Claiming Menace (Ruthless Sinners MC 5)

I could see the fear in Aubrey’s eyes as she asked, “So, this is it?”

“Yeah, babe. This is it.”

The bar fell silent as we all turned our attention to the TV screen. Aubrey reached for my hand as we listened to the reporter say, “Lorenzo Rossi has been on trial for three counts of first-degree murder. A great deal of attention has been brought to this particular case because of the apparent suicide of the prosecution’s key witness, Parker Weston.”

Aubrey’s entire body tensed when an old photograph of her flashed across the screen. Those fears of being recognized had taken their hold on her but quickly faded when Marlowe didn’t say a word. In fact, she didn’t even flinch as the photograph disappeared from the screen. Relieved, Aubrey leaned into me as the reporter continued, “Her testimony from Mr. Rossi’s first trial was declared admissible, but it’s unclear if the testimony was enough to sway the jury to keep Mr. Rossi behind bars.”

I glanced over at Aubrey and seeing the turmoil in her eyes gutted me. I wanted to protect her from shit like this, but it was out of my control. All I could do was sit there and hold her hand as we listened to the reporter say, “We just received word that the verdict has been announced, and Lorenzo Rossi has been found innocent on all three counts of murder. He and his lawyer will make a statement shortly.”

I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me as I mumbled, “I’ll be damned. The sonofabitch actually got off.”

Aubrey

I felt like my entire world was crashing down around me as I listened to the reporter announce that Lorenzo Rossi had been found innocent of all his crimes. I just couldn’t believe it. After everything he’d done, he was actually going to walk free while my poor parents and sister lay buried beneath the earth. It was so unfair. Lorenzo Rossi was a monster, and he got to live and continue on with his corrupt way of life. I’d tried so hard to make sure that didn’t happen, but I hadn’t tried hard enough. It was stupid to think that my previous testimony would’ve been enough to keep him behind bars, and because of that stupidity, my parents and sister’s murderer, not to mention the Brants, was sauntering across the television screen with a sinister smile on his stupid face.

Sensing how upset I was, Jared slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me close as we watched Rossi’s lawyer speak to him before he made his statement. My stomach turned as I sat there staring at the smug look on Rossi’s face. I couldn’t imagine hating another human being like I hated him at that moment. He talked with his lawyer for a moment longer, then smiled as he started over to the podium where all the reporters were hovering around, waiting for Mr. Wonderful to make his precious statement.

Jared took my hand in his and gave it a tight squeeze as we watched Rossi lean into the microphone. He was just about to speak when chaos erupted. People started screaming and fleeing from the courthouse steps, and I had no idea why until I spotted Rossi’s body lying lifeless next to the podium. “Oh my God! Is he really dead?”

“Looks that way,” Country answered, sounding just as surprised as I was.

“But how? Who?”

I immediately turned to Jared only to find him exchanging an odd expression with Lynch. I stood there studying them for moment, and something about the way they were looking at one another made me ask, “Did you know this was going to happen? Did you have something to do with this?”

When he didn’t answer, I pushed, “Jared.”

“I don’t know what to tell ya. The man had a lot of enemies.” He glanced back over at Lynch as he said, “Looks like he finally got what was coming to him.”

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say about this?”

“That’s all there is to say, babe.” He gave my hand a squeeze. “It’s over. It’s finally over.”

I turned my attention back to the news and watched as police swarmed the courthouse steps. Like me, none of them seemed to have any idea who had shot Lorenzo Rossi, and something told me we never would. When they finally went to commercial, Country motioned his hand over to Marlowe and said, “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think a round of drinks is in order.”

“What do you say?” Marlowe asked Menace. “You up for a round?”

“Make it two.” The tension in Jared’s face faded as he said, “Country’s right. We have some celebrating to do.”

Under normal circumstances, I would’ve never dreamed of celebrating someone being killed in cold blood, but these weren’t normal circumstances. Lorenzo Rossi was a heartless killer who’d taken my family from me, so I didn’t hesitate taking that shot of tequila and tossing it back. Country gave me a wink as he said, “That a girl! Get ya another. You deserve it.”