Page 37 of The Devil's Price

"Order in this court," he demands, and then continues. "You are being removed for impropriety and unethical behavior after being found having sexual relations with a member of the defense's familial ties." Callahan does the unspeakable, lifting a tablet up and turning it around to show the entire courtroom.

On that tablet, a video plays. Siobhan is draped over her couch with her head thrown back in pleasure as I take her from behind. The night was incredible, but reliving it like this is mortifying for her, I'm sure, though the only thing more shocking than seeingit on that tablet in the courtroom is the person who's sharing it with us. The filthy, crooked bastard was in her home, and we know why. He planted that camera there to watch her and keep tabs on her. It all makes sense now too. They wanted to have a plan to discredit her just in case she grew a moral compass that pointed her away from their scheming.

"Mother of God," she mutters and covers her mouth. I want to leap to my feet and defend her, but before I can do anything, the door bursts open and men start filing in. It's McVeigh and a smattering of Garda officers.

Callahan nods at them and glowers, pointing at Siobhan. "She's there," he says, tipping his head in her direction, but McVeigh goes straight to the judge's bench and takes Callahan's wrist.

Siobhan melts into her seat, and I lean forward over the wall, wrapping my arms around her. She's sobbing, and I kiss her cheek and squeeze her.

"It's over, Sib. They're going to take him down now." This couldn't have happened at a better time. She clings to my arms, wrapped around her shoulders, and I hold her as they tell the judge he's being arrested for blackmail and extortion and a dozen other charges. I know he's not the one behind this and it's evidenced as more Garda officers find Liam Kearney and arrest him before he's able to slip out of the room too.

Siobhan is still shaking when I'm forced to sit back down. A tall man in a judge's robe, balding head, no glasses takes the bench. He stands with a looming presence staring down at everyone and has no need to use the gavel. Everyone in this room wants to know what's going to happen now. Callahan declared a mistrial, but he's been removed from the room and will probably face time in prison.

"Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Judge Ross Gregory. I'm appointed to oversee this proceeding and finish things. As I have not been here to hear the trial, and it has come to our attention that several factors have weighed on this trial, Director McVeigh and I will declare a mistrial." He nods at Siobhan, who is wiping her eyes, and then at Mr. Quinn, who both seem relieved.

"You are dismissed," the new judge says and then turns to the court officiant. "Please remand Mr. O'Connor to?—"

"No, Your Honor," Siobhan says, standing quickly. "We don't need to put Mr. O'Connor in remand. I am dropping all charges. We have a new suspect and stronger evidence to build a case."

It feels like the entire courtroom erupts in cheers, though I'm sure there are a few people who aren't as pleased to hear this news. But Siobhan has done it. Mick is free to go, and I am proud of her for holding her ground and following what she knew to be truth.

Mick stands to his feet, shaking the solicitor's hand, and Brennan pushes past a mob of people to get to his arms. Everyone is up, moving around. I find my way to Siobhan first to pull her in for a hug, and it's like we're alone in the room despite everyone surrounding us.

"Well done," I tell her, pushing some hair off her forehead. Her eyes are still misty with emotion.

"Thank you. I'm glad that's over." Her lip still quivers as she speaks, and I can tell something is still bothering her.

"What is it?"

"They were in my penthouse, Finn. And when Liam… well, he…" She blinks and looks down at the space between us. I take my finger and lift her chin.

"What did he do?" She hasn't spoken to me about anything regarding that man, though I've known he was a snake since the first time I saw him going into her apartment.

"He tried to get me to sleep with him in my living room. I smacked him. I swear nothing happened, but?—"

"But he was trying to get you to do something unethical to set you up for failure. If you wouldn't back down, he'd make you. He knew that bug was there." I could kill the bastard, but he's behind bars where he's safe from me for now.

"I can't believe this. I'm so disgusted. McVeigh told me to sweep my place for bugs, but I didn't think he was serious." She covers her face and folds into my chest, and I hold her tightly.

"Hey, shh, it's over. It's done, and you don't have to think about it anymore. I'm sure you'll have to give a statement, but that will be that." I don’t know what the future looks like for us, but I'm ready to put all of this behind us and find out. I want a life with her, not this runaround. "Let's get out of here," I tell her, and I guide her through the crowd and out.

We have some important things to discuss and I can't wait to have her alone.

27

SIOBHAN

Leaning into Finn's side, I relax for the first time in weeks. I know being seen with him will affect my life, maybe permanently, but I'm not thinking about that right now. I'm not really thinking clearly at all.

The weight of doing the right thing by Mick O'Connor is lifted, but the larger threat of Judge Callahan and whoever is working in the darkness, pushing him to go astray, is still there, still hovering over me like a dark cloud. I'll never be able to live free from this heaviness and looking over my shoulder, but I do hope one day, it goes away so I can have some semblance of a normal life.

"You did it," Finn says again. His grin is enormous. I can tell this is the outcome he's been hoping for, and I can't say I blame him. When I saw the videotape McVeigh shared with me revealing someone else shooting Aiden Hughes, I knew it wasn’t Mick. The person on the video was far too short and left-hand dominant. There was no way it could’ve been Mick.

That was the moment that solidified things. Even without Finn's mysterious witness, I got Mick off, but that man will definitelycome testify in the new trial. The Doyle heir will be arrested and tried for the murder, and the entire Doyle family will rally to support him. No doubt, there will be attempts on Sean McCarty's life, maybe McVeigh’s, and possibly even mine too.

The courthouse is packed. We move toward the elevators and wait for one to take us downstairs. Finn is extra physical right now, pulling me into his side, nuzzling my neck. I can imagine what we'll do when we get back to my penthouse, and it has my body firing up for the attention.

"You know my career is blown. McVeigh is going to see this as far more than my snooping for attention undercover with the Mafia." I grin at him as he leans down to capture my lips. A long kiss silences me for a moment before he pulls away.

---