Jacob searched my eyes for a response to Montie’s outburst. “I guess I have to take the kids to my mother’s before it’s time for court,” I said with a hump of my shoulders.
“You have a few hours before your case, so I’ll give you some time to spend with the kids. I’m sure they have a lot of questions after last night,” Jacob said, standing to leave. “I’m going to go shower and get a change of clothes. I’ll meet you at the courthouse.”
“That sounds good. I’ll be headed that way in about an hour,” I said. I walked him to the door and we said our goodbyes.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Destiny
Forced Together
I kept getting text messages from Montie begging me to talk to him. I didn’t like the way he left my house after he dropped the kids off. I wanted to talk to him, but I was determined not to unearth the feelings I had when he left me with that lingering kiss the night we made love. I did not want my past; I wanted my future.
“Hello?” I answered my phone on the second ring thinking it was Jacob. I was headed to the courthouse.
“Hey… how’s it going?” Montie asked. He seemed to have calmed down.
“Good, Montie. How are you doing?”
“I’m alright. I would be a whole lot better if things went down differently with Jacob.”
“Let’s not do this again.”
“That’s just it. We need to discuss it again. Are you headed to the courthouse now?”
“Yeah, I thought you were going to keep the kids until court was over, but I had to take them to Mama’s house.”
“I thought we were going to court together, but it’s obvious that things change Destiny.”
“What’s the purpose of this call, Montie?” I asked getting agitated by our exchange.
“Since you still have about an hour before you have to be there, and my house is on the way, will you stop by just for a second, so we can talk?”
“Montie, I really don’t have the time to spare. Plus, I don’t think that is a good idea.”
“You can put me out to talk to Jacob, but you can’t spare a few minutes for me?” Montie asked sounding hurt. “We can stand in the driveway. I just want to get some things off my mind,” he added.
“Okay, I’m only a few blocks away, so be outside. I’m only going to stay a minute,” I said, feeling that after all he’d done I owed him a conversation.
We hung up the phone and I had a hard time focusing on the road. Life was moving so fast and I was doing everything I could to get back into the swing of things health-wise and dealing with my relationships that were spiraling out of control.
I pulled into Montie’s driveway and he was standing outside. He approached me when I got out of the car. “So I was thinking…I will give you one more chance to change your mind,” he said teasingly.
“I didn’t come here to play, Montie.” I rolled my eyes. “Once upon a time, we had a great love story, but it came to the end and we should have left it there.”
His face fell. “So he is definitely back in the picture?”
“Jacob and I are working on our relationship and in due time, hopefully we will have what you and I once shared together,” I said sincerely. “I’m about to see him in a little while. He’s going to court with me.”
“Can we talk about us?”
“There is no us," I said, and began walking back to my car.
“Wait a minute. Just hear me out!” Montie said taking me by the arm and pulling me close.
I couldn’t resist when his hot breath trailed along my neck. His lips came within an inch of mine and I still did not move away. He looked deeply into my eyes. I was overwhelmed by the desire in his brown eyes. "Do you feel that?” Montie asked, breaking our silent reverie.
I most definitely felt the jolt of energy that traveled through me. I was sure that my body exuded that energy; my body never lied to Montie.
“You will love me again. I will make sure of it," he said.
“No, I won’t Montie. Not the way you want me to love you,” I said gathering my composure once he let me go. “This must stop here. If you keep doing this every time we’re together, I will make it where we don’t have to be around each other again.”
He slipped his hand around my waist, pulling me close again. His face inched closer to mine as he looked me in the eyes. His lips landed on mine and I felt the warmth travel to my spine. I kissed him back and it felt good as our tongues danced to a beat set only for me and him. I eventually pulled away and shook my head, trying to shake the increasing feeling of contentment that was growing on me whenever I was around him.
“You have grown so much, in such a great way. You will find someone else,” I told him. “I’m not the woman I was when we were married. We no longer fit in the same mold.”
“That’s because it’s a different mold that we have to create.”
“But I’m in love with someone else,” I said, as Jacob’s wonderful smile flashed across my mind.
“Dang, that stings,” Montie said with a frown. “I hope he knows how lucky he is.”
“Thank you, Montie. That means a lot to me." I leaned up and kissed his cheek. It was a farewell old lover kiss. “I’ll see you next Friday when you come get the kids.”
“I’m here for you any time you need me,” he said as he watched me to my car.
I felt a weight being lifted off of me. It wasn’t that I thought my relationship with Jacob was perfect. I just didn’t want to pull toward my past. Jacob was my future. Even when I considered leaving him, an overwhelming force brought us back together.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jacob
Choosing Sides
The first person I noticed when I walked into the courthouse was my mother sitting beside Justine’s parents on the bench outside the courtroom. Mom was wearing a three-piece skirt suit with a beautiful set of pearl earrings and necklace. Her hair was pulled up into a tight bun on the back of her head. She sat with her shoulders squared and her back straight and firm. Her disposition was as rigid as her ideology. I walked over to greet her.
“Hi Son,” she said, standing to her feet and strutting over to me.
