Page 175 of In the Air Tonight

“The state calls Sienna Elliott to the stand.”

I’m rooted to my seat.

“Objection.” The defense attorney is on her feet. “This witness isn’t on the list we were given.”

“Overruled. I want to hear what she has to say.”

“Mrs. Elliott?” The prosecutor gives me a pointed look. “You can testify willingly, or we can subpoena you.”

Cam gives me a nudge. “Go.”

As I get up and walk to the front of the room, my legs are trembling, and I feel like I might faint.

They tell me to raise my right hand and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but he truth.

Ugh. I do not want to do that.

“Mrs. Elliott, were you with Ms. Merrick on the night in question? And I’ll remind you that you’re under oath.”

“I was there.”

“Did you see Ryder Elliott attack Denise Sutton?”

I hesitate before I nod.

“I need you to answer the question out loud for the stenographer.”

“I saw him attack her.”

“And you chose not to assist her or report the crime to authorities?”

“Yes.” My face burns with shame.

“Why?”

“I was dating his brother, who I later married. I did what I thought was best for my boyfriend and his family.”

“At the expense of a young woman who’d been assaulted?”

“I didn’t know her at all. I’d grown up with him. It was terrible, what he did. But… I did what I thought was right at the time.”

“And do you regret that?”

“Sometimes.”

Denise

NOW

Sienna’s testimony is shocking and devastating as I hadn’t known before then that someone was with Blaise.Sometimesshe regretted leaving me in the woods, broken and bleeding. Onlysometimes?

What kind of monster isn’t haunted by such a thing?

Kane’s arm tightens around me.

This has to be excruciating for him, too.

“When Ryder Elliott was initially charged with assaulting Ms. Sutton, did people believe it?”

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