Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Where?” he asks.
“Lillian,” Mom says as they reach us, a questioning expression on her face. Her tone is cool as she asks, “How have you been?”
Do you even care?
I turn to Callan so I can introduce him to my parents, but seeing rage tightening his features, I’m thrown for a loop, and my words dry up.
Denise glances between everyone with a wide smile on her face as she moves closer to Sadie, who’s practically gawking at Callan.
Mom and Dad wait for me to introduce Callan.
But a sickening feeling spreads over my body when Callan’s angry gaze flicks from my parents to me.
Intense sorrow tightens his features even more, and as I stare at him with confusion, his eyes snap back to my father.
“You have no idea who I am, do you?” he bites the words out through clenched teeth.
Taken aback, Dad’s eyebrows draw together. “Of course I do. You’re Callan Wright.”
Callan shakes his head. “Think hard. I sat in your courtroom once.”
What?
Chapter 30
Callan
Coming face-to-face with Judge Harrison, my entire world shudders.
I’m instantly thrown back to the past, and six years of healing goes out the window as I’m transported back to the courtroom where Theo Jackson got away with murder.
My body is numb, and my heart lies shattered at my feet as the courtroom empties.
I can’t believe what just happened. Judge Harrison let Theo Jackson off with a three-month community service punishment.
No jail time!
No fucking justice for killing the person I loved most in this world.
Jackson got away with murdering my best friend – my brother.
I gasp through the debilitating rage and sorrow that are hellbent on destroying my soul.
I feel Dad’s hand on my back before he mutters, “Let’s go, son.”
“No.” I shake my head. “It’s not fair.”
“I know.”
My eyes fly to my father’s face. “We have to appeal the sentence. He deserves to rot in prison for the rest of his life.”
Dad nods, giving me a comforting look. “I’ll speak to the prosecutor.”
He helps me to my feet, and in numb shock, I walk out of the courtroom.
As we come around a corner, my eyes land on Judge Harrison. I see him shaking hands with the murderer's father, George Jackson.
Before I can react, Dad’s arms wrap around me, pulling me away from the men.
My breaths rush over my lips. My heart hammers against my ribcage.
And like so many times since Dylan died, I’m overwhelmed by a panic attack that drags me to the pits of hell.
I stare at the man who let a murderer walk free because he’s friends with George Jackson. Uncontrollable rage and hatred darkens my soul.
He’s still looking at me with confusion after I told him I’ve been in his courtroom.
The atmosphere has grown tense, and I can feel Lily’s eyes on me.
“Dylan Williams was my best friend,” I say to jog the corrupted Judge’s memory.
Still, the fucker only stares at me. He doesn’t even remember.
The grief I’ve worked so hard to deal with hits me square in the chest.
Dylan.
I see his face as clear as daylight.
I see his broken body lying on a cold slab in the morgue.
My heart is ripped clean from my chest, and all the trauma rushes back.
My voice sounds foreign as I growl, “You let Theo Jackson walk free with nothing more than a slap on his wrist.”
Realization registers on Harrison’s face as he finally puts two and two together. He’s clearly caught off guard and adjusts his jacket before giving me a haughty look.
“The case was ruled an accident,” he tries to defend his actions.
Jackson’s alcohol level was three times the legal limit, but the evidence mysteriously vanished.
“Did I hear my name?” a familiar voice comes from my right.
Turning my head and seeing the man who murdered my best friend, a violent craze takes control of me. I lunge forward, and grabbing Theo’s lapel, I swing my fist at him.
Lily rushes between us. “Callan!” she shrieks, closing her eyes as she braces for the punch she’s willing to take for the piece of shit.
Somehow, I manage to stop an inch from slamming my fist into her face.
There’s a roar of murmurs and gasps around us.
I let go of Jackson, my eyes still burning on Lily.
She’s Harrison’s fucking daughter.
She hasn’t told me much about her family.
Christ, she’s the fuckers daughter.
With a tiny moment of clarity, I turn around and walk away before I kill the man responsible for Dylan’s death and the judge who set him free in front of a crowd of witnesses.
“Callan,” Lily calls, and I hear her behind me. “Callan.” Her tone is filled with shock and desperation, but I keep walking.
Dylan.
When I reach the valet, I bark, “Get my car.”
Lily grabs my hand, but I rip it free from her hold. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
“I didn’t –”
“There is nothing you can say I want to hear right now,” I snap at her.