Chapter 42

CHAPTER

FORTY-TWO

ALEXANDER

Jules and Ashleigh are doing their best to distract me, but their efforts are worthless. I can’t wait here while she’s sitting in an uncomfortable courtroom facing down the man who assaulted her.

“I’m going for a drive.” I grab my keys and head to the front door.

“I’ll come with you,” Ashleigh offers.

“No,” I quickly say. I look at her, see the concern in her eyes, and soften my tone. “No thanks, Ash. I need to be alone. Just getting some fresh air.”

“Don’t do it, Xander,” Jules warns. “Do not go to the courtroom.”

I turn back to both of them, prepared to snap at his rebuke. They’re worried about me and are trying to protect us. My shoulders drop in an acceptance of defeat.

“I won’t, I promise. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. I just need a few minutes.” I turn and leave. “I’ll be back.”

Tripp

Message delivered. We’re all here.

We’re all here. And while I’m more than grateful they are supporting her, I’m not there, and it’s killing me. I know I can't go into the courtroom, but I have to be near her. I drive to the courthouse and park outside like a total stalker. I chuckle at the thought. She’s accused me of stalking before, but when it comes to her, I do crazy things. I’d do anything for her, even go without contact, which goes against my very nature. So here I am, sitting in my car, phone in hand, waiting for the next text.

Jack’s texting at regular intervals with courtroom updates. My chest hurts and my eye twitches. I’m physically pained not to being there for her, but Jack has assured me it’s the right move. I told him I’d follow his orders, and I trust him. It’s just so damn hard and goes against every instinct I have, but I’ll do what’s best for her.

Apparently, they’re taking a break before closing arguments, so my texts are quiet for now. My phone vibrates again.

CHANCE

How r u doing?

Not good. He needs to pay for what he’s done to her.

He will. Let Jack handle it.

I am.

I’m so focused on my phone, I almost miss her. Dani is rushing down the sidewalk, Courtney by her side, trying to keep up. She’s not used to heels that high and her feet are going to hurt from them. Her curls are gone, her hair straight, flat, and boring. I almost didn’t recognize her. She’s wearing all black and looks hot as hell, but she’s not my happy-go-lucky girl. She’s too dark, all her sunshine erased from her pre sence, and it hurts me to see her like this. This is not my Dani. I hate Pauly Jackson for what he’s done to her. I hate myself for what I’ve done to her because I’m not innocent here, either.

I reach for the door and catch myself. I can’t. Fuck!

Where are they going? It isn’t over, is it? Why isn’t Jack keeping me posted?

I try to call Jack, and it goes directly to voicemail.

Why the fuck is Dani outside? And where is her security?

JACK

She’s with Courtney, so she’s okay. She said she didn’t want to stay. She’s holding it together, but the accusations were brutal. Probably messed with her head. Leave her be.

I fucking hate this.

I know.

Court is back in session. Here we go with closing arguments.

I want to wrap her in my arms and apologize a million times. I hate that she’s going through this and hate it even more because I can’t be there for her.

We determined the PI was still following me, and I can’t risk being there with her. As a precaution, we hired someone to watch her from a close distance, but so far, she’s been fine. She’d lose her mind if she knew about that. It’s just as much for my peace of mind as it is for her safety. She’s too precious to risk anything happening to her. Tyler needs her. Her students need her. I need her.

I know she’d think I’m treating her like a victim. I’m not. She’s so strong and independent. Unfortunately, there are horrible people in the world. Pauly Jackson, for one.

JACK

It’s with the jury now. I won’t lie. They painted a questionable picture of her. I’m not sure how it’s going to land.

FUCK! That doesn’t bode well for the civil suit against Dani. And what Jack isn’t saying is Dani’s in worse shape than he wants to admit. To make matters worse, I’m sure the media will take this and smear her even more. They like to sensationalize stories, and this one has the potential to be messy.

I’ll have my work cut out to convince her I’m worth all this. For a moment, I wonder if I am.

My desire to be near her is gone once she left the courthouse, so I go home and wait with Jules and Ash. Trevor, Tripp, Cole and Matt let themselves into my penthouse two hours later. It’s over.

“Day drinking?” Tripp asks as he looks at us.

“Seems appropriate,” I mumble.

Cole shrugs and grabs a few beers from the kitchen and hugs Ashleigh, holding her a little tighter. I give him an approving look. I appreciate he’s not taking her love for granted.

Tripp pours himself a drink from my bar, and they all settle in. Everyone's keeping quiet, lost in their own thoughts or too afraid to ask me about mine. I’m unsure of which.

It took the jury forty-two minutes to return with a guilty verdict. Thank god the jury still found it wrong for a man to hit a woman. Maybe there’s hope for us yet.

They sentenced Pauly Jackson to sixty days in jail or six hundred hours of community service. Being allowed to pick up trash is too good for that son of a bitch. The judge also ordered him to stay away from Dani. He’d better do that anyway if he values his life.

“She looked beautiful,” Tripp says.

“Stunning,” Trevor adds.

“She was a fucking rock star,” Cole says. He loosens his tie and tosses i t on his jacket. I smile at the sunshine pin on his lapel.

“She saw them,” Trevor says, catching my gaze. “That was a great touch.” They all nod. The subtle message was Darcy’s idea. She’s quickly become one of my favorite people.

“I wonder if she read my note,” I say, more to myself than anyone. I’ll be there, regardless.

“I don’t know. She put it in her purse,” Tripp says.

They all sit with me in silence.

“I don’t know what to do next,” I admit.

“You wait,” Trevor says.

“You wait until Jack gives the all clear, and then we reconvene Team True Love,” Jules adds.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Cole mumbles.

My thoughts exactly.