Page 63 of Newton

"What do you mean if?" I growl, my composure taking a hit with these people's blatant lack of concern. "A minute ago you said when."

"We aren't sure what his attorneys will request," one of the people standing in front of me says.

"I just want to know if I'm going to have to get on the stand or not," I snap.

"How can we put you on the stand when you won't even tell us anything before the hearing?" a woman says and the irritation in her voice matches my own.

"I told you when I first got here that I don't know anything. I don't understand why I'm here to begin with. I told Detective Greene last year that I didn't have any proof about what Nathan and Xan were doing."

"Have you recently spoken with Detective Greene?" a third attorney asks me, his eyes narrowing.

"She's missing," I say. "And before you try and blame me for that, he told me she was."

Kincaid frowns in my direction when I point at him. I don't know why but the disappointment in his eyes makes my chest ache a little. He's been so generous to me, making sure I was safe and giving me a place to stay for the last month.

"If we put you on the stand, we're going to ask you about the sexual assaults," the woman says as if she were the one given the task of relaying this information because of her gender.

I can say her delivery is absolute shit.

"What?" My voice is weaker now. "This is supposed to be a case for all the people he's hurt."

"You're the only victim we have."

"Your entire case rests solely on me?" Fear swims through me.

"We thought you knew this," one of the male attorneys says.

I glare at him, tears burning my nose, but I'd never cry in front of these people. I know once the floodgates open, they'll never close again.

"Because I've had so many conversations with anyone in this office?"

The woman stands a little taller before speaking. "Everyone you talk to either disappears or ends up dead."

"Ruby," the man says, putting his hand on her shoulder, and it's then I see the fear in her eyes.

She shrugs off his touch, holding her hands up at her ears. "I can't. I won't."

She walks out of the room. The woman has every right to be scared, but if Nathan sees her name attached to anything related to his case, he won't care that she quit before she faced him in the courtroom.

"They're ready," the receptionist that was outside the office says when she sticks her head in the door.

I wish I could just walk out of here like Ruby did.

All it takes is a look from Kincaid and his men activate as we leave the office and walk toward the courtroom. My hands are trembling so badly, I can't hide it. I squeeze my hands into fists over and over, but it doesn't help. I try to discreetly shake the tension from them, but it makes no difference either.

I look ahead of me, allowing my eyes to drift toward Beck for the first time today, and I hate knowing that I had something to do with the darkness under his eyes. When he locks his gaze with mine, I see darkness in them too, but it looks like fear and heartbreak, not the anger and hatred I'd expect after the way I treated him last night.

He stands taller but pulls his eyes away quickly so he can say something to Kincaid. The president of Cerberus MC turns his attention to me, his eyes searching mine before he walks up and stops in front of me.

"Do you need a minute?" he asks.

I nod, knowing I need more than a minute, but I'll take what I can get.

He indicates the ladies' restroom across the hall, and to my surprise, no one follows me inside. I imagine had Ruby not just thrown her career away, she'd be in here with me.

I take in the silence, closing my eyes after stepping up to the sink. My stomach rolls, the threat of getting sick right now is very real.

I can't face him.

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