We’d waited so long, gone through so much, and the moment was finally upon us. My arm was around Lila’s shoulders, holding her close, our hands entwined. The whole room was tense as the jurors entered and took their seats.
The judge entered a moment later, read over the findings, and settled in.
“Will the defendant please rise.”
Prompted from the judge, the jury foreman stood, and my breath halted.
“On the first count of Aggravated Sexual Battery, how do you find the defendant?”
The world stopped, time stopped, and the entire room held its breath.
“We find the defendant guilty.”
I scooped Lila up in my arms, holding her tight as we cried out in joy.
The judge called for order, and we settled down. I looked into Lila’s eyes and for the first time in days, there was life and light. We didn’t pay attention to the judge, only every single “guilty” that rang out from the jury foreman.
Adam was found guilty on all five charges.
“Sentencing will be held on April twenty-first. Court is adjourned.”
I couldn’t help smiling as I watched the bailiff approach to take him away.
“You f**king cunt!” Adam screamed out, garnering the attention of the room. “I will f**king kill you!”
I pulled Lila behind me as Adam jumped over the banister and charged toward us. The beast in me smiled, ready to get a good swing in, to pulverize his face, but Adam was subdued by the bailiffs before I got the opportunity. He continued to act out as they hauled him away.
After he was gone, I used my hands to direct Lila out into the aisle, then to the hall.
Smiles lit up everyone as we exited. Hugs were spread around.
I couldn’t wait to celebrate.
My mother hugged me as Lila made her rounds. “Now?” she asked, and I nodded. “Okay. I’ll be right back. I’ll have her text you the information.”
“Thank you.” I kissed her cheek and moved back over to Lila.
We said goodbye to everyone, thanking them for coming and for their support. The sun was shining as we exited the courthouse, smiling down on us.
“Joan?” Lila blinked at an older woman standing outside the door.
She stood, and I got a good look at the woman who freed my love from possible death. There was more gray than brunette in her well-kept hair, and her suit was from another decade but fit her age well. A kind smile graced her face as she stood.
“Oh, Lila, look how beautiful you are.” Joan wrapped her arms around Lila. She sighed as she pulled back.
Lila blinked at her. “How did you know?”
“Teresa called me.” She took Lila’s hand. “And this was one of my cases I needed to see the verdict on.”
“I didn’t even see you.”
“I didn’t want to disturb you, so I sat in the back.”
I stared at her in amazement. “After almost fifteen years, I’m shocked you still remember her.” I know I didn’t remember all of my cases.
She turned to me and smiled. “I remember all the children I’ve saved, but some stick out more than others. Lila’s was one of the very few calls I’ve ever received from a child.” She pursed her lips and stroked Lila’s hand. “A very broken sixteen-year-old asked me for help when no one believed her.”
“What made you?” I’d always wondered what her lawyer saw.
“As soon as she walked into the principal’s office that afternoon, I knew. One look at her, and I knew what she’d told me was the truth.”
“Do you have time to stay for lunch?” Lila looked at her with hopeful eyes.
Joan shook her head. “I’m sorry. I have a hearing in a few minutes, but I wanted to see you and tell you how amazed I am at you.”
Tears formed in Lila’s eyes as she smiled at Joan, then threw her arms around her. “Thank you for everything, for believing.”
“You’re most welcome.” Joan drew back. “I’m so proud of you.” She glanced at me, then back to Lila. “Congratulations on your wedding, by the way. I’m filled with joy, knowing how happy you are and that you’re taken care of.”
Joan held her hand out to me, and I shook it. She then gave Lila another hug before turning and heading back. I noticed my parents and Drew looking over at us from a few steps up. Drew gave Joan a hug on her way back into the courthouse.
Between the verdict and running into Joan, Lila was glowing. She still seemed to be in disbelief as we walked down the steps, but there was a lightness coming over her, blanketing her.
We were basking in our victory, talking amongst ourselves, when a venom-laced growl came from behind us.
“You little bitch.” Lila’s father stared at her, sneering. She gripped onto my arm, nails digging deep as she froze. “You were always a f**king disappointment. I never wanted you in the first place, then your whore of a mother had to die and I got stuck with a miserable little brat.” He moved forward, reaching out to grab her, but I intercepted him, stepping between them.
“Step back.” My teeth clenched tight, the words escaping my throat with a growl. He was not even going to get close enough to touch her. He was lucky I allowed him to breathe the same air.
He glared up at me. “She a good cocksucker? Is that how she roped you in?”
I stepped forward, looking down at him, towering over his aging frame. “Say another f**king word, and I will punch you so hard you won’t remember your own goddamned name.”
“Are you threatening me? What lies has that little bitch been spreading to get you to defend her?”
“No lies—just the truth of a verbally and physically abusive father who encouraged his stepson to abuse her as well, to the point of almost killing her on more than one occasion. Should I go on, ass**le?”
“Don’t you f**king call him that!” The stepbitch saddled up next to him, ready to fight.
My icy glare turned to her. “Don’t even get me started on you.”
He stepped forward, inches from me, and sneered. “Little bitch deserved it. She needed to be broken if anyone was ever going to take her off my hands. Just needed Adam to pop that cherry of hers, train her up a bit, and she’d be ready for the highest bidder. That’s all she was good for.”
