Avo looks guilty and it is not a look I think I have ever seen on her. I know Papa is not mad, but it is funny to see him flustered.
“I wasn't sure, I was young. I only meant that now that I know what love is, I think that was the moment.” she defends.
“Hmm.” he looks at her with a half smile, that turns to a full blown smile as she gives him the puppy eyes. “Fine, I believe you.”
“So what happened?” Wellington asks. We are all too interested to let them stop the story there.
“Well, I told that evil man that I would not leave until he set her free to make her own choice on how to live her life. We ended up taking the matter to the village council. They made me prove that I could indeed give what I had offered and told her father that he would be a fool to deny me.”
“It was almost two months later that he finally agreed to it. The whole time Linda and I had been sneaking off to see one another. We got to know things about one another and I started to teach her French. She caught on so quickly that I promised to teach her all the languages I spoke. I told her I wanted her by my side as I traveled the world making new discoveries.”
“When the time came and she was able to leave, I was not sure if she really wanted to go with me. She still seemed as if she was afraid.”
“I was afraid. I was leaving everything I knew to be with a strange man from a place I had never heard of. It was very scary for me to give up the life I knew, but it was also the best feeling. I was giving it up by choice, and to be with a man that I knew would do anything to make me happy. Had he not come into my life I would have been sold to the old man in the city and forced to be his wife.”
“But you did go, so you obviously knew it would be worth it.” Spence said.
Avo nods.
“Did you go to France right away?” Janess asks.
“We did. I got us to the city and we got on the first flight out of Brazil. It took nearly two days to get there. I took her to my home, which was still with my parents at the time. My mother loved her right away, my father was a bit of a...well he was a jackass, but he eventually came around when he saw how in love we were.”
“I still don't think that man ever liked me.” she added with a huff.
Papa chuckled. “We were married a year later. We went exploring for three years before I was offered a position at the university here in Shoreline. We relocated and started our family. We only just moved back to France three years ago.”
“Wow, that is an amazing love story.” Victor says with his chin sitting in his hands, elbows on the table.
“Yes, it really is.” Jonas adds and squeezes my hand.
The rest of dinner we make small talk and stuff our faces with turkey and all the fixins. This is honestly one of the best holidays I have ever experienced. We played games and ended the night with everyone betting on what Jonas and I would be having. Almost everyone thinks it will be a girl, but Avo and I think it's going to be a boy.
After everyone left Jonas and I decided to call it a night and went straight to bed. We are both pretty well healed but with the baby growing I still feel pain and tenderness while everything is getting moved around inside me. Also being pregnant makes me so sleepy all the time, I get drained of all my energy so quickly. Though, if he wanted to keep me up I would let him.
We have yet to have sex since the morning he was abducted. It's not that we don't want to. Well I want to, but Jonas is so afraid he will hurt me. I keep trying to tell him that he is worth any pain it may cause, but that just makes him roll his eyes at me. I have tried everything from sexting to joining him in the shower, but he won't budge.
∞∞∞
The happiness of the holiday has worn off and now we have been getting ready for the upcoming trial. Kitty and Karen, who surprisingly survived the shot to her chest, are now going to get what they deserve. Karen cut a deal and it royally screwed Kitty.
Kitty and I both thought that her father and brother would do anything to get her out of this mess she made, but we were wrong. Mr. Graham was so appalled by her action that he publicly disowned her, even Kara wants nothing to do with her. He has been nothing but sweet to me as always. He has paid for all my hospital bills, physical therapy and every medication I have been given through this whole thing.
Kade on the other hand was a mess. I wasn't sure if it was because she was in trouble or if it was because of what she did. He and his sisters had always been so close, I see how much it kills him to see her in this position. I ran into him at Christopher Blanes’ party last week and he apologized for what she did to me. He said he never imagined she would do something like that and he felt like it was his fault. I never blamed him, I told him that, but he still seems to think it was.
He was also very upset when he learned that I was pregnant at the time she hurt me, regardless of who the father is. I think it hurt him more knowing that. He may be a jackass most of the time, but I always knew he wanted children someday and surprisingly he was really good with them. That is one thing he would never forgive her for. He wished Jonas and I a happy life together with the family we are starting, which shocked the hell out of me.
“Are you ready?” Avo asks me and Jonas.
We both give her a not so convincing nod.
We exit the car and make our way to the courthouse doors, avoiding the reporter and camera flashing all around us. Thankfully our friends and family are here for us, to support us and stand by our sides while we have to relive the trauma. Though Jonas has it much worse than I do, he was actually held captive and beaten, they only tried to kill me.
Everyone made their way to the courtroom to get seated as Jonas and I were taken to another room to speak with our lawyers. While Mr. Graham was not going to defend his daughter or help her get off, he did finally decide that he needed to get her a lawyer. Not a great lawyer, but a lawyer nonetheless.
