by Piper Stone
On Monday morning, Craze was clean shaven, had purchased a new suit and tie, power red silk, and was more than prepared to face the day. He whistled as he slipped into his jacket.
“You’re in a good mood today,” Mark said as he dropped a file off on his desk. “You have court in thirty minutes.”
“Yes, I know on both counts. Why not be in a good mood? I’m making the announcement today.”
Mark coughed. “Today? You’ve decided? In the middle of a case?”
“Perfect timing. Trust me on this one. Everything will make sense later today.” Craze had purposely kept Joelle’s identity from him.
“Boss, you’re scaring me. Have you received any more threats?”
Craze shook his head. “One over the weekend. Same deep voice, but now I know disguised. However, that won’t matter in about…” He looked at his watch. “Two hours or so, give or take.”
“Okay, what in the hell is going on?”
Grinning, Craze grabbed his briefcase. “You’re going to have to wait and see. Perhaps you’re going to want to be in a suit today, come by the courthouse around nine-thirty. You may have to wait around for a while, but then again, maybe not.”
Mark opened his mouth then groaned. “I feel a nightmare coming on.”
“Stop worrying. For the first time in my life, I know exactly what I’m doing.”
“Dear God, I hope so. If you’re trying to tell me I need to look for a new job, please just go easy on me.”
Craze walked around the desk and patted Mark on the shoulder. “I’ll never go easy on you but things are going to change. Just trust me. I’ll see you soon.” He started whistling once again as he walked out of his office and down the elevator. Today was a fabulous day for the good guys.
When he climbed into the car and rolled out of the parking garage, he dialed Joelle’s number. She wouldn’t take the call. Of that he had no doubt, but at some point she would listen to her voice mail. He only hoped before court.
“Joelle. I hope you don’t just erase this message because what I have to say is important. I didn’t lie to you or use you. You came out of the blue, a breath of fresh air. The very second I saw you, I was crazy with desire. I never intended on hurting you. You rocked my very world, reminding me why I need someone like you in my life. No, not just someone. I need you. Period. I crave your touch, adore the way your eyes flash when you look into mine. I hunger to shower you with everything you deserve.” Craze was surprised at some of his words, but they flowed easily for the first time in his life.
“Joelle, I need you. I want you to submit to me, but all I really need is the woman. I’m falling in love with you. You have my heart and my very soul. I hope you hear me, because this is the truth. I’ll be at the courthouse in less than fifteen minutes. We must talk prior to going into court. This has nothing, or everything to do with us as well as this case. I’ll be near the back exit. I hope to see you there.”
He slipped the phone inside his jacket and said a silent prayer. Love. Realizing he’d fallen in love with her was cathartic as well as terrifying. She was the love of his life and he couldn’t see moving forward without her, but she had to come to him on her own terms.
When he parked the car, he realized how incomplete his life had been. Every aspect of his career had kept him away from what he truly wanted. Perhaps he had Anastasia to thank for finding the man inside.
Craze grabbed his briefcase and headed for the back exit. He’d know her answer soon enough. Shaking his head, he clenched his fist and threw open the door. She wasn’t in sight. He stood where he was then walked up on the first landing. A few minutes must have passed and by the time he checked his watch, he realized she wasn’t coming. This was the end. Nodding, he accepted her decision and trudged up the other three flights.
He still had a blackmailer to foil and an announcement to make. Today, he was a man of the law and others would stand in his judgment. Including himself.
“All rise for the Honorable Judge Randolph Mitchell.”
Craze walked into the room and remained standing. He held out his arms, indicating everyone else should sit. He placed his things on the bench and gave Joelle one long look. Her expression was blank, yet her eyes remain haunted. The message hadn’t mattered. He inhaled and faced the courtroom.
“I’ve been a judge for almost four years. I was a defense attorney for twenty prior. I’ve worked my entire career on defending those who otherwise could not defend themselves. I’ve taken pride in setting men and women free when everyone else presumed they were guilty. I’ve taken the high road more times than I care to mention, avoiding the concept of political gain for any reason. During my tenure, I’ve been proud of my decisions, of my career and the law.
Today is not one of those days. I allowed myself to be influenced in ways that I can no longer tolerate. I’ve also allowed fear to guide me but that stops today. Members of the defense team. Will you approach the bench?”
Shock wasn’t the word Joelle was thinking of. She’d never been in a situation like this before. The entire courtroom was a buzz. She suspected the press would soon be too. What in the world was Craze doing? She looked over at Ryland, who gave her a respectful nod. Perhaps he was in on this.
She sat on the edge of her seat, the uncertainty killing her. A pin could drop and you could hear it. Everyone was craning their necks at this point, trying to overhear anything. People adored gossip.
Craze placed his hand on the microphone and leaned forward.
Joelle knew body language well enough to realize that Gregory was pissed, or at the very least upset. From her angle, she could tell his face was reddening. She sat back in her seat and heard her phone beep. She nonchalantly eased her iPhone from her purse, determined to place it on mute. When she noticed the message, her curiosity got the better of her.
Craze. He’d left another message. She studied the time. He’d called her a little more than thirty minutes before. Perhaps he’d been trying to warn her about what was going to happen today. She slipped the phone to her ear and leaned over.
The words flowed, but she could barely understand them. Tears slipped past her lashes and she kept her head down, trying to keep everyone else from noticing her state.
