Chapter Twenty-Eight

Savannah

One month later

EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED so fast over the last month. Zach had a completely new house built on the opposite side of Vault and Annabell's house. The girls and him went out and completely furnished it without letting me help or go on a single shopping trip. They wanted to have everything taken care of for me without me lifting a finger and I let them do this. Especially the girls because they were so excited to help Zach and get the house ready for us to move into. We were all part of the house build from the design to picking out the color of paint and carpeting in the bedrooms. The girls designed their bedrooms to fit them and what they'd like in a room of their own. Zach wouldn't let me see the design of our bathroom but assured me I'd fall in love with it the second I see it. He wasn't wrong. Zach gave me my dream kitchen and bathroom and I made sure to thank him properly.

Instead of having a two-story home like the last time, Zach and I chose to go with a single story house. The girls have their own wing as they call it. All three of them have their bedrooms in the same hallway as a library and study area that's been set up for them. They got used to working together on schoolwork and have continued that since going back to school. Even Ava joins them when she's not at practice of some kind. Miracle is getting back into the swing of things with her friends at school and the study group that meets at the library, and Chloe is getting ready to start swimming with the team again. All three of them are living their best lives and I'm thrilled I get to watch them learn and grow every damn day.

Anyway, the rest of the house is an open floor plan with the master bedroom on the opposite side of the house from the girls. We've got a nursery just before our bedroom, the laundry room is at the entrance of the hall and I've got an office across from the laundry room. Zach has an office in the basement that's finished along with his man cave. There's also a storage room in the basement for any seasonal decorations we buy and anything else we need to put in there. The living room is large and has one of the biggest couches I've ever seen before. It's got more than enough room for all of us to sit comfortably on when we have a movie night. Zach has his recliner and he made sure we have a huge TV mounted to the wall. I love our new home and was happy with everything my sisters and Zach chose to fill our space with.

They even surprised me with a complete nursery. Right now, the walls have been painted in a soft yellow so it's gender neutral. Zach hung up pictures of our family on the walls and put together all of the furniture filling the twins' space. There are two cribs, changing tables, and rocking chairs. Zach wants to be there for every part of the twins' lives and I'm not about to stop him. If that means we buy two of everything, I'm okay with it. We both have more than enough money to do so. There's also pictures of teddy bears and the first pictures from the ultrasound that was taken in the hospital. The four of them thought of everything and I fell in love with the nursery from the second I walked through the door. My husband and sisters get me completely and made this room a safe haven for our twins.

The day after the FBI came and took Conrad, his father, and the man who was able to bypass the security system and cameras, everyone who doesn't live here in Pine View went back home. They waited long enough for Vault to bring Annabell and Cyrus home before they all packed up and left us alone in the clubhouse to celebrate Cyrus and Annabell being home. We all shed some tears and the boys were talking nonstop about moving back as soon as they become full patch members. They're so excited and can't wait to get through Prospecting so they can move here and start their lives. It's refreshing to see them so happy and excited when we haven't had much to celebrate over the last few months.

I've been seeing Dr. Craven and she's amazing. I didn't have to get put on bed rest and everything with the twins is going great so far. I've started to get a little morning sickness but it's not too horrible. We've learned to keep saltines and ginger ale by the bed for when I wake up and it helps. Certain smells still turn my stomach, but that's about the extent of my morning sickness. Annabell hates me because hers was so bad. I just laugh it off. In two more months we'll be able to find out what we're having. Zach and I are honestly on the fence about knowing now or waiting. We want to do a gender reveal at some point, but I kind of also want to know the day we go in. So, we're going to compromise. Annabell will be going with us to the appointment and she'll get the information sealed in an envelope. Within a week or two, she'll have a gender reveal party for us and we'll find out when everyone else does.

Dr. Copeland has seen me twice more since I was released from the hospital. My feet healed with almost no scarring at all. I can walk again and don't have to worry about them getting infected because the wounds have all closed and healed. My ribs are almost completely healed as well. Every now and then I get a twinge of pain if I move a certain way too fast, but other than that I can move around just fine and breathe properly again. Other than a small scar on my face, I have no lingering scars from what Conrad did to me. Yeah, I still have nightmares every now and then, but I'm working with a counselor and I hope those will stop after the trial that's coming up.