My fist slamming into his face was pure gut reaction. It sent him sprawling on the ground. I was seething, murderous rage pumping in my veins. I wanted him dead.
The judge entered a moment later, read over the findings, and settled in.
“Will the defendant please rise.”
Prompted from the judge, the jury foreman stood, and my breath halted.
“On the first count of Aggravated Sexual Battery, how do you find the defendant?”
The world stopped, time stopped, and the entire room held its breath.
“We find the defendant guilty.”
I scooped Lila up in my arms, holding her tight as we cried out in joy.
The judge called for order, and we settled down. I looked into Lila’s eyes and for the first time in days, there was life and light. We didn’t pay attention to the judge, only every single “guilty” that rang out from the jury foreman.
Adam was found guilty on all five charges.
“Sentencing will be held on April twenty-first. Court is adjourned.”
I couldn’t help smiling as I watched the bailiff approach to take him away.
“You f**king cunt!” Adam screamed out, garnering the attention of the room. “I will f**king kill you!”
I pulled Lila behind me as Adam jumped over the banister and charged toward us. The beast in me smiled, ready to get a good swing in, to pulverize his face, but Adam was subdued by the bailiffs before I got the opportunity. He continued to act out as they hauled him away.
After he was gone, I used my hands to direct Lila out into the aisle, then to the hall.
Smiles lit up everyone as we exited. Hugs were spread around.
I couldn’t wait to celebrate.
My mother hugged me as Lila made her rounds. “Now?” she asked, and I nodded. “Okay. I’ll be right back. I’ll have her text you the information.”
“Thank you.” I kissed her cheek and moved back over to Lila.
We said goodbye to everyone, thanking them for coming and for their support. The sun was shining as we exited the courthouse, smiling down on us.
“Joan?” Lila blinked at an older woman standing outside the door.
She stood, and I got a good look at the woman who freed my love from possible death. There was more gray than brunette in her well-kept hair, and her suit was from another decade but fit her age well. A kind smile graced her face as she stood.
“Oh, Lila, look how beautiful you are.” Joan wrapped her arms around Lila. She sighed as she pulled back.
Lila blinked at her. “How did you know?”
“Teresa called me.” She took Lila’s hand. “And this was one of my cases I needed to see the verdict on.”
“I didn’t even see you.”
“I didn’t want to disturb you, so I sat in the back.”
I stared at her in amazement. “After almost fifteen years, I’m shocked you still remember her.” I know I didn’t remember all of my cases.
She turned to me and smiled. “I remember all the children I’ve saved, but some stick out more than others. Lila’s was one of the very few calls I’ve ever received from a child.” She pursed her lips and stroked Lila’s hand. “A very broken sixteen-year-old asked me for help when no one believed her.”
“What made you?” I’d always wondered what her lawyer saw.
“As soon as she walked into the principal’s office that afternoon, I knew. One look at her, and I knew what she’d told me was the truth.”
“Do you have time to stay for lunch?” Lila looked at her with hopeful eyes.
Joan shook her head. “I’m sorry. I have a hearing in a few minutes, but I wanted to see you and tell you how amazed I am at you.”
Tears formed in Lila’s eyes as she smiled at Joan, then threw her arms around her. “Thank you for everything, for believing.”
“You’re most welcome.” Joan drew back. “I’m so proud of you.” She glanced at me, then back to Lila. “Congratulations on your wedding, by the way. I’m filled with joy, knowing how happy you are and that you’re taken care of.”
Joan held her hand out to me, and I shook it. She then gave Lila another hug before turning and heading back. I noticed my parents and Drew looking over at us from a few steps up. Drew gave Joan a hug on her way back into the courthouse.
Between the verdict and running into Joan, Lila was glowing. She still seemed to be in disbelief as we walked down the steps, but there was a lightness coming over her, blanketing her.
We were basking in our victory, talking amongst ourselves, when a venom-laced growl came from behind us.
“You little bitch.” Lila’s father stared at her, sneering. She gripped onto my arm, nails digging deep as she froze. “You were always a f**king disappointment. I never wanted you in the first place, then your whore of a mother had to die and I got stuck with a miserable little brat.” He moved forward, reaching out to grab her, but I intercepted him, stepping between them.
“Step back.” My teeth clenched tight, the words escaping my throat with a growl. He was not even going to get close enough to touch her. He was lucky I allowed him to breathe the same air.
He glared up at me. “She a good cocksucker? Is that how she roped you in?”
I stepped forward, looking down at him, towering over his aging frame. “Say another f**king word, and I will punch you so hard you won’t remember your own goddamned name.”
“Are you threatening me? What lies has that little bitch been spreading to get you to defend her?”
“No lies—just the truth of a verbally and physically abusive father who encouraged his stepson to abuse her as well, to the point of almost killing her on more than one occasion. Should I go on, ass**le?”
“Don’t you f**king call him that!” The stepbitch saddled up next to him, ready to fight.
My icy glare turned to her. “Don’t even get me started on you.”
He stepped forward, inches from me, and sneered. “Little bitch deserved it. She needed to be broken if anyone was ever going to take her off my hands. Just needed Adam to pop that cherry of hers, train her up a bit, and she’d be ready for the highest bidder. That’s all she was good for.”
My fist slamming into his face was pure gut reaction. It sent him sprawling on the ground. I was seething, murderous rage pumping in my veins. I wanted him dead.
