Page 66 of The Councilor

She bristled but said nothing, yet her skin had turned pale.

“We need to get into the courthouse as quickly as possible.” By the time I threw the gear into park, grabbing my briefcase and both of us scrambling onto the pavement, the mob was right on our heels. This was going to be an arduous day.

I took her by the hand, leading her to the bank of doors. At least a security guard had it open waiting for us. I’d never had this kind of horrific reaction to any cases I’d worked on before.

“He’s a murderer. You’re one too.”

“You’re connected to the mafia. How dare you be a man of the law.”

“You’re marrying a mafia princess? Trying to take over the world?”

“He deserves to die.”

“You will face your penance soon enough.”

Christ. Reputations could be improved or ruined in a split second with the wrong news.

The horrific barbs and accusations drowned out anything the reporters were trying to accomplish. They were swallowed up by the crowd. I pushed Raphaella inside, taking a second to scan the crowd.

I didn’t like what I saw.

Suddenly, a very bad feeling washed through me. Maybe this was D-day after all.

CHAPTER 19

Raphaella

Two hours.

That’s how long it had taken to stop shaking from all the horrible things said before we’d walked in. Thankfully, not only had guards been posted at the entrance to the courtroom, but the judge had cleared the room of all unnecessary personnel.

While I continued to be shaken, Aleksander was cool as a cucumber. He made it seem all too easy. Yes, I gathered he’d been under tremendous pressure many times in his career, but the threats had been horrific. My mind drifted back to what Jasmine had said. Had her words been a forewarning?

At least as I sat beside him, I was able to catch glimpses of utter brilliance. A part of the moral turpitude I still had was poking me that he was bending the law for his client, but in truth, most of me was in awe. I had no idea if I’d ever be able to attend law school, but if I was lucky enough to ever pass the bar exam, I’d want to be as merciless as he was.

I’d felt exhilarated to be on his team, euphoric seeing the falling face of the prosecutor the moment he’d known he’d lost.

I’d even felt pride, which was ridiculous given the circumstances, but no matter what terrible things were said, Aleksander was an amazing attorney.

Now I felt numb.

There’d been the last witness and closing arguments, but that had seemed to go on for hours. Maybe two in reality.

And the prosecuting attorney was damn good as well, grilling the woman ‘found’ as a witness to the point I’d be in tears. But when Aleksander had recrossed, he’d managed to make her look like an angel. I had no idea how that was possible given it was obvious to me she was lying through her teeth about being with Congressman Tillman. Some people were just good actors.

It was shocking to me a verdict was still expected at any minute. It was already after four and the jury had been deliberating for hours. Hours of waiting and worrying. Hours of being hungry. We hadn’t risked going out for fear of being attacked by the mob. An alternate version of a word I knew completely differently. Ugh.

“Stop worrying. This will all be over with soon enough,” Aleksander said from the chair beside me. He seemed comfy, sitting back as if he owned the joint. Meanwhile, I sat on the edge of my seat, trying my best not to listen to the ramblings of the few remaining in the courtroom. I only hoped the reporters and those carrying picket signs had grown bored.

“I don’t know how you can be relaxed.”

“We did our best and there’s nothing else left. Besides, you never let the opposing team see you sweat.” He leaned in when he made the last statement, which made me feel incredibly guilty.

I did what I could to look relaxed.

Another ten minutes passed.

Another fifteen.

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