I've been spending my time relaxing and working on the books for the club. In the last month I'm almost completely caught up with inputting everything into the new programs that were installed on my computer. Once I get that taken care of, I'll be able to do this once a week and have the rest of the time to worry about my family and helping out the club where I'm needed. It will be a relief to be out of this room and not feel horrible because this work should've been completed a while ago. Vault and Zach keep assuring me that they're not mad or upset about me not being done yet, but I still feel as if I'm letting them down. I'm letting myself down. I'll get it done soon and everything will go the way it should.

This week has been horrible for me. I have to testify against Conrad and the trial starts this week. Tomorrow is my day on the stand and I'm nervous as hell to see the fucker in the courtroom. Yes, I know he won't be able to get close to me, but things happen in the blink of an eye. I know he's pissed as fuck about me being married to Valor and he now knows I'm pregnant. Conrad isn't going to be happy and will want to get some kind of revenge on me. It won't happen, but that doesn't mean I don't dream about him getting his hands on a gun or something and taking me out in the middle of the courtroom. Zach knows everything and he stays up with me when I have nightmares and can't get back to sleep. He's found inventive ways to help exhaust me and I appreciate every attempt he makes at helping me. My husband has definitely learned my body over the last month and I've learned his in return.

The girls will not be going to the courthouse with us. They're not needed to testify since they weren't taken by Conrad and we don't want them around if they don't have to be there. Court will be with them at school because we do still have a security detail on them and the school doesn't mind after everything our family has been through. Zach, Vault, and Annabell will be in the courtroom with me while Shy, Slim, Kinsliegh, and Rayven come down to sit with Cyrus and Slim comes to the courthouse with us. He wasn't about to let me testify without him being there and he'll never know what it means to me or the girls. Every single day the men and women of this club show me they love our family and expect nothing in return. I've never had such a large family or dreamed we'd be lucky enough to have people like them in our lives. I will never take them for granted or forget a single thing they've done to help my sisters and me out along the way.

For now, I'm just trying to get through each day and not focus on the day I have to go to court and see Conrad and his father. So far, from what Zach and Vault have explained to us all, the trial isn't looking good for them and they've lost their shit so many times the judge is ready to throw them in contempt of court. I can't wait to take the stand and see how they react because I know Conrad will at the very least. He's going to make an ass of himself in front of everyone and I can't wait to watch it all play out. I think it's honestly the only reason I'm not losing my shit more than I have been. Plus, no one's leaving me alone and it truly does make a difference. Even Court spends every minute he can with us and keeps us all entertained and laughing. I really hope he chooses to stay here and not go back with the rest of the Nomads. Zach will be lost without his best friend and I think Court will be just as lost.

Waking up this morning, I take a few minutes to just lay in bed and not move a muscle. Today is the day I've been both waiting for and dreading all at the same time. I have to get up and get ready to head to the courthouse to testify against Conrad. I'm alone in the bed and know Zach got up with the girls and let me sleep because I had a hard time sleeping last night. It not only took me forever to fall asleep, but then I woke up several times from nightmares. I feel worse this morning than I did before going to bed with my husband last night. Now, Zach's already up after not getting hardly any sleep and I feel horrible because he should still be sleeping.

Sitting up, I grab the bottle of ginger ale next to me and take a small sip before opening up the pack of saltines. I nibble on a few crackers and slowly sip my soda before even thinking about getting out of bed. When I feel ready, I make my way to the bathroom to take care of my morning routine and shower so I can get ready for the day. I've gotten all of my medical records from the hospital when I was taken there and they were handed over to the state to use as evidence against Conrad. Including my pregnancy despite there being nothing wrong with our twins. I've met with the lawyers to go over some sample questions and for them to explain to me what would happen during my testimony. Including that Conrad's lawyers would try to make the jury question everything I say and twist my words to get me flustered so Conrad can get out of the charges against him. I'm not going to let them get to me that way though. Conrad, his father, and everyone else deserve to rot in prison for the heinous acts they've committed against others and will continue to do so if they're left free.

Coming out of the bathroom, I find Zach sitting on the edge of the bed with a tray of food next to him. He offers me a smile and holds out his arms. I walk straight to him and let him hold me tight. Wrapping my arms around him, we hold one another tight and don't say a word. Nothing needs to be said right now because we both know the outcome of my testimony will either help put the fuckers in prison or they'll find some way to walk away because of their connections. Though, I guess they're supposedly all arrested and can no longer help the Riley family at all. We can only hope that's what happens and they finally serve time for the crimes they've committed over so many years.

"Are you ready for this, Love?" Zach finally asks me when I pull away and sit down next to him on the bed so I can eat the amazing breakfast he made for me.

