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“I gave you an answer.”
“So, can you explain why you have been arrested and charged with prostitution seven times? That you have a record of petty theft, being arrested five times for theft. And you currently have three outstanding warrants dating from less than three months ago. Shall I start on your prison time?” Steven asked.
My heart leapt as I saw Dina glare. Steven passed the judge another file, and she flicked through it.
“Who is Diego Martinez?” Steven demanded. Dina grew pale and bit her lip. “Miss Smith, who is Diego Martinez?” Steven repeated.
Dina shook her head.
“Don’t know.”
“Is he your drug dealer?” Dina kept quiet. “Do I need to repeat the question?”
“Yes,” Dina snapped, her face flushing in anger.
“So, you accuse Mr Cutter of taking drugs and hooking you on them when we have evidence to the contrary. The truth is, you hooked yourself on narcotics and look to blame Mr Cutter,” Steven stated, and Dina glared.
“Jett’s in an MC,” Dina hissed.
“Ah yes, that brings me to our next subject. Rage MC has owned an impeccable reputation for being a clean club for over ten years. They ride their bikes, run the shops and their bar, and do much for the community. I have a list here of things that Rage has done for charity and its local community.
“Highlighted are the events that Mr Cutter himself was involved in, including building a bike to auction for the Eternal Trust and operating telephone lines during a Trust drive for funding. Mr Cutter’s also helped rebuild a community centre and collected donations for the local orphanage. Detective Antonio Ramirez, a highly respected officer in RCPD, is here to provide testimony as to the club’s legitimate work.”
The judge flicked through the pages handed to her, and the court remained silent.
“I don’t think we need Detective Ramirez’s testimony to the court. Unless Miss Smith’s counsel wishes to question him?”
Dina’s lawyer shook his head, recognising he was on the losing side.
“We also have present Mr Andrew Wainwright, the Congressman for South Dakota and Mr Antony Parker-Jones, the Senator for South Dakota. Both are willing to be character witnesses for Mr Cutter and his wife. Both Mr Parker-Jones and Mr Wainwright have known Jett for eighteen months and have had a close relationship with Mr Cutter and the club.”
“His fucking what?” Dina exploded from the stand. Dina spun to face me, and I barely controlled a flinch. Hate blazed from her eyes; Steven turned towards her with a raised eyebrow.
“Excuse me?” Judge David’s gaze snapped in Dina’s direction.
“His fucking what? Asshole’s meant to marry me, not some skinny stuck-up ho! I’ll gut you, you stupid bitch,” Dina continued ranting.
Her lawyer dropped his head.
“That’s enough of that language,” the judge ordered, and Dina shut her mouth.
“I also have a file complied by Hawthorne’s Investigations. They have investigated Miss Smith’s background, and many things have come to light. Mr Hawthorne is present to explain his findings and testify.”
“You fuckers,” Dina seethed from the stand. “You absolute motherfuckers,” Dina screamed. The judge rapped her gravel and told the guard to remove her. Dina didn’t go quietly; she went kicking and screaming. Judge David banged her gravel and demanded Dina be held because of the outstanding warrants. Finally, order ruled again, and the judge faced Dina’s lawyer.
“You may inform your client I am suspending her custody. Ursula will not be leaving with her mother today, and I will remove Ursula Cutter permanently from her care. I have seen enough to see Ms Smith is an unfit parent. I also will enter into the record that Ms Smith will not be granted visitation rights.” Dina’s lawyer nodded. “You may leave,” the judge said, and he scurried out.
“Now that unpleasantness is over, I’d appreciate being told why Mr and Mrs Cutter should get custody of a child they never knew existed.”
I gulped and clenched Jett’s hand. This was it.
For the next few hours, Steven called his character witnesses and reviewed the reports in greater detail. He explained our wedding as proof of our dedication to Ursula and explained we’d bought a larger home and would move in soon. Steven produced our marriage licence and the deed to the house.
To my surprise, Antony and Andrew both took the stand. They gave glowing statements about us, even though I had only met them once, a week ago. Hawthorne and Ramirez also gave similar reports. My attack was brought up and explained away. Our finances were studied in minute detail. I was thankful Phoe had insisted on buying the house and settled for us paying it back later, after the court case.
Phoe herself took the stand after we’d been questioned where the money had come from to buy our expensive new home. She’d explained our plan, that we get Ursula settled and buy what is needed for her. Jett would make a lump sum repayment and continue making monthly payments until the amount was repaid. The judge quizzed Phoe deeply before giving an approving nod.
A few hours later, with Jett taking the stand and then me stumbling through my testimony, I was staggered to find myself holding Ursula in my arms as we left court. We’d won. Ursula was ours. I was informed that I’d have to adopt Ursula to make her legally mine; I agreed, and Steven submitted the papers, already drawn up, with a grin.
