Cruel Infatuation (Underground Kings 3)

That has my lawyer cocking his head and laughing. “A settlement? You realize all of this could have been avoided if you wanted to settle. A nice chunk of change for all that debt you’re in sounds nice, doesn’t it.”

“Second warning, Mr. Alkroy,” the judge side-eyes my lawyer.

“Sorry.” He clears his throat. “I believe this woman is hiding something, men and women of the jury. Is it a coincidence that after three years of dating, she’s just now coming forward with this allegation and after a slew of debt racking up in the last six months. Not to mention, your friend in that photo can’t be found, and he has a record longer than the equator.” He turns toward the judge and grins. “No further questions, Your Honor.”

“Where the hell did that come from?” I ask him in a low hush as he sits.

“They don’t pay me the big bucks for nothing, but it’s still going to be hard to beat. Your odds are stacked against you here.”

“I know. I appreciate you trying.”

“If it makes a difference, I think she’s lying out of her teeth. Any good lawyer would see that,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder.

After today, my faith in the criminal justice system will die. How can I place my fate in the hands of people who found me guilty the minute I stepped through the doors?

An hour later, my fate is decided.

“We the jury find the defendant guilty of rape and assault.”

Guilty.

“Fuck,” my attorney curses.

I’m not surprised. “Alkroy, don’t let that bitch get a dime of my money, okay? Not one fucking dime. I don’t care how hard she tries.”

“I won’t give up on this. I’ll keep digging for anything to clear your name, Grayson.”

“It won’t matter.” I stand as the deputy walks toward me. I put my hands behind my back before he can ask, and he slaps the cuffs on me.

“I sentence you to eight-years in federal prison. No chance of parole. You shouldn’t have ever come into my court room, Grayson Campbell. If there is one thing I do not take kindly to, it’s a rapist.” She slams the gavel down, and the deputy pushes me toward the door where the holding cells are.

I pass Kendall, and we lock eyes. “Karma is a bitch, Kendall. Just like you,” I sneer.

“Shut up. Keep walking.” The deputy shoves me toward the door, and my shoulder slams against it, the momentum causing it to open.

I don’t know what the hell the next eight years has in store for me, but I’ll never trust a woman again. If someone I loved for three years can turn their back on me so easily, then so can anyone else. I’m better off alone. The only person I can trust is myself.

The only person who always knows the truth, is me.

Fuck there being three sides to every story.

There’s my side and Kendall’s side.

The truth always seems to get buried by lies. No matter how deep, the truth will rise to the surface, and the liar will get punished.

Eight years and counting.

Revenge will be mine, and karma will be a bitch.

Chapter One

GRAYSON

Present Day

I glance toward my closed bedroom door and make sure no one is coming down the hall. The Cliff House has grown over the last year when it comes to how many people are in it and there always seems to be someone wandering the halls.

No one would ever enter my room anyway, but I’m paranoid. I’m afraid Quinn or Gabriella will knock on my door, and I’ll lose the nerve to do what I’ve been trying to do for weeks now.