“Mom, what are you doing here?” I asked as I hugged her. She didn’t tell me that she was coming to court and I had a very small amount of faith that she had chosen Destiny’s side. “Is Dad here?” I added.
“Your father hasn’t left that office since we had to let Tom go, but I came to support Justine,” Mom said clinging to my arms.
I pulled my arm from hers and looked at her sideways. “That’s not a good idea and you very well know that it isn’t.”
“I know she’s made her fair share of mistakes, but there is no way such a smart young lady should be locked away in a cage like an animal,” Mom said just above a whisper. “She’s a good person who makes bad decisions. She just needs counseling.”
“You counsel people when they are having a hard time dealing with the stress of a new job, not when they hold someone at gunpoint and repeatedly beat them with a pistol! A cage for an animal sounds about right to me,” I said attempting to level with my mother. “I almost lost my position as president and the love of my life behind her mess.”
“The love of your life?” Mom laughed. “Son, Justine is truly torn to pieces about all that has transpired. Don’t you think she has suffered enough?”
“Destiny spent a week in the hospital and is still bruised up from Justine’s premeditated attack. Before you get too deep into how Justine has suffered, consider your future daughter-in-law.”
“Oh, her…” My mother waved her hand. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this new fiancée AKA the love of your life. I heard that she’s a black girl with an ex-husband and two kids. I know you don’t expect me to welcome someone with that much baggage into our family.”
I bit down on my bottom lip. I was not a man to disrespect his mother, but a fine line was about to be crossed. I could feel it. “Mom listen. I lo
ve you a lot. You are actually the first woman I ever loved,” I told her gently. “But I admonish you not to make this a you or Destiny situation. Trust and believe that you will not win.”
“Jacob Braxton Turner! Did you forget where you came from?” Mom asked standing toe to toe with me. Her head tilted to the side. Just as she was about to say something else, our attention was called to the announcer.
“Justine Parker versus The State of Georgia,” the bailiff announced.
“Think about what I said. You only have one son,” I told Mom as I walked away. I entered the courtroom and found a seat on the side of the prosecution.
Justine walked in looking like a regular ole nun that just stepped out of a monastery. She was wearing a blue dress and her hair was pulled to the back in a bun like my mother’s. She smiled sweetly as she took her seat in the defendant’s chair. I was pissed that her parents had posted her bond and she was freed the same week of the attack.
My mother and Justine’s parents looked in my direction when I took my seat behind Destiny and the prosecution. I was sure the trio had put a great sum of money into getting the best defense attorney they could find for Justine.
I winked at Destiny when she looked around and found me. Ms. Clara couldn’t come because she was watching the kids, and thankfully Montie was too pissed to show up.
“All rise. Judge Contessa Riley presiding,” the bailiff said, and the case began. After hearing the charges of aggravated assault with attempted murder, Justine’s attorney immediately entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
“Your Honor, my client has been suffering with an extreme case of depression and anxiety. I have evidence to present to the court from three different psychiatrists that will state my client is not mentally competent. I also have evidence that Justine Parker attempted to get help for her depression in the month leading up to the attack.” The lawyer handed the documents to the bailiff who gave them to Judge Riley. She took the documents and reviewed the information presented.
When given the floor, the state prosecutor, Mason Balou, stood up and explained, “Let’s just explore Justine Parkers quote-unquote insanity, if we may.”
“Go ahead Counselor,” Judge Riley said.
“In my twenty-five years as a prosecutor, I have never prosecuted an insane person who was able to plan an attack as elaborate as Justine Parker managed to do in this case. She planned for months, purchased plane tickets, and then talked two perfectly sane people into being a part of her plan.
No Your Honor, I beg to differ about Justine Parker’s sanity. I charge her as a scorned lover who sat alone in a condo paid for by the victim’s fiancé and created an intricate plot to kill Destiny Baker in order to get her out of the way. She lured Jacob Turner away from his house under the pretense that she was hurt. When she got Destiny alone, after purchasing a plane ticket and traveling from Miami to Atlanta, she knocked on her door and attacked Destiny repeatedly with the butt of her gun. Justine Parker was so ruthless that an officer had to shoot her down to get her to release Destiny Baker, before it turned into a hostage situation. If Justine Parker’s plan had worked, we wouldn’t be here talking about someone who was a little depressed and had a little anxiety, we would be talking about a cold-blooded murderer!”
Mason Balou walked to the center of the courtroom. “And this is not the only time Justine Parker has conspired to commit an intricate crime. The owner of Turner Enterprises has reason to believe Justine Parker is a collaborator in a scheme to embezzle a sum of twenty-two million dollars away from the company.”
“Your Honor, that is hearsay,” Justine’s lawyer said, jumping from his seat, while others gasped at the prosecutor’s accusations.
“Where are you going with this, Mr. Balou?” Judge Riley asked.
“I am showing that this is not an isolated event. Justine Parker has a personal vendetta to bring down anything attached to Jacob Turner and that includes Destiny Baker. She is livid about his decision not to be her lover anymore. This is nothing more than a crime of passion!”