Karen spilled everything, all the plans, how Kitty was the mastermind and the one to hire Drew to abduct Jonas. She told them about the night at the club too. She wasn't involved at that time, but Kitty had told her all the details when she was recruiting her.
Kitty on the other hand was not saying anything. I mean not a word to anyone, not her lawyer or family. She cussed the police out when she was shot in the shoulder and pinned to the ground, but apparently that was the last time anyone heard her speak. Once they had her in the ambulance she was silent. I don't know what she thinks she will get out of it, but I'm glad I haven’t had to hear her voice.
“Kittys lawyer is trying to plead insanity. With her not speaking he thinks he can make it believable. I think this is complete shit and we are going to do everyting we can to get her convicted of first degree attempted murder.” our lawyer Mr. Jepson says slamming his hands on the large oak table.
He stands from his chair and paces the long room, wearing a trail in the dark gray carpet. Jonas takes my hand in his and we wait for him to speak again.
“Jonas, are you sure you have told me everything you remember?” he finally asks.
“Yes, I am very sure. The only time I am unable to account for is while I was unconscious during the abduction and moving me to the warehouse. But I have told you in detail everything that occurred while they held me captive.” he replies, rubbing his hands down his black suit pants to help with the nerves and sweaty palms.
“Ember, you have anything to add?”
“No sir. I have told you everything that happened that night.” I try to straighten the skirt of my charcoal dress. Fidgeting with the hem, I find myself not wanting to relive that night.
In the beginning Jonas and I had spoken with the lawyer separately because he wanted to keep me from stressing over what he went through. I still don't know most of the details, but I will soon.
“What about the night at the club? Did you see her there at any point that night?” Mr. Jepson asks me.
“No, I didn't see her. But in all honesty I wasn't looking for her either. The place is so large, she could
have been there the whole night and I still wouldn't have seen her. It was packed and I was drinking.”
He sighs and nods.
“Jonas?”
“Sorry, but I didn't even know she existed at that time. I would not have known her if I did see her.”
Mr. Jepson nods his head, still pacing. He looks like a very experienced lawyer with his wrinkled face and light gray hair showing the stress of the job. His tailored navy blue suit pressed to perfection.
“You don't think they will buy it do you? Insanity?” I ask as I move my slightly curled hair off my shoulder and lean forward.
Shaking his head, “No. I will not let that happen. We have enough from Karen to get her, I just need to strategize. I may just let them think they have the upper hand for a bit, then nail her ass to the wall.” He sits down across from us again.
“We know where the man was holding you, Jonas. The GPS in all three cars only have two locations in common. The warehouse and the old cannery. Your blood was all over the cannery basement.”
“I still cant believe I was so close to you, but too stupid to realize it.” I say with tears in my eyes.
“It's not your fault, don't try to take this on yourself.” Jonas says as he takes my hand to his lips and places a soft kiss on my knuckles.
“You were not the only one to miss it, Ember. The police had no clues to point them there. In all honesty it was genius on Drews part, no one would ever have thought to search the basement of the cannery. It was so close to the abduction site and the car was left untouched. The building was locked up tight with chains on the doors and bars on the windows. No blood trail to the building, only to a set of tier marks that led west. He was very skilled at what he did.”
We look at him like he is crazy as he admires the dead man's thought out plan.
“Sorry. Back on topic. We have Karen's text that lured you to the warehouse that night.” he looks at me. “And we have proof that Kitty broke into the office of your newly acquired associates at the same time the email was sent luring you to the warehouse.” He looks at Jonas.
“We found the badge that was used to get in. We also confirmed she had relations with the owner of said badge the night before and he neglected to report it missing for three days. He claims to have tried to locate her and get it back on his own, but was unable to find her as she gave him a fake name.” he adds.
“There is no way either of them could ever deny premeditation, Karen has given her statement and the motive for both of them. We may have gone soft on Karen but she gave us so much to use against Kitty. I think with her shooting Karen, she made things a lot harder for herself. I fully intend to take advantage of that.”
“She didn't even try to hide her identity when she purchased the two guns. It's almost as if she wanted to get caught.” he is back to pacing the room again.
“So, what do you think the outcome will be? Her lawyer is not very good from what everyone is saying. No one can believe Mr. Graham sent him to defend her.” I ask
“Honestly I do not know, but I have a good feeling we can get her a life sentence.”
As we make our way to the courtroom, I can't help but think what could have happened if I had not gone to the warehouse that night. The thought makes me sick and I feel breakfast coming up. I force it back down as tears sting my eyes. This is going to be a really shitty day.
Chapter 28
Jonas
It is the second day of the trial and today I will take the stand. I have to tell my story to the jury, my friends and family. I know I have nothing to be ashamed of, but I don't want Ember to know how frightened I really was. She has been so worried and blaming herself for this whole thing, I don't want to add any stress to her and our baby.
