Page 29 of Justice for the SEAL
She shook her head. “I was scared. I didn’t know if I couldtrustyou.”
“You believemenow?”
“Yes.”
“Then no more secrets. Tell me what they wantfromyou.”
She bit her lip. Her attacker had been very clear. She wasn’t to tellanyone.
Logan leaned forward. “You’re safe now, Gemma. I’llprotectyou.”
She believed he would. He already had. “He wants me to throw a verdict. To convict, no matter if the evidencesupportsit.”
“Isn’t that up toajury?”
“Not if the men waive their right to a jury trial, whichtheyhave.”
“Themen?”
She met his stare head on. This was the hardest part, and even as she spoke the words, she prayed she wasn’t killing Royce. But she needed help. She couldn’t figure this out on her own. “I’m the judge assigned to the HERO Force case. The men the kidnapper wants me to convict are your coworkers, Jax Andersson and LeoWilson.”
“Oh,fuck.”
“And if I don’t do it, Roycewilldie.”
He pinched the skin between his eyes. “When does the trialstart?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Damn it. Can youpostpone?”
“I might be able to stall, but not for long. The suit was filed months ago by the brother of thedeceased.”
“Are you going to find themguilty?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m holding out hope the evidence will prove theydidit.”
“They’re men ofintegrity.”
“You’re saying they’reinnocent?”
Logan only staredather.
“I’ll have to make a decision when it’s time for my verdict.” She stood and moved to the sink, picking up the dish soap and squirting some onto a sponge. “I certainly can’t doitnow.”
Her voice sounded meek and she hated herself for her own weakness. One way or another, she was responsible for the fate of three men, and she suddenly wondered if she was capable of making such ajudgment.
Logan walked up behind her and hugged her. “It’s going to be okay. We’llfindhim.”
She frowned, her mouth pulling down hard at the corners. “And if you don’t, I’ll have to decide who lives and who dies. I could be disbarred. No, I should be disbarred for evenconsideringthis.”
“Shh.” He kissed between her shoulderblades.
“And you. What am I doing with you? You work for a company that’s being sued in my courtroom. I’m practically old enough to be yourmother.”
“Notquite.”
“Close enough. You’re thirty-one. I’mforty-four.”