"I'm as ready as I can be. I mean, there's no way I'll ever be able to see him and not be upset or afraid. But, I can do this if it means they're all put away and can no longer hurt anyone ever again, then I'm gonna do it. This is bigger than just the girls and me, Zach. If I can help save even one person, then I'll face my fears and say my truth for anyone to hear. No, I don't want to share my story, but again, I'll do it because I know so many others have had it so much worse than what happened to me," I answer him as honestly as I can because it's the truth and he deserves nothing less than the truth from me.

Zach sits with me as I eat my breakfast before getting dressed. I brush out my hair and put it up the best I can so I look professional. Today I'm wearing a pair of black dress pants that cover the small bump I'm starting to show where our twins rest comfortably. I've paired it with a light purple button-down shirt. Instead of wearing a pair of heels as I normally would, today I've got on a pair of ballet flats so I'm comfortable and don't trip and get hurt. Zach is dressed in a pair of new jeans with a black button-down shirt covering his torso. He's rolled the sleeves up to his elbows, showing off his forearms and the tattoos covering his skin. I don't know what it is about him wearing his shirt that way, but it's sexy as fuck if you ask me.

Together, we walk into the living room of our house where Slim, Vault, Playboy, and Shy are waiting for us. I thought Shy was going to stay here with Annabell, but she looks prepared to go to the courthouse with us. This doesn't make any sense.

"What are you doing here, Playboy? I thought Slim and Shy were the only ones coming down," I ask him, not sure what's going on right now.

"I'm not about to let you go through this shit without me bein' here, Savannah. Everyone wishes they could come back, but the kids are just gettin' back into a routine with school. Killer and Gwen send their love and want you to know they'll be here in a few hours if you need them here. Sam is gonna sit with Annabell while we're gone. She wants to spend time with her sister-in-law and Cyrus. Fox and Killer took the boys for us," Playboy answers me, walking over and pulling me in for a hug. "You've got this, Vanna. We're all so fuckin' proud of you and will have your back no matter what you need."

"Thank you. This means so much to me," I tell him so only he can hear me as he lets me go and Zach wraps his arm around my shoulders.

We all leave the house and make our way out to the trucks sitting in front of the house. Zach and I ride with Vault and Chrome while Slim, Shy, and Playboy ride together. We're all quiet on the way through Pine View as we head to the courthouse. Zach doesn't let go of my hand in the backseat and Vault keeps looking at me through the rearview mirror. I'm not going to break, but knowing both guys are concerned about me makes my heart fill with joy and love. I'm surrounded by love and I wouldn't trade this life for anything in the world.

"Mrs. Stone, can you please tell the court what happened the last time you allegedly saw Mr. Conrad Riley?" Conrad's lawyer asks me as he glares at me from his seat between Conrad and his father.

"I was at home on the Phantom Bastard compound, sleeping on the couch. Something woke me up and at first I was confused because I didn't see anyone in the house, but knew I was no longer alone. My sisters were still at the clubhouse doing their schoolwork and not at the house with me. Zach, my husband, was also not at the house with me. I needed some time to myself after learning that the man who bought my youngest sister, Miracle, lived in Pine View and was planning on going to her school to get her because Conrad and his father still hadn't delivered her to him," I start, my entire body shaking as I relive that day and all the emotions that came with it. "It didn't take more than a few minutes for Conrad to show himself to me. He threatened me, taunted me because I was alone and no one would hear me scream for help, and said so many other things to me. I can't remember everything he said.

"My concern was getting to the kitchen so I could find a weapon of some kind. I already knew from dealing with Conrad previously that he wasn't going to stop until he put his hands on me. I tried to get away from him and said some things that I knew would make him upset because Conrad gets sloppy when he's mad. It didn't take me long to learn that about him. I found a cast iron skillet and knife on the counter and grabbed both of them. Every single move I made, I made with the thought of keeping as much stuff between the two of us. I trashed my home so someone would know I'd been taken because there wasn't a doubt in my mind that's what was going to happen to me."

"How did my client supposedly subdue you long enough to get his hands on you?" the lawyer questions me, disbelief filling his face as he glares at me while Conrad sits back and smirks as if he's not on trial right now.

