Page 39 of Katie 3

Stunning, strong… powerful.

“Can you tell us about your relationship with Mr. Adkins?” the prosecutor asks.

“Which one?” she shoots back and whispers fill the courtroom.

The prosecutor tilts his head and I only assume the smug smile he has on his face right now. “Can you explain further, Miss Bardin?”

She nods and sits straighter. “I’ve had a relationship with Brad Adkins… but also his brotherandfather.”

My stomach twists as the whispers in the courtroom become louder.

“And this was consensual?”

My breathing shallows and the slight twitch in her lips makes bile rise. “Some, most.” She shrugs her shoulders as if her words don’t hold the weight they have.

“Can you elaborate?”

“Objection,” Carter calls out. “This has nothing to do with the trial at hand, and Miss Bardin is hinting at the sealed files the prosecution already tried to unseal and failed.”

“It speaks of the character of the defendant,” the prosecutor says.

“I’ll allow it, but the files remain closed,” the judge rules and my heart pounds in my chest.

I can see the defeat in Carter’s posture, and he glances back over his shoulder at me. There’s no escaping this. I knew they still kept me in the dark, but now I’ll know how much.

“Please, Miss Bardin, continue.”

She nods and her eyes lock with mine. “I was in a consensual relationship with all three men, but some moments were not.”

“Can you give an example?”

“Brad had a peculiar taste, a violent one.” She clears her throat. “Meaning, he wouldn’t take no for an answer and hurt me.”

“Is this why you split up?”

She scoffs. “No, we split up because they found a new plaything.”

“A newplaything?” the prosecutor asks as he let his eyes wander to the jury.

“Yes, a few years ago we split up.”

“Did this newplaythingreplace your role in the relationship?”

She shakes her head with a smile. “Not at first. She had just turned 18 and I don’t think they…startedright away.”

“And what makes you believe that?”

“We weren’t together anymore, but I still hooked up with them from time to time.” Her smile won't fall, even as she stares me down.

Chapter nineteen

I’m going to be sick. I thought this all happened before my mother, before I was in the picture. But… but they did it… fuck…

“No further questions.”

Carter rises again, buttons up his jacket, and steps away from the table.

“Miss Bardin, were there any other reasons for the split?” Carter asks, and my brows furrow as hers drop, an angry glint flowing through her eyes.

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