Page 31 of Defend Me

I know a dismissal when I hear one.

I leave the study and run into Finn in the hall.

“I hear you met with Judge Warner,” he says.

“Yeah.”

“He’s kind of a prick.”

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. “Why Finn,” I say. “How unpolitical of you.”

“Don’t leak that to the press,” he says with a grin.

I zip my lips and pretend to lock them.

“How are you holding up?” Finn asks softly. His gaze flits to Dad’s study and then back to me, a clear sign that he’s guessed Dad was bringing down the hammer. It’s nice to have one of my siblings care enough to ask. I get it—I don’t invite the warm fuzzies the way Caden or Daisy do. But I’m trying so hard to be there for my family. I give him a brittle smile.

“I’m okay,” I tell him. “Thanks for asking.”

I head downstairs and stop outside the door to the kitchen when I hear voices.

“…can’t believe this is happening,” Noah is saying.

“Isn’t there anything you can do?” Isla asks. “Get a new judge?”

“That’s not how it works.” I hear Noah give a heavy sigh.

“How are you and Von getting along?” Caden asks.

“Fine,” Noah says. There’s a slight pause in which I’m sure my brother is giving him a sardonic look. “No, really. I mean, we’re arguing like we always do, but honestly, that’s keeping me sane. It’s the one thing in this whole mess that actually feels normal.” He gives a sad chuckle, then his voice sobers. “She was magnificent with Warner today. I’ve never seen anyone stand up to the judge like that.”

Did Noah just call me magnificent? Maybe I need to get my hearing checked.

“Well, that’s good,” Isla says.

“But you should have seen the sheriff when he came to the house today,” Noah says. “He looked at me like I’m the enemy. I don’t understand how all these people who have known me for years can believe I would do something like this.”

There’s a short silence then another big sigh.

“I’ll talk to him,” Caden says.

“No,” Noah says. “That’s only going to make things worse. I need to…I’ve got to figure out…god, why can’t I crack open my skull and let my memories spill out? He’d know then. He’d see. Everyone would. I’m so tired, Caden. It’s only just begun and I’m so fucking tired. The cameras, the rumors, the questions. The judgement. This town, split in two, people taking sides. Is this my life now? Am I forever branded a murderer?”

There’s a long pause and I take that as my cue. It’s time to get Noah out of here. I enter the room and the three of them, sitting at the island, look up.

“We’re leaving town,” I say.

Noah’s eyes widen. “What?”

“Grayson is getting some things from your house. We can’t stay in Magnolia Bay right now.”

“Where will you go?” Caden asks as Noah stands.

“My apartment,” I say.

A couple hours later, we’re in the helicopter on the way to Pier 16 in lower Manhattan.

Noah has his face pressed against the glass like a little kid as we approach the skyline, the Freedom Tower shooting up like a needle toward the clouds, the skyscrapers of the Financial District bunched together like building blocks. I’m glad he seems distracted. It was discomfiting, the way he was talking to Cadenin the kitchen, the pain and panic in his voice…Noah has always been infuriatingly cheerful. Forever the optimist.

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