We are getting ready in the bathroom and she keeps trying to seduce me. Not that I don't want to rip her clothes off and take her right now, I am just afraid to touch her. She says she is healed and tries to pretend everything is fine, but I see how she holds her stomach and I hear the sharp intake of air when she is in pain. I know she is mad that I won't touch her sexually, but her health and the health of our little one is more important.
The dark green dress she has on hugs her curves and just looking at her makes me hard and she knows it. She rubs her ass against it as she pushes me out of her way. She pretends not to feel it, but I see the smirk pulling at her lips. Those luscious lips I want so badly to kiss.
I button my white shirt and knot a dark green tie around my neck. She looks at me through the mirror and arches her eyebrow before she turns to fix my tie.
“Are you trying to match me?” she giggles.
I just smile.
“There, all better.” she says after adjusting my tie then stands on her tippy toes to pecks my lips.
“Thank you.” I lean down and kiss her back. She smiles against my lips and I have to pull away before she gets any ideas. “We need to go. Your grandparents will be here soon.”
Nodding her head she turns and walks to the bedroom. When I come out she is putting her shoes on, and the door buzzes.
“Looks like they are here. You ready to go, babe?” she walks to the bedroom door.
“Yes I just need my suit jacket. You have everything?”
She nods and walks out of the bedroom. I grab my jacket and follow her out of our flat.
The drive is silent and I am thankful for that. I need to keep myself calm as long as I can. As much as I don't want to have to relive what happened, I know that I don't have a choice. Today everyone will know all the details of the time I was held against my will.
The courtroom is full as I make my way to my seat. I keep Ember close to me, never letting go of her hand. She brings me strength and I know I need that right now.
“Today is the day. Are you ready?” Jepson asks me.
I take a deep breath and nod.
After the judge takes his seat the trial resumes where it left off yesterday. It is about thirty minutes before I am seated in front of the court with my hand on a bible.
“Jonas, please in your own words tell the court what transpired the day you were abducted.”
“I was set to have a meeting with my new business associates. I opened the email sent to me from the company so I could put the address in my GPS. I then drove to said address, which was the warehouse district a short distance from my home. When I exited my car, I felt pain on the back of my head and blacked out.”
“Can you tell me about the email you spoke of?” he asks as he looks at the jury.
“It was sent from the American shoe company that my team and I had been working with to finalize a contract. We had our first few meetings outside of the office so I really didn't think twice when the email directed me to meet somewhere outside of the office.”
“I see. Did you recognize the email address and sender?”
“I did recognize the company email and logo, but the sender was new to me.”
“Jonas, can you tell me what happened when you regained consciousness?”
“When I opened my eyes I was tied to a chair in the dark. I saw a man shortly after when he opened the door and turned the light on.”
“Jonas, I am handing you exhibit H. Is this the man you saw?” he asks as he shows me a photo.
“Yes that is the same man.” I confirm
“Let the records show Mr. Drakos confirmed Drew Piller as said man.” he looks to the jury and then the judge. “Please tell the court what happened next.” he urged.
“I noticed I was covered in blood. My head was bleeding and so was my abdomen. The man informed me he needed to stitch my wound to keep me alive until he received his payment. As he worked to stitch it he told me he stabbed me with a large dagger. When he finished stitching it closed, he received a phone call and left the room. When he returned he informed me that he was told he would be paid by the end of the day for his services. I asked him if that meant he was going to kill me, but he said nothing. He left the room and that was all I saw of hi
m for what I assume was the night.”
“When he took the call did you by chance see who the caller was?”
“No sir, I did not.”
“When did you see your captor, Drew, again?”
“There was no window, so I do not have a clear timeline. I slept and woke, but it was hours before he showed up again.”
“And was he alone?”
“No, he had two women with him.” I answer. Here we are getting into the part I dont want to relive, not with Ember here. I tried to plead with my eye, but she refused to leave.
“Did you recognise siad women?”
“No sir, I had never met either of them prior.”
“Could you please tell the court who the two women that came in with your captor?”
“Yes. Kitty Graham and Karen Larson.”
“Jonas, please explain what happened after they entered.”
“Kitty began to hit my chest with her hands. She called me trash and a thief. She was pulled away from me by Drew, he took her out of the room leaving me alone with Karen.”
“Thief? Did you know what she meant by that?”
“Not at the time. I only understood what she meant when I found out she is the sister of Kade Graham. My girlfriend's ex-boyfriend.”
He nods and walks around in a half circle before speaking again. “What happened after they left the room?”
“As I said, I was alone with Karen. She sat herself on my lap, straddling me and rubbing her body on mine. I spit in her face and she smacked me on the face. Drew returned without Kitty at that moment. Karen removed herself from my lap and moved to Drew and rubbed herself on him. They proceed to have sex in front of me. After they finished Karen told Drew she wanted to watch him hurt me. He punched me in the stomach and in the face multiple times, I lost count. Kitty returned to the room and told him to stop telling them they would ruin her plans if I were to die before she got what she wanted.”
Ribbon of Fate: Love or lust? Page 26