Page 114 of The Casting Couch

For me.

I nearly lost it.

“Bradley Mitchell,” the judge began, looking down at a sheet of paper like it was my Yelp review.“You’re here today for a parole violation related to an act of violence committed against a Thomas Luke.Are both sides ready to proceed?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” my attorney said.

The DA, some baby-faced guy who looked like he hadn’t yet learned how to fake empathy, stood and nodded as well.

My attorney rose.“Your Honor, the defense would like to call a witness: Nicholas Steele.”

Nico stood up and walked to the stand.I watched every step.His shoulders were squared, his jaw set.No jokes this time.No masks.He raised his right hand, swore to tell the truth, and sat down.My throat went dry.

“Mr.Steele,” my attorney said.“Can you describe the events that led up to Mr.Mitchell’s alleged assault of Mr.Luke?”

Nico nodded, voice steady.“Thomas Luke had been harassing me, trying to blackmail me over my involvement in the adult entertainment industry.That day, I told him to leave me alone.He didn’t take it well, and he punched me.”

A murmur ran through the courtroom.Even the judge’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

Nico went on.“Bradley saw it happen.He didn’t know the full story, but he saw Thom hit me, hard.Thom threw the first punch.And Bradley… yeah, he reacted.Fast.He hit him back.More than once.But it wasn’t like some random outburst.He wasn’t trying to start a fight.He was trying to end one.Bradley stepped in to protect me.”

“And to your knowledge,” my lawyer asked, “was Thomas Luke planning to extort or publicly expose you?”

“Yes,” Nico said simply.“He told me he had information on me and would ‘ruin my life’ if I didn’t give him money.We have a USB stick he dropped in my bathroom.”

That was it.A bomb in a silent room.

The DA tried to object, but the judge waved him off.

My attorney stood and approached the bench, holding up a small plastic evidence bag.“Your Honor, the defense would like to submit this USB drive into evidence.It was recovered from Mr.Steele’s bathroom, where Mr.Luke dropped it during an earlier visit.Upon review, it contains personal files and recordings that support Mr.Steele’s claims of blackmail and coercion.We believe it further demonstrates that Mr.Mitchell’s actions, while a parole violation, were in response to a credible and escalating threat.”My attorney stepped back to the defense table.“No further questions, Your Honor.”

The judge looked at Nico.“You may step down.”

Nico caught my eye as he left the stand.Just a second, no more.But in that second, I felt every inch of my body light up.He still had my back.He still…

“Mr.Mitchell,” the judge said, turning back to me.“Given the testimony and the charges against Mr.Luke, which are now being pursued separately, I believe the context of your actions matters.You violated your parole.That much is clear.But you did so while protecting another person from harm.That counts for something.”

I held my breath.

“Your sentence is three weeks in county jail, with credit for time served.That leaves two weeks remaining.Sentence begins immediately.”

Before I could process anything, the back of the courtroom exploded.

Nessa let out a full-body “WOOOO!”and slapped the back of Jack’s head in celebration.Moira screamed, “That’s our boy!”through hands full of rhinestone rings.Petyr and Dimitri clapped politely, like this was a student violin recital.Laura just smirked like she already knew this would be the outcome.

And Nico—Nico was still watching me.Quiet.Steady.The corners of his mouth twitched like he wanted to smile but wasn’t sure it was safe yet.

It wasn’t what I wanted.I didn’t want two more weeks in this place.I didn’t want another second behind bars.But something was different now.

This time, I knew what was waiting for me when I got out.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

Nico

Iwoke up before my alarm.Not because I was well-rested—no, I was still running on dreams and nerves—but because today was the day.

Bradley was getting out.

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