Page 107 of Protecting Christina

“If he’s found guilty, not only will he go to prison, but the women can sue for damages.”

Will sat back and smiled.

Simon shouted at his attorney, and the judge hammered his gavel. “Order.”

Then, after a loud exhale, he said, “Everyone in my chambers right now.”

I stood up, but the judge pointed his gavel at me. “Not you, Ms. Polito.”

I sat down, smirking. I knew I really shouldn’t have been allowed in, but I’d hoped no one would say anything.

As we waited inside the courtroom, Simon leaned back and called out to me. “You may be smiling now, but when this is all over, I’ll be the one laughing. Your sister and her friends are done.”

Will tensed beside me. “He can’t threaten you like that. I won’t allow it.”

I squeezed his knee. “Don’t worry, darling. I won’t allow it, either. But I have a feeling we won’t have to do anything.” I nodded toward the back door where the judge and the lawyers walked back inside. Neither of them was smiling, but Mr. Freeman was the only one openly frowning.

I couldn’t stop the hope from growing inside of me. When the prosecutor sat down, I immediately tapped his shoulder. “Yes, Christina?”

“So? What happened?”

He shushed me and the judge called the court to order. “After some discussion, I’ve decided to allow the prosecution to add the count of gross negligence to the charges.”

I closed my eyes. Donna tapped my shoulder. “What does this mean?”

I smiled. “It means that Simon is fucked.”

The trial continued for two more days as the defense called on witnesses to disprove Donna and Will’s testimony, but none were credible. Some members of the jury yawned, while others tapped their fingers against the ledge. One even openly sneered at Simon.

Three days later, the prosecutor called us. “The jury is ready to share their verdict. Come down to the courthouse.”

Will drove me there, and he held down my knee when it started to bounce. “They’re going to make the right decision.”

I nodded. Then, turning to the backseat, I looked at my sister. She wore a dress today and had styled her hair. She looked beautiful. Outwardly, she looked calm, but her fingers gripped her seatbelt. “Are you all right?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“No matter what that jury decides, you did the right thing.”

“I know. I just don’t know what I’m going to do after this.”

“We’ll figure it out. Together.”

She looked at me and nodded. “Sounds good.”

We sat behind the prosecutor’s desk and waited for the judge and jury to file in.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you come to a unanimous decision?”

“We have, your honor,” said the jury foreperson.

“In the count of human trafficking, how do you find the defendant?”

“We find the defendant, Simon Graff, guilty.”

A loud gasp rang through the room, and I wasn’t sure if it had come from Simon or his attorney.

“In the count of gross negligence, how do you find the defendant?”

---