“This can’t be right,” Mason’s lawyer sputters.
“Oh, it’s right, Mr. Burke. Ms. Cooke said she brought nothing into the marriage and is fine with leaving it that way. Mr. Miller says he wants the marriage to last one more year, and they enter counseling together. That’s not happening. In fact, I am awarding Ms. Cooke the total sum of five hundred thousand dollars. And full ownership of the movie theatre that Mr. Miller built and owned in Hamilton, Montana, will revert to the town of Hamilton itself. Debt-free.” Shocked, I can’t believe what’s being said.
“Judge, this isn’t fair.”
“Neither is the traumatic way Ms. Cooke lost three children, but here we are. The restraining order will remain in effect for the term of three more years, where it will then be reevaluated or dismissed at Ms. Cooke’s discretion. Mr. Miller, stay away from your ex-wife, or I will imprison you and throw away the key. Court is adjourned.” With a bang of his gavel, the older man stands and walks out like he didn’t just turn my life upside down and back around again.
Shoving her papers in the briefcase at her feet, Andrea grabs my hand as the bailiff arrives to escort us out of the room before Mason and his lawyer can get up to leave. Affording us the option to escape before either of them tries to detain us.
Hale
Allowing Laken to walk out of my house the morning after we finally made love had been the biggest mistake of my life. But I had to let her go. Because she was right, her being married never crossed my mind other than not understanding how someone hadn’t snapped her up already. Hadn’t claimed her as their own. Now, I can see that the man who did is a piece of shit who deserves to spend his life behind bars.
After spending half of yesterday convincing Ophelia to tell me where Laken went and how I could reach her, she finally caved, and I caught a red-eye to Seattle. The other fucking side of the country.
A call to Lauren this morning, and she told me where and when I could see Laken. After hearing what she went through at the hands of that monster, I understand her so much better. I hate all that she’s suffered through, especially the loss of her babies, but now I’m determined to convince her to let me be part of her life once this is all over. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned since she walked out my front door, it’s that I can’t live without her, and I don’t fucking want to.
Listening to the hell that bastard put her through nearly had me unglued. Lauren was right to drag me out of the room. There was no guarantee I wouldn’t have snapped his neck right there. So many things about Laken make a sick sort of sense now. Especially her reaction to Jesse. She wasn’t mad or upset, she was more sorrowful, and I can see that now. She should have a child of her own. Instead, that monster kept taking them from her.
“You need to focus, Lieutenant.” How Lauren can remain so calm is beyond me.
“You’ve been her protector, haven’t you? You’re not her cousin at all.” Most men would be pissed about the amount of lies Laken fed them, but I’m relieved. I believed every single one she told me, which means she had a good back story in place. She was protected by the people surrounding her.
“Yes. My sole purpose for the last year has been to ensure he hasn’t gotten his hands on her. There were a couple of close calls in the beginning but not since we arrived in Florida.”Christ, sitting back on the bench, I scrub a hand down my face. She must have been so fucking scared. So alone.
Doors open from the far end of the hallway, and I see the lawyer ushering Laken out and around the corner. Catching her eye, I notice her frown, and I know she’s worried about what I heard and how that will affect my feelings for her or why I came. As I’m about to stand and follow after them, Lauren places a hand on my arm to hold me in place.
“Not yet. We stay put until Andrea texts me. They’re in a secured room.” I’ve never been particularly good at waiting for what I want, especially when it’s right around the corner. “Where are you staying?” Her question distracts me from glancing at the other door to see who exits the courtroom.
“The Sheridan.” I nod to across the street. I wanted to be as close to Laken as possible when I finally got here.
“I’ll arrange for you to see her as soon as she’s done here. I know she wants to talk to you, Hale. Just have some patience.” Her smile falters as she stands, and the cool façade she ordinarily displays returns.
Following her lead, I stand, and when I turn, I see the husband speaking to his lawyer. Red tinges his face with his apparent anger, and in his eyes is a look I see all too often. Motivated rage. “He’s going to come after her,” I whisper to Lauren, who is already on her phone with someone. “I’ll kill him before he touches her.”
“Shouldn’t make those kinds of threats in a courthouse, Lieutenant.” Her smirk is unmistakable.
“Why isn’t he going to jail?” I tried to glean as much as I could from Ophelia before coming here, but she had no idea about what was happening for the hearing today.
“Laken wasn’t interested in pursuing charges. Not because she doesn’t want him to burn in hell but because she knew she would be cross-examined extensively and viciously. She knew her limits. We had to respect that. Everything is a public record, and her accusations will follow him around for the rest of his life.” Looking at the woman, I notice a smug smile on her face.
“What is that? What’s that look?” She did something.
“I just heard there were pictures and letters leaked to the press. It’s a real shame he’s such a prominent figure in the city.” I’m slightly surprised. I didn’t think she’d do anything so heavy-handed.
“She’s a fucking whore, you know. Greedy to get some sucker between her legs.” My head pivots at Miller’s taunt.
“Don’t let him get to you,” Lauren cautions me.
“She couldn’t wait to get in my bed. Fucking gold-digging whore. She deserved everything she got from me. Making her cry gave me a high like I’d never felt before. You should try it sometime.” I feel Lauren’s tight grip on my arm, attempting to hold me in place as I struggle between needing to defend Laken and kicking this guy’s ass without getting arrested. I won’t ever be the reason she cries.
Miller’s lawyer tries pulling him away but is unsuccessful. Storming closer, he remains just out of touch, but I’m coiled and ready to strike if need be. “She’ll ruin your life,” he hisses, leaning forward like we’re sharing secrets. Close enough for me to pop in the face with a fist.
“Hale, don’t.” Lauren’s nails dig into my skin.
“You should leave,” I seethe, doing my best to shake off the desire to break his nose right here.
Standing straight, Miller pulls on the lapels of his suit coat while snubbing his nose up at me and turning away. I don’t know what makes him do it, why he thinks it’s a good idea, but the son of a bitch turns back around. His gaze runs up and down my body in a critical assessment that I don’t give a fuck about.