I shoot him another withering glance at that lie, but he acts like he doesn’t notice. Santi, however, definitely does, and the disappointment on his face is clear.
“Are you causing problems?”
“No.” I cross my arms and stand. “I don’t even know what the hell is going on. I thought we were just going to a Society event, and then Judge comes home all out of sorts—”
“You didn’t tell her?” Santi arches a brow at Judge.
“No.” Judge shifts, his discomfort obvious.
“Well, can somebody kindly tell me what the hell is going on?” I demand.
Santi sighs, scrubs a hand over his face, and I don’t like the regret I see in his eyes when they fall back upon me. “You’re being called before The Tribunal, Mercedes.”
I don’t know if it’s the floor or my stomach that drops out as his words register. “What?”
“I thought we handled everything,” he says quietly. “But it appears there’s some evidence we didn’t know about. It’s been brought forward, and we have to go deal with this.”
“Oh, my God.” I nearly choke on the words, shaking my head as nausea unfurls in my gut.
“It’s going to be okay,” Judge tells me through clenched teeth, but even I can hear he doesn’t know that for certain.
“What evidence?” I whisper. “What do they know?”
“You really should have told her.” Santi frowns. “We don’t have much time. We’ll explain in the car. Is that what you’re wearing?”
His eyes move over my flared baby doll dress, and I force a stiff nod. It’s not my usual style at all, but it hides my curves, and he seems glad for it.
“That’s good,” Santi says approvingly. “You look… innocent.”
His tone implies I’m far from it, but I don’t have the energy to respond. I can barely think as they guide me out to the waiting car and help me inside. So many thoughts swirl around my mind that my head feels like it’s going to explode.
I can’t believe Judge didn’t tell me about this. And on that note, why the hell didn’t Santi? A deranged laugh almost bursts from my lips as I even consider it. Of course, they didn’t tell me. Because this is how Society men are. They handle everything as they see fit. Everyone else be damned. If I actually expected anything else, I’m delusional.
I press my fingers to my temples and try to breathe as Santi explains how there’s surveillance footage of me. How they know I was at the courtesan’s apartment, and her brother has brought it forward to The Tribunal. He doesn’t come out and say how bad this is, but he doesn’t have to. I know. This isn’t a matter of someone just disappearing. I’m linked directly to it, and that’s a problem for The Society. Outside attention on these matters does not bode well for members. Everyone knows that. The consequences for something like this will be far worse than a slap on the wrist. They could toss me in a Tribunal prison cell. Or worse yet, they could actually demand physical punishment.
I’m starting to hyperventilate when I feel Judge’s hand on my back, but it doesn’t help. Nothing is going to make this better.
“Pull over!” I screech, slapping a hand against my mouth as I start to gag.
Past the blood pulsing through my ears, drowning out the noise, I vaguely hear some muttered curses. The car comes to a halt, and Judge doesn’t even have time to help me out before I’m crawling halfway over his lap and puking out the door.
“Oh, God,” I choke out, another heave coming.
“It’s okay.” His hands hold me in place across his lap, my head hanging out over the ground as I puke again.
“Jesus,” Santi mutters. “Mercedes, are you okay?”
I can’t answer him because I’m too busy puking, but after a few minutes, it seems there’s nothing left in my stomach. I’m weak and humiliated when Judge pulls me back into the middle seat, using a handkerchief to wipe my mouth.
“We need to postpone,” he growls. “They’ll have to accept that.”
“They won’t.” Santi’s tone makes me think this has already been postponed for some time.
They start to argue, so I intervene. “It’s just the initial meeting, right?” I croak. “It will be okay. It’s not the trial. Let’s just get this part over with.”
I can feel their gazes on me, but I don’t dare look at them. I don’t want them to see the fear in my eyes.
“It’s just the initial meeting,” Santi assures me. “You’ll need to answer some questions today. That’s it.”
“Okay.” I stare ahead at Raul. “Then let’s go.”