Deep Burn (Burned Duet 2)

“I do, Your Honor.”

“Okay, then. Counselors, you may sign the deal and hand it to me.”

The judge leaned back in her seat as the prosecutor stepped toward our table. She slid the paper across to me, and I stared at it like it was a bomb about to explode. Were they trying to trick me? Was this really the original plea and they were playing some sick joke?

“I’ve read over it and everything is up to scratch,” Mr. Bennet told me, handing me a pen. “Sign it.”

“I don’t understand,” I croaked out. “How did this happen?”

“I’ll explain when we’re out of here. Just sign the papers.”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat and signed my name on each set of papers. My handwriting was shaky, not at all like it normally was, but my signature was there clear as day. Mr. Bennet gathered the papers and passed them to the judge, who took a quick glance at them, said something I couldn’t quite hear, then stood and walked out.

I didn’t move an inch, sure this was too good to be true. People filed out of the courtroom, the sound of heels and dress shoes echoing through the vast space, but I couldn’t quite get my body to work. I was in shock. Completely flabbergasted at what had happened. I’d been preparing myself for months not to walk back out of this courthouse, preparing to only see Elodie and my family behind a screen and hear their voices through a phone piece.

But none of that was going to happen now. And I still had no idea why.

“Ready?” Mr. Bennet asked, placing his hand on my shoulder. I blinked out of my haze, and nodded, not sure I could get my voice to work. I followed him out of the now empty room and out into the hallway where my mom, dad, and Elodie waited.

My gaze immediately landed on Elodie, and I halted in the doorway of the courtroom. It hit me like a freight train, and I felt stupid for not realizing before I’d signed the papers. “No,” I ground out. It was taking me a second to catch up with my own thoughts, but deep down I knew what had happened. Elodie had acted like today was just a normal day, because to her, it was. She didn’t know what I did, or at least, I thought she hadn’t.

“Asher,” she murmured, stepping toward me. She could see the realization shadowed across my features, but I couldn’t talk to her right then. I’d only told two people the truth, and I’d demanded both of them to keep their mouths shut. They hadn’t listened.

“Did you contact her?” I asked Mr. Bennet, my voice deep. I could feel my anger bubbling up to the surface.

“I did not,” Mr. Bennet replied, turning to face me. He juggled several files under his arm along with his briefcase. “She came to me with your father.” I opened my mouth, but he didn’t give me the chance to say anything. “It’s a good job she did, Asher, because the assistant DA was determined to charge you with attempted murder.” He glanced over at my dad, then back to me. “He has ties with the boy’s father.”

“I don’t care.” I clenched my hands by my sides. “I gave you strict instructions not to—”

“You told me not to contact her.” He raised a brow. “You said nothing about what I should do if she came to me.”

“You should have called me—”

“Listen, Asher.” He huffed out a breath and stepped toward me. “I understand what you were trying to do, but it wasn’t the right call. They were trying to hang you out to dry. Don’t you get that?” I didn’t know what to say to that because it was true, and I knew it all along. But I didn’t want to put that kind of pressure on Elodie. She’d already been through enough. “I have to get to my next meeting,” Mr. Bennet said, taking a couple of steps back. “Enjoy your freedom and stay out of trouble.”

His receding footsteps echoed in the otherwise quiet hallway, and I tried to push everything down and exude calm, but as my dad called my name, I couldn’t keep it inside any longer. I whipped my attention around to him, narrowing my eyes. “You told her?”

“He didn’t,” Elodie informed me, stepping forward. I didn’t want to tear my gaze away from my dad and the steely look he was giving me, but as Elodie stepped closer, I couldn’t resist. “I heard you talking about it.” She pursed her lips, a clear sign she wasn’t happy with me and the way I’d handled the entire situation. “You should have told me about it.” She tilted her head back so she could stare into my eyes. “All of this could have been avoided if you had just confided in me, Asher.”

“I was pro—”

“Protecting me. I know.” She rolled her eyes and grasped the lapels of my suit jacket and then pulled me closer. “But it works both ways.” She paused, waiting for her words to sink in. “You protected me more than anyone else ever has, but I can protect you too. It may not look the same as when you do it, but it’s for the same reasons.”

I took a breath, not quite getting the full oxygen I needed. “I didn’t want you to have to go through it all again.” My fight was leaving me the longer she spoke.

“It doesn’t matter how many times I have to go through it, Asher.” She lifted up onto her tiptoes. “With you by my side, I could slay a thousand dragons. We’re a team. A team who conquers our demons together.”

I wrapped my arms around her waist, bringing her flush to me. I couldn’t stay mad any longer because she had a point. I’d tried to handle this alone, yet I’d told her time and time again that it was me and her against the world. I’d told her one thing but done the complete opposite. “You’re so damn sexy when you talk about dragons and demons.” She laughed, the sound a soft tinkle echoing through the halls of the courthouse. “But you didn’t need to do that for me.”

“I know I didn’t need to.” She pushed her face closer to mine, her lips only centimeters away. “I wanted to.” Her tongue swiped over her bottom lip. “What’s it going to take to make you realize you’re not on your own anymore?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged, smirking down at her. “Maybe a kiss would be the starting point?”

She huffed out a laugh but gave me exactly what I wanted. She sealed the deal with a kiss, a kiss I would never take for granted ever again.

ELODIE