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Relief flooded my veins. I burst into tears and dropped my face into my hands. He was really going away. He wasn’t walking out of this courtroom a free man.
I looked up at the judge, and her kind eyes met mine, understanding residing in their depths. She nodded once at me before she turned her attention to Randall and his attorney. “Mr. Randall Farren, you are being charged with criminal destruction of property to the second degree, rape, assault causing bodily harm, stalking, and harassment.” Randall’s face turned red with rage, and he clenched his fists on top of the table. I flinched, remembering all too well the damage those hands were capable of doing.
“You are hereby sentenced to thirty years in prison with a chance of parole after twenty. You will see a counselor while you are in prison. I am also placing you on the state’s list of sexual offenders.” She slammed her gavel. We all stood up from our chairs as she stood, but she walked over to me instead of leaving the courtroom.
She grabbed my hands in hers. They shook in her grasp, but she gave me a warm, kind smile. “So many victims never show up for their court dates against their abusers, and because of that, so many abusers walk free.” She gently squeezed my hands. “I want to personally thank you for coming in here and facing your fears. He’s going away for a long time, and he is one less person that will hurt someone else.”
A tear slid down my cheek. “Thank you,” I whispered.
She smiled. “No, hun, thank you. Now, you go and you live a happy, fulfilling life. That man can never hurt you again.”
She walked away, heading towards the back. I looked over at Randall. His angry eyes met mine. Swallowing down my fear, I tilted my chin up at him. Warm, familiar, calloused hands slid over my shoulders. “There she is,” he breathed in my ear. “He may have hurt you physically, baby, but he could never destroy what’s inside of you.”
I watched as Randall got pulled out of the side door. Only then did I collapse into my chair again and burst into tears, loud sobs wracking my chest. Both of my men wrapped their arms around me.
“You did it, baby,” Christian praised. “I’m so fucking proud of you.” He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me, my tears tasting salty on my lips. “I knew you could do it. God, I’m so fucking proud of you.”
I collapsed against his chest all while Caiden held my hands. Christian tightly wound his arms around me, his right hand holding the back of my head. He pressed his lips to my hair. “So goddamn proud of you, my moon.”
35
POOL PARTY
Ally
Caiden held my hand in his, slowly bringing me to a stop before we could ascend the porch to my brother’s house.
After Randall was sentenced to prison last week, Julian and Axel both decided they wanted to do a small, family get-together to celebrate Randall finally being out of my life for good. So, a week and a half later, here we all were. I could already hear music playing in the backyard and Holden’s squeals of laughter.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him.
Caiden drew in a deep breath. Christian’s arms slid around me from behind, and he rested his chin on my shoulder. “I invited the guy I’ve been seeing over to meet you,” he told me. I frowned, unease filling my gut. He grabbed my other hand and gently squeezed my fingers. “Baby, hear me out,” he pleaded. I nodded. “He’s sweet, and he’s funny. He’s eager to meet you.” Caiden smiled a little. “I talk about you nonstop.” He laughed.
My cheeks burned red. “Does he make you happy?” I asked Caiden.
He nodded. “I haven’t put a label on us yet. You’re my number one priority—you and this baby.” My heart swelled in my chest. I didn’t deserve a man like him. “I have to make sure that he can get along with you and that he can deal with me having a family that doesn’t include him before I label anything.”
I leaned up and softly pressed my lips to his. “Then, I’ll meet him,” I assured him.
Caiden smiled at me. “Really?” I nodded. He leaned down and kissed me again. “You’re glowing, baby, and it’s fucking beautiful.”
My cheeks darkened again. Christian pressed his lips to my temple. “Just like the moon.” I turned my head to catch his lips with my own. He growled softly, deepening it for a beat before he slowly pulled back from me. “Come on. Let’s get your pretty ass inside so you can change into your swimsuit and get in the pool.”
Meghan instantly wrapped me up in a hug when I stepped into the living room. I laughed and hugged her back, all of the tension in my shoulders leaving now that I was wrapped up in her sisterly, trusting embrace.
