His hands cup my face; his golden-brown eyes focus on me. “This might be rough. You stay right behind me.”
“I won’t move.” My eyes find his. The crowds, courtroom, and everyone else disappear, and we let ourselves have this moment. Because that’s what life is, a series of moments.
“What if I have to puke or pee?” I smirk.
“Then you take one of the girls with you and Rip to wait outside,” he murmurs against my lips, lightly brushing his with mine.
“I love you. Make sure you stay calm and hydrated. I don’t want this upsetting my son.” He grins, knowing that it drives me crazy when he says that.”
I breathe out. “It’s going to be a good day. I can feel it.”
“Okay.” Jett walks up, looking at his Rolex. “No one loves love more than me. But there’s this little thing called a triple-murder trial I need to win…”
Grinning, I nod, then Ryder kisses me quickly, and for a second I hold on to his tailored suit. Ryder was to die for with his wild, sexual energy in jeans and his cut. But clean-shaven, you can see his full lips and chiseled jaw. Not to mention his body clings to the suit as if he were born to wear one. I sigh because as soon as this is over, he’ll never put another on.
“Who’s the dick in the suit?” We turn to see Axel and Antoinette walking into the courthouse. Antoinette shakes her head at us and shushes Axel, pushing him into the courtroom. She’s wearing a slick pair of black slacks and a sheer lavender blouse, while Axel looks like a rock star in his all-black outfit.
None of the brothers are allowed to wear their cuts in the courthouse. Powers told us the less we remind the jury of the Disciples, the better. If anyone has a problem with that, they don’t need to come.
“You ready?”
“I’m ready.” I blow out some air as my heart rate speeds up. It’s like this every time we enter the actual courtroom.
Jett opens the door, and the small group of press people who won the lottery today instantly turn the cameras on while we walk in.
Ryder lets go of my hand. As I slide in next to Blade and Eve, Antoinette slides in next to me, followed by Axel. I turn around to hold my hand out to Dolly who looks so uncomfortable. She still has another month, and insists she needs to be here for Ryder.
“You okay?” I look at her.
Edge shakes his head at me. “No, she’s stubborn as all get-out, insisting on coming today.” He pushes the hair off her shoulders and she smiles mischievously at him. For a moment, my heart aches. Edge and Dolly are so cute together. Their connection is so strong—it’s the bond of knowing and loving someone your whole life.
“How are you doing?” Charlie leans forward to whisper over all the loudness of the courtroom.
“Nervous,” I say honestly.
We all turn to see Gia and Granger walk in, and I can’t help but smile at how freakin’ proud I am of my friend. Gia knew what she wanted, and she got it. If it hadn’t been for their wild love story, I’d never have found Ryder.
She waves at me in her fabulous, skin-tight beige dress. Her hair is up, and she wears matching, beige patent leather, high-heeled stilettos while Granger’s dressed like Axel, in all black, except he sports black sunglasses. He pulls Gia toward the back corner of the room.
“Everyone stand for the Honorable Judge Rosen,” the bailiff announces, and we all stand.
I grab hold of Eve’s hand, and we watch as a middle-aged man enters.
“Good morning.” He nods at us and we take our seats. From the corner of my eye, I notice Cindy. Wearing a dark dress, she sits next to Doug and Robert on my far right. This is the first I’ve seen her in the courtroom; actually, the first time I’ve seen her since the incident, which sounds better than saying “the day I murdered the bad guy.”
When Ryder turns and winks at me, my breath catches, and my heart aches with love for him. The mere thought of losing him makes my eyes fill with tears.
It can’t happen, won’t happen. We just found each other again.
“Mr. Powers and Ms. Bernard, are we ready to proceed?
They both stand and say, “Yes, Your Honor.”
“Very well, please bring the jury in, George.” My eyes stray over to the prosecutors. They have a whole team: four of them sit at the table along with two aides behind them.
We all stand again as the jury enters, and I watch them closely. They seem refreshed. Because this case has received so much media attention, they’ve been sequestered, and are staying in a hotel down the street.
“Good morning. Let me remind you of the cameras.” The judge gives the same speech every morning, and I recross my legs so I don’t stand up and scream, Get on with it!