Chapter 14

Chapter

Fourteen

A police car escorted Aiden's Escalade through the mayhem outside the courthouse. Shay fidgeted with her hands and stared. None of them knew the swimmer Shay Cannon was the key witness, but they would.

A large hand rested on top of hers. She jolted but settled quickly at the warm pressure of Paul's palm and fingers. "We'll be right by your side," he said softly.

"Thank you." She pushed the future worries away. Paul was here for her, and she knew how tough and brave he was. Nobody would hurt her with him by her side. She turned her hand over and their palms aligned. A smile flickered across Paul's handsome face as he threaded their fingers together. She returned the smile and kept clinging to Paul's hand as they sat in the backseat staring at reporters and protestors and bystanders.

"What are they protesting?" she asked.

"They don't want Big T to get off on a technicality again," Aiden explained, pulling into a parking spot in the almost full lot.

"No cap," she muttered.

Aiden raised a brow.

"It means no lie," Paul said, winking at her.

She automatically grinned at him. Paul got her and he liked her teenage lingo. He lit her up with one touch and his magnetism and heroism was irresistible. Why did the nightmare of her brother's past tragedy have to be like a rock formation between them?

Her smile slid away as Paul released her hand. Aiden, Autumn, and Paul all climbed out of the SUV. Aiden got her door and Paul hurried around. He slid his arm around her waist as if they were together.

She wasn't about to complain. She needed his strength and his confidence. She leaned into him, and his grip tightened.

Autumn and Aiden led the way. Aiden shook reporters' hands and answered the questions fired at him, acting like he was ‘running for mayor' as her dad would say.

Aiden gave Paul a head nod and Paul and Autumn walked her through the front door while Aiden stayed behind to glaze the media.

"Paul," she whispered, "I need to use the restroom." The nerves weren't helping her bladder.

"Of course."

He and Autumn escorted her down the wide, beautiful courthouse hallway to a short side hall that led to the bathrooms. She waited with Paul's arm supporting her while Autumn did a sweep of the women's bathroom. Paul's touch distracted her from her fears, giving her the chance to focus on their compelling connection instead. Autumn came back out and gestured her in.

She hated walking away from Paul, but she hurried in and used the bathroom. As she washed her hands, nerves twisted her stomach.

"You're going to do great," Autumn told her. "You just tell them the truth. We'll meet with the prosecutor and she'll go through the questions with you and give you some tips for how to deal with the defendant's questions. Big T's lawyer will try to trip you up, but you're too smart for the likes of that loser."

"Thanks." The lawyer had sent her questions to go through when she was in Arizona. Turner had practiced them with her. Meacham and Turner. No one had seen either of them for five days. What a nightmare.

She looked at herself in the mirror. The suit and skirt fit nicely, and her hair and makeup were simple and understated. She'd walked out in front of fans, TV cameras, critics, and opponents in a swimsuit. She'd stood on blocks, alone, faced down every challenge, and achieved great things. She was ready to face this and put it behind her. Justice needed to be served for that lady Big T had murdered, and for Meacham, Turner, and so many others.

Saying a prayer for strength and throwing her shoulders back, she headed for the bathroom door, Autumn right behind her. As she exited, Paul straightened away from the wall and gave her a warm smile that shot tingles through her. He was a gift from heaven to strengthen, protect, and support her. She'd face Big T and his lawyer; then she hoped she and Paul would figure things out between them and face her brother.

Would Darian hate her like he hated Paul? Could she choose Paul and rip apart her family? Her stomach clenched. It was a lot. A lot of stress. A lot of unknowns. A lot of pain. She said a silent prayer for help and the confidence she'd felt a moment ago.

A man came out of the men's bathroom and darted at her. "Shay!"

"Stay back," Paul and Autumn commanded at the same time.

"No, it's okay," Shay insisted. "It's Agent Turner."

"Shay, you're all right." He was almost to her, his right hand a bulge in his suit coat, his left extended to hug her.

Paul did not stay back. Showing much more speed and agility on land than he had in the water, he tackled Turner. Shay cried out. The sound of a gun reverberated through the stark halls. A bullet whizzed by and slammed into the bathroom door, splintering the wood and lodging there.

Autumn yanked Shay behind her. Paul rose up and put all of his weight behind a punch that landed true on Turner's face and then flipped him onto his stomach, wrenching his hand out of his suitcoat and pulling his arm so high it creaked. The dull black metal gun clenched in Turner's palm made Shay's stomach pitch a fit.

"No shot!" she cried out. "Turner! You … you betrayed me?"

"Please," he begged, his face squished into the shiny marble floor. "They have my wife and daughter. Please. They'll kill them if I don't kill Shay."

"Drop the gun," Paul growled, "or your arm breaks."

Turner whimpered and released the gun. It clattered on the stone floor.

"Please. I don't care if you break my arm, kill me, throw me in prison. But you have to help my wife and baby. He'll kill them. Please!" His voice and the eye Shay could see were desperate.

"You betrayed Shay and almost killed her twice," Paul ground out. "Don't ask any favors of me."

Shay's heart leapt. She and Paul had garbage between them, but he would do anything for her. She was safe with him around. He'd just heroically rescued her. Again.

"Please," Turner begged. "My family is innocent. Big T's men kidnapped them to get to Shay through me. I only turned to protect them."

"We have to help him," Shay begged, coming around Autumn's side and staring at Paul. "We can't let these monsters kill his wife and daughter."

Aiden and a pair of police officers rushed into the small hallway. The one with the fancier patches on the uniform stayed by Aiden's side while the other officer hurried to help Paul with Turner.

"What's going on?" Aiden demanded.

"Aiden, meet Agent Turner," Paul explained, straightening away from the man as the police officer cuffed him then yanked him to his feet. "He betrayed and almost murdered Shay twice now."

"Please. I had to. They kidnapped my wife, Jana, and my daughter, Alaina, my baby girl. Now they have Meacham too. They'll kill them all if they don't think I killed Shay." He stared at Shay. "Shay, I'm so terribly sorry, but it's my family. Please."

The anguish in his blue eyes ripped at her.

"Isn't there anything we can do to help them?" Shay begged.

Paul and Aiden exchanged a glance.

"Maybe," Paul admitted, looking at her. He was such a hero. He'd rescued her yet again and she could see he was furious at Turner for almost killing her, yet he was still willing to listen to her. He wouldn't turn his back and let an innocent woman and child die. She thought she read in his eyes that he was trying to forgive both Turner and himself.

Turner sobbed, "Please. I'll do anything, tell you anything. Kill me, but help them."

Paul looked to Aiden. "If we rescue his wife and daughter, he and Agent Meacham could testify against Big T. We might have another inroad to finding Benjamin Oliver."

"Sergeant Miller." Aiden turned to the officer at his side. "Can you speak to the judge? Briefly explain the situation and ask if we can start the trial this afternoon. We need a few hours, but we don't want to delay months more and give Big T time to attempt another murder."

"What are you thinking?" the officer asked.

"If Turner can give us the right information, my people can save his wife, daughter, and Agent Meacham."

Sergeant Miller looked to be debating in his head, but then he shrugged. "You're the expert. It's worth a try."

"Thank you," Turner sobbed again. "Thank you."

"You can thank us when your wife and daughter are safe," Paul told him. He met Shay's gaze. He seemed conflicted, and she completely understood. She hoped her gaze showed how grateful she was he was willing to step up and help find and rescue Turner's family.