“May I have the floor, Your Honor?” Justine’s lawyer interrupted. Judge Riley nodded. “My client is not on trial for any money that is missing from Turner Enterprises. As a matter of fact, I have no prior knowledge of any money missing from the said company. What we are here today to address is the guilty by reason of insanity plea that my client has entered, due to her inability to control her feelings of anxiety and depression after her breakup with Mr. Turner. This is what caused her mental breakdown and it is all stated in the depositions from three different trained professionals.”
“Do you have anything to add prosecutor?” Judge Riley asked.
“With the statements on the record describing how Justine Parker involved several people who were not mentally incapacitated into her plan to attack and kill the victim, I ask that the court reject the insanity plea and allow her to enter a guilty plea.”
Judge Riley asked a few questions of both the defense and prosecution and then said, “Thanks. You may both be seated. I am ready to render my judgment. I have reviewed the documents provided by the defense and the court finds that good cause is shown to enter the plea of guilty by reason of insanity,” Judge Riley said.
Destiny gasped and I gripped the corners of my seat as the judge continued, “Defense has made a good-faith effort involving mental health experts that have come to the conclusion the defendant is mentally incompetent. The most responsible thing to do here is to sentence her to a mental institution for a minimum of one year, longer if determined by medical officials.”
Justine sighed in relief. She smiled at me once the judge handed down the sentence. She tried to kill the woman I love and was going to get off in a straightjacket.
“I will also honor the defense’s request to have Justine Parker adhere to the strict medical regimen that has already been put in place by her psychiatrist. She will remain in the custody of her parents until arrangements have been made with the proper mental health authorities. Mr. Ron and Martha Parker, will you please stand?” Judge Riley ordered.
When Justine’s parents stood, they clasped onto each other’s hands. “Yes, Your Honor,” her father said.
Judge Riley peered over her glasses. “Do you accept the full responsibility of keeping Justine Parker under your direct supervision until such time that she must be turned over to the proper authorities?”
“We do, Your Honor,” Mr. and Mrs. Parker said in unison.
“Then this case is now adjourned,” Judge Riley said as she dropped her gavel onto the bench.
Destiny got up and walked briskly toward the door. I caught up with her, as she was walking down the hall. “This is not the end,” I said.
“She’s going to get away with time in the hospital, Jacob!”
“No she is not. We are going to fight this,” I told Destiny who continued to walk toward the door heading to her car.
“I just want to get out of this place and away from these people,” Destiny said.
Just about the time that we reached the door, I saw my mother walking out of the courtroom along with Justine and her parents. Mom looked at me standing with Destiny and then quickly turned her head.
“Tell you what, you head home and I’ll come by to see you later. I have to handle something,” I said, giving her a hug and quick kiss.
I walked toward Mom and her little gang. I caught up with them as they were exiting the side door of the courthouse.
“How does your arm feel?” I heard Mom ask Justine.
Justine held her wrapped arm protectively. “It’s okay, I just need to lay down and get some rest,” I heard her say.
“Mom, hold up a second. I need to talk to you before you leave.”
“Hey Jacob, I’m sorry about everything,” Justine’s father, said before being pulled away by Mrs. Parker who held her head high.
“Oh, look Martha. It’s Jacob,” Mom said sarcastically. “I was beginning to think he didn’t know who his rea
l family was.”
I took Mom by the hand and pulled her down the steps and to my car. “You have some nerve to be flaunting around here with them, Mom. What the hell are you doing?”
“The same thing you should be doing. I’m standing beside Justine.”
“You always wanted a daughter and she was the closest thing to it for you. I get it. You love Justine. I get that. But there comes a time when you have to choose sides and this is one of them.”
“I can’t believe there is even a doubt about what side to choose. You have known her for as long as you can remember and she has never hurt a soul.”
I thought about the fights Justine got into when we were at school. I hadn’t known her to intentionally pick a fight, but she was capable of hurting more than a soul. “I don’t care if she never hurt anyone, she tried to kill someone that means a lot to me. That should mean something to you!”
“Well, she must have done something to provoke Justine when she went to your house looking for you that night. It’s just not like Justine to…”
“Mom, I am your only child and I love you. But if you don’t show more compassion toward the woman I am going to marry, the woman who will birth the next heir to Turner Enterprises, the woman who will one day sit on the throne as the queen of the Turner family, then you are walking a dangerous line of losing our relationship all together. Consider this our last conversation about it,” I said as I reached for my car door.
“That tramp will never sit at the head of our table,” Mom spat clearly becoming protective of our family’s dinner table, which had been an heirloom passed down for more than a century.
“Oh but she will,” I tossed over my shoulder.
“I’ll set it on fire first,” Mom yelled behind me.
I walked back to her. “Set it on fire and I’ll hire a wood maker to make an exact replica. Rest assured that everything about the Turner name will stay intact, no matter what game you decide to play. When you go home, think long and hard about which team you want to play for.” I got in my car and backed out of the parking space, leaving Mom with some choices to make.
Breathless 2: In Love With An Alpha Billionaire Page 9