Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 64910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Because that’s how I saw today going.
I knew without a doubt in my mind that Amon would be getting a free ride to the psych facility.
I also knew that he would be living a cush life, because Amon was slick. He’d get anyone and everyone on his side that was in that facility. And he would be out.
One way or the other.
Whether it was ten years or thirty.
“That was because, apparently, I’m scary. And they didn’t want the jury focusing on me and my hatred. And instead wanted the focus on Amon and what he did,” I explained as I grabbed the door from her hands and held it wider open. “After you.”
She went, but she looked like she dragged her feet the entire way to the courtroom.
I stayed on her heels since she seemed to know where she was going.
We didn’t sit next to each other, though.
She went to one corner, and I went to the other, but both of us were bathed in the shadows of the shitty courtroom.
There we sat for hours while the jury deliberated after closing statements were given.
Hours that felt like long days and even longer nights.
And, when the jury finally came out and resumed their seats, and the one stood up to speak, I didn’t have to be a genius to know what he was about to say.
“We find the defendant not guilty by reason of insanity,” the juror said strongly.
It wasn’t the words that the juror said, though, that had my skin crawling. It was the way that Amon looked at Dorcas so triumphantly that did it. Anger and disgust dueled through my veins, and I wanted nothing more than to pull out a gun and shoot him straight through his smug face.
But, surprisingly, it was Dorcas that stood up and turned, catching my eye.
I knew she wanted me to follow, so I did, which saved me from doing something completely stupid.
I heard the judge talking about facilities and lengths of time, but I didn’t stay to hear it all.
I followed Dorcas out until we were standing in the afternoon sun.
“He won’t stay in there forever,” she said stiffly.
“I know,” I said.
And I did.
“He’ll find a way out, and I’ll just have to deal with this nightmare all over again.” She looked to something behind my back, and I turned to see what she saw.
It was just a man leaning against his car, smoking.
But the way Dorcas was looking at him…
“Dorcas…” I said.
“Don’t call me that,” she whispered pleadingly. “Don’t ever call me that.”
My brows rose. “What would you like me to call you then?”
She never once looked away from the man across the street when she said, “I don’t care. Piece of shit, trailer trash, ugly bitch. Anything but Dorcas.”
Then she turned to leave, and when she looked back, it was definitely not at me.
But at that man again.
I waited until she was in her car, and about to leave before I turned back and found the man that she’d been staring at.
He was still staring at her. And since my ride wasn’t here…
I thought… why not?
I walked across the parking lot to him, and the bad thing was, he was so focused on her leaving that he didn’t notice me coming until I was right on top of him.
He startled, looked at me, and blinked.
“Why are you staring at her like that?” I asked.
The man opened and closed his mouth, looking scared.
“Um…”
I moved until I was in his face.
“Why are you staring at her like that?” I urged, poking him in the sternum with a finger, pressing hard, so I know it had to hurt.
“Umm,” he squeaked when I pressed harder.
My finger hurt, so I knew his chest had to hurt worse.
“I…” He swallowed hard. “I was hired to follow her.”
That pissed me off. Which was why I punched him across the jaw seconds later.
“By who?” I asked.
But I didn’t need to know who.
I remembered Amon’s words.
You’ll pay for going against family.
I’d been in a lot of pain at the time.
My mind had been foggy, and I damn sure had other things to think about than what those words meant.
But now, seeing that man that was ordered to follow her… I remembered the words. And what they might mean.
“From now on,” I said carefully. “You need to forget she even exists.”
He looked ready to argue, but I said, “Seriously. The man just went away for insanity. He killed multiple people. When I say that he’s not of sound mind, I really fuckin’ mean it. Save yourself the trouble and keep away from her.”
He narrowed his eyes, then sighed. “It wasn’t that good of pay anyway.”
Then he left without looking back.
CHAPTER 5
When you say ‘spiritual,’ you need to be more specific. Demons are spirits, too.
-Bram to Price
BRAM
“What do you mean, the trial didn’t finish?” I asked, unaware that things had changed after I’d left.