"Conrad grabbed me by my hair once again and ended up tossing me to the floor. I hit my head a few times before he kicked me in the side. After he leaned down to tell me he was going to break me, Conrad punched me in the temple and it knocked me out. That's the last thing I remember before waking up in a house I wasn't familiar with. I looked around before he came back in the room. When Conrad was in the room with me, I pretended I was still knocked out. A few minutes after he left me alone again, I found a hidden door and made my escape. I walked through a tunnel that led me to the opposite side of the empty field between the house and trees. From there I walked through the trees until it got dark out and flagged someone down. I don't know who rescued me or anything because I passed out once again before I could see or hear anything. The next time I woke up, I was in the hospital and found out my injuries and that I'm pregnant with twins," I answer him, giving the details only I know that match the hospital records and what I told Fox' FBI contact when I did an interview with him.

"I see. And you were in fear for your life when Mr. Riley had you in his possession? Because it says in your statement that you were not tied to the bed or restricted in any way," his lawyer questions me.

"Yes, I was. Conrad had come into my home in Benton Falls when I was there alone and beat me so bad. All because he had to work to get me to go out with him and then I left our date early. Then I knew it would be even worse when he got his hands on me again. When I woke up in the room, I was naked and know when I was removed from my home I was fully clothed. Conrad removed my clothing and until the doctor told me no sexual assault happened, I wasn't sure if he had done anything to me."

"Isn't it true that you not only teased my client, but that the twins you carry now are his?" his lawyer questions, bile filling my mouth that I struggle to hold back with the thought of me ever having sex with the fucking idiot sitting across the room from me.

"No. None of that is true. I went out on one date with Conrad when I lived in Benton Falls. There was a week of time between when I accepted the date I didn't really want and when we were actually going out. During those days, he tried multiple times to get me to send him sexual text messages and I refused. Conrad would become angry when I didn't comply with his wishes. Still, I went out on the date with him. We went to a local bar. I didn't last more than a few minutes before I realized what a horrible mistake I had made and put some money on the table before leaving him alone. While at the bar, Conrad was very upset because I refused to drink alcohol. My mother was an addict as he knows and I refuse to be anything like her. I've never had a drop of alcohol in my life and don't take any medicine I can't get over the counter for any pain I'm in with the exception of the hospital after I escaped Conrad. They didn't know my wishes since I wasn't conscious to answer them and stopped immediately when I woke up. There's a note in my medical records," I state, anger filling my voice at the insinuation that I would ever have anything to do with Conrad when I can't stand to be in the same room as him.

"So, you're claiming you've never had sexual relations with Mr. Riley?"

"No. I've never even kissed Conrad," I state as Conrad leans over and says something to his lawyer before smirking at me once more.

"That's all I have for now. I believe with Mrs. Stone's testimony that we've created enough of a reasonable doubt to stop this trial right now," Conrad's lawyer says, standing up and facing the judge instead of me or anyone else.

"I don't agree at all with that statement. This trial will go on and if you're done questioning Mrs. Stone, I will turn it over to the state," the judge says, anger filling his voice at the obvious attempt to push him into making a decision he doesn't agree with. "If either one of you try to pull this stunt again, I will hold you both in contempt of court and you will be removed from my courtroom. This isn't some social gathering. Your clients are on trial for heinous crimes and this is testimony from one of their many victims. I'm sorry you're being questioned this way, Mrs. Stone. We'll start with the state's questions now."

I answer the state's questions without lying. They show my records from the hospital along with the date I'm due with my twins from Dr. Craven. The state uses signed depositions from Killer and Stryker about the events that took place in the bar that night with Conrad since they were there. With every question and answer, Conrad becomes more and more pissed off. He knows he's not getting out of this and I can't wait to hear the verdict once and for all. By the time I'm done with my testimony, I'm exhausted and ready for a nap. I leave the stand and don't bother looking at Conrad or his father. My eyes lock on Zach and he's all I see.

"You stupid cunt! I will get out of jail and then I'm coming for you. I will kill you, Savannah! You're mine and I will not let you go. You're so fucking stupid for testifying against me!" Conrad shouts out, standing from his seat as the judge starts banging his gavel next to him and trying to bring order back to his courtroom.

"Mr. Riley!," the judge yells, trying to get Conrad's attention to no avail.

Zach gets to me and pulls me in his arms. I'm soon surrounded by men of the club as they remove me from the courtroom followed by a few police officers to make sure no one gets close to me. I'm taken directly out to Vault's truck and loaded inside before the cops start to leave us on our own. I bury my head in Zach's chest and let the tears fall while Vault drives us back to the clubhouse. I want to go home, lock myself away, and not see anyone until I know that Conrad isn't getting out. I'm so sick of his shit and this was the last straw when it comes to him.