Page 56 of Bound by Destiny
I’m not the first Ravage man to see the inside, but I hope like hell I never have to again. The room is white, but all the furnishings are a very dark cherry, almost black. The woman judge, Alverez, sits up there owning the space.
She’s listened to my lawyer and the other side, and now I’m waiting. Waiting to hear if I’m getting out or if I’m staying in.
Looking over my shoulder, Emery smiles, lighting up the entire room. Damn, I’m going to miss her most of all. Giving her a wink, I lift my chin to the brothers behind her then turn back to the judge.
Minutes tick by as she looks over all the papers in front of her. Shouldn’t they break or something so she can deliberate? Strike that—they do that I’m going back in the cell, no thank you. I’ll take what I can get.
The door to the courthouse opens, and I turn to see my sister walk in. I look behind her not seeing my parents, and I’m happy about that. Disappointment would be written all over their faces, and it’s not the time and place to deal with it. They didn’t like my decision to join the club, and I’m sure they blame this little hiccup in life on Ravage. I’ll deal with them later.
Lifting my chin, I watch as she moves to Emery. I’m guessing they must have talked because they seem to know each other.
“Mr. Warren,” the judge calls my name and Brunzie motions for me to stand, and I do. Damn, this is it. Fuck, the nerves in me are running wild, but I guess that’s to be expected when someone is about to determine your fate.
It’s either self-defense and all charges are dismissed, or she doesn’t believe it and I go to trial. Trial is a whole other can of worms I don’t want to deal with.
I send up a small prayer to whomever is above to help me with this outcome. Hope is really all we have in life. Hope you’re healthy. Hope you don’t lose someone you love. Hope that you find the one. Hope that you can live another day. It’s always there, and we focus on it all the time. Right now, I need a hell of a lot of hope.
The tension is so damn thick in this place I’m not sure a chainsaw would tear through it. Sweat pools on my brow as heat rises. I hate this, but I wouldn’t have changed my actions. That asshole was going to kill Pops. He had to be stopped even though it meant I landed here in this spot.
“Jackson Warren, after going through all of the evidence and witness statements, it is my conclusion that …”
I clutch my hands in front of my body. I want to know what she’s going to say, but I don’t in the same breath. If I end up locked up, I end up locked up. It’s just not top on my to-do list.
“… self-defense is a valid term for what happened in this situation. You saw your friend in harm of death’s hand, and you did what you could to protect him from a violent act. You’re free to go.” She slams the gavel down, and I feel my knees go weak for a moment as cheers break out in the courtroom. I look to my brothers who have satisfied looks on their faces and wonder how much this one cost us.
Emery is right in front of me, her arms going around me as she kisses me hard. It’s only been six days, but being away from her feels like an eternity.
“Jacks, we need to go back and get all the paperwork in order. It’ll be a couple of hours then I can take you to the clubhouse.”
“I can wait,” Emery tries, and I love her for it.
“Be waiting there for me, okay?”
Her beautiful smile is the last thing I see before I’m led out of the courtroom. Thank God, I’m going home.
The party isin full swing, and Emery hasn’t left my side once since I arrived, which I’m grateful for. The process to get me out took more than a couple of hours—more like four. Once I signed the papers, though, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
Note to self: Never get caught again.
“Come on!” Austyn pulls Emery’s arm, but she doesn’t budge. “Tell her to come dance with me.”
I love this. “Gorgeous, go shake your ass for me.”
She contemplates it longer than I thought, then leans over and whispers in my ear, “As long as you tap this ass when I’m done.”
My cock presses against the zipper of my jeans as I growl, and she smiles knowing she’s got me, taking off to the dance floor.
Cooper, Green, and Nox all take the empty seats. It’s the first time we’ve had a chance to talk, and I want the details on Derk.
“Where is he?”
Cooper leans into the table. “Alive.”I was afraid of that.“He’s in the hospital under guard. We’ve got eyes on the room.”
“How the fuck is he alive? What was the shit injected into him?”
Green lets out a breath. “Fortunately for Pops, and unfortunately for him, the asshole didn’t know what he was grabbing and thought it was Potassium Chloride. But he just got Chloride which does nothing. The only reason we know this is because the dumbass admitted it to the cops.”
“Fucker’s a dumbass. Ransom didn’t teach him shit,” Nox tosses in. “Be surprised if Ransom was even around the kid.”
