained silent, and with one glance at his face, I knew he was on the same page that I was. Piss her off—make her angry. Because if she had another anxiety attack, I wasn’t sure if she would come out of it unscathed.
“Baby, you haven’t seen me be a dick yet,” I warned her. “Right now, I’m being honest with you. You don’t need to be putting yourself down, especially today of all fucking days. You need every bit of strength that you can find within you because in about,” I looked at my watch, “fifteen minutes, you’re going to have to go back in that courtroom as they announce whether or not he’s guilty.” She swallowed thickly, fear flashing in her eyes. I cupped her cheek and brushed my thumb over her cheekbone. “Right now, I need you to remember every single reason you’re strong and why you can make it through this.”
Christian brushed his lips to her temple. “Give me one reason you’re strong,” he commanded, his voice gentle and soothing.
She nervously chewed on her bottom lip. I leaned forward and gently pulled her bottom lip from between her teeth. “I never gave up despite how hard it got.”
I grabbed her hand in mine. “Good girl,” I praised. Her eyes brightened at the pride in my voice.
“Give me another reason,” Christian coaxed.
She tightened her hand around mine. “I survived that evening,” she whispered. I brushed my lips to her neck. “I didn’t let him break me.”
“No, you didn’t, and that is what you need to remember in that courtroom,” Christian told her. She looked over at him, her eyes seeking his assurance. He gave her a soft smile. “So, when you step back inside that building, and you see him again, I want you to tilt your chin up and remember that he tried to break you, but you’re unbreakable, my moon. I want you to glow despite how terrified you feel. When he’s no longer in your presence, you can fall apart. Caiden and I are going to be there to catch you, and I’m going to breathe life back into you as he sparks that fire inside of your soul.”
“But while you’re in his presence, you show him that fucking strong woman, and I want you to be so fucking strong and resilient that you piss him off,” I told her.
She drew in a deep breath—almost as if she were steeling herself against what was to come—and then she nodded at me, that fire burning in her eyes for a split moment.
I gripped her jaw and pulled her lips to mine. Her hand came up to rest on my chest as I coaxed her lips apart, teasing her tongue with mine for a beat before I pulled back. “That’s my girl.”
Ally
I nervously stood beside Mr. Taylor when the officer in the courtroom announced the judge’s arrival back into the room. She took her seat, and once she did, I dropped heavily back into my chair.
I can do this, I reminded myself.
Glow despite how terrified you feel. Christian’s words were ringing in my head. I wiped my sweaty palms on my slacks, wishing I could feel as strong as my men thought I was.
Right then, I felt weak and helpless.
What if he walked free? What if they found him innocent after all?
Men walked away from this sort of thing all of the time, and the victim was left living her life in fear all while everyone around her always called her a liar and judged her for having the guts to stand up and speak out.
“Jury?” the judge asked, turning her attention to them.
The man from before stood up. “We find the defendant guilty of all charges,” his voice boomed around the room.
