Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
They did give me five minutes with my father and Matthew, but the only thing I cared about was Caroline and Dylan. “Stay with them.” I looked at Matthew, and all he did was nod.
“Mr. Stone.” My name is called, and I stand up. “You’re up next.”
“Thank you,” I say and walk with him down the concrete hallway, and he stops at the big brown door.
“I’m sorry I have to do this,” he says, and I just nod at him and turn around to have him cuff me. I would do whatever they tell me to do if it gets me one step closer to Caroline and Dylan. I walk into the courthouse, and my eyes fly to the people in the room. All the men in my family fill the first row with my parents at the end. I make eye contact with Matthew, who just nods. I also notice a couple of reporters in there, and I roll my eyes.
“All you have to say when they ask you is not guilty. Your bail is set to be posted, so it’ll be right after he calls out the number. We have a car waiting for you,” my lawyer says. “I’m not going to lie, though. The press got a hold of the story.”
“I don’t give a shit. I need to get home,” I say, and we stand in front of the judge. When the district attorney starts reading the charges, I almost want to snort when they call Andrew the victim.
The judge asks me how I plead, and I finally speak. “Not guilty, Your Honor.” He sets the bail, and I don’t even hear how much nor do I care. When he hits the gavel, I look at my lawyer, and he looks at the DA, who nods his head. “Go.”
I walk to my family, and my mother gets up and walks next to me with my father on her side, and Matthew on my other side. Max, Viktor, and Evan walk in front of us. “Caroline?” I ask Matthew. He avoids eye contact, and my stomach sinks. My mother grabs my hand, and I look at her. She tries to pretend she is okay, but she just shakes her head.
The car is waiting, and I get in the back with my mother and father, and Matthew gets in the front behind the wheel. The reporters try to take our picture, but I turn my head, and when we are away, I ask the question again. “Where is she?”
“At your place,” Matthew says. I look at his eyes in the rearview mirror, and I know he isn’t telling me something. The drive home takes more time than I care for, and when I get out of the car, my father calls my name before I take a step toward the elevator. I look back at him, and he stands there with my mother beside him.
My mother has tears running down her face. “Justin, we need to talk,” my father says.
“Dad, it’s really not a good time,” I say and try to turn around.
“I think this is the best time,” he says. “Justin, you have to take a second.” I turn and look at my parents. “I get that you have a connection with this woman, but, Justin …”
“What are you saying?” I look at my parents who have been by my side my whole life. By all of our sides without thinking twice. No matter how many times we fucked up, the only thing that was the same was their support for us.
“I’m saying you need to walk away,” my father says, and now my mother talks.
“You want to save her,” she says, and I shake my head. “I know how much you care for her and Dylan, but, Justin, this situation …” She swallows. “Justin, it’s not safe.”
“What the fuck?” Matthew says under his breath.
“Listen to us for a second,” my father says. “We always have your best interests at heart. Always.”
“Obviously not always,” I say, putting my hands on my hips.
“Justin, the guy threatened to kill you,” my mother says, almost shouting.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake!” I yell. “He’s crazy.”
“Exactly,” my father says. “What if the next time he comes with a gun? Justin, seriously, you are putting yourself in harm’s way, and I think you need to think about it.”
“I’m going upstairs now to the woman I love,” I say, and my mother gasps. “That’s right. I love her. I love Dylan. I love them both, and I know that if push comes to shove, I will pick them.” I look down. “Even if I have to walk away from my family.”
“Justin,” my father says, and I shake my head. “Maybe you think you love her, but you just want to save her.”
“What are you saying?” I look at them. “I love her. With everything that I have. Until my last dying breath, it will always be her. I will walk with her through fire if I have to, and if push comes to shove, I will.”