Joelle, I need you. I want you to submit to me, but all I really need is the woman. I’m falling in love with you. You have my heart and my very soul.
He said he was falling in love with her? She blinked several times as the tears continued to flow. She wiped them away and huffed, confusion warping her thoughts.
“You’re out of your mind!” Gregory exclaimed. “I did no such thing. I’m a man of the law.”
She jerked her head up, searching for Craze’s face. He had to know she’d listened, that she knew he was being serious. Frowning, she could tell the situation was getting out of hand. A man of the law? In a kangaroo court, perhaps.
As a deputy moved closer to the bench, she stood, her hands planted on the desk with enough force they were white.
Craze threw out his hand toward the deputy. “No. I have this.”
“I’m not admitting to anything.” Huffing, Gregory took a step back.
The move allowed Joelle to see Ryland’s smug face. When Ryland motioned to the deputy, she gripped the edge of the desk.
“Officer, will you place Gregory Brentwood under arrest for bribery and blackmail?” Ryland stated as he shook his head.
“You’re fucking out of your mind!” Gregory exclaimed. “I’m going to fight you on this. I will have you thrown off the bench. Just check the paper today and see what you find.”
“Go ahead and try a different vile tactic, Mr. Brentwood. I’m more than ready for yet another fight.” Craze’s eyes were blackened pools.
The paper? What was the man talking about? Joelle wanted nothing more than to rush to him, but he was no longer looking for her. He was no longer the same man. What was going on? Yes, she’d told Ryland about Gregory, but she never suspected he’d have the man ar
rested. This was a powerful change.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. I have no other option but to issue a mistrial. Thank you for your time. Mr. Martin, you’ll be remanded back to jail until such a time as it’s determined when the next court date will be. Ms. Parker, I’m certain you’re going to want to talk with me later. I’ll be in my chambers in about an hour.” Craze slammed the gavel down on the bench and left the room.
Shock and awe remained for a solid thirty seconds, then all hell broke loose.
Shaking, Joelle struggled to take two steps toward Ryland. Her mouth was dry, her ears ringing. He was talking with Mr. Martin and giving instructions to the officers who had placed handcuffs on the defendant’s wrists. Now, she didn’t have to worry about whether winning was the best option. She would fight this case on another day.
Ryland shoved things into his briefcase. He nodded as she walked closer. “Ms. Parker. Thank you very much for the information. I assure you that Mr. Brentwood will no longer be bothering you. I hadn’t found the time to talk with Judge Mitchell, but I guess I didn’t have to.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You mean you didn’t say anything to Judge Mitchell?”
“No, I was planning on asking for a recess. I don’t know where he got his information, but this certainly makes everything easier.”
“Did Gregory leak something to the press?”
“That I have no idea about, but I wouldn’t put it past him.” Ryland snorted. “The guy has been doing this to other people. He isn’t as smart as he believes. Once I detected the trial, the breadcrumbs became full loaves. Blackmail is a nasty thing. He’s going to be disbarred.”
“Something I’m very happy about,” she stated and glared at Gregory as he was dragged out of court. What if he had already leaked the information? Craze could be ruined.
“Look, I have no idea if I’ll be assigned to the case. As you can imagine, I think my client is going to want to get this on the docket as soon as possible, but given what evidence you’ve already shown in court, I’m going to ask my client to take a plea bargain. Will you consider murder in the first degree with no chance of parole as opposed to the death penalty?”
Joelle shifted back into reality. “We’ll talk. I’ll run this by my team.”
“Good enough. Thank you for everything. What you did by coming forward took guts. I admire that.” Ryland held out his hand.
While she took the compliment, she certainly didn’t feel anything but sadness. Through all of this and for all the wrong reasons, she’d lost the man she loved.
Chapter 10
Joelle tossed her things into her briefcase, but left everything in the courtroom. She was going to have to face the judge at some point in her career, might as well be today. The press would also want a statement. They would no doubt be outside, waiting like vultures. While she had no practiced statement, facing them was an evil necessity, especially today.
She smoothed down her skirt and walked down the stairs to the front of the building. She’d been right. There was a near mob at the front of the courthouse. Groaning, she rubbed her temples and wanted to run far away, to some foreign land. Be a big girl. Get this over with.
Plastering on a smile, she pushed open the doors and walked outside. No one came running in her direction. After a few confused seconds, she knew why. Craze was standing on a platform holding court.
“Judge Mitchell. Can you give us any details regarding this case and why you declared a mistrial?” The female reporter shoved her way in front of everyone.
“I’m not a judge right now. I’m simply Randolph Mitchell. I’m not standing here in front of you as that man. Please call me Randolph, or better yet, call me Craze.” Craze smiled and turned toward the man standing next to him.
Joelle inched closer until she could see the shell shocked looked on the other man’s face. This had to be someone from his office. He was going by Craze? What was he doing? She looked around. The entire group of reporters was waiting like crazed lions, ready for the slaughter.
“Mr. Mitchell. I mean Craze, do you have an announcement for us?” The young male reporter asked, a smile on his face.
“I do, Michael. Thank you for asking. As of today, I’m announcing my intentions to run for the Senate of this great state.” Craze smiled and waited, allowing the news to sink in.
She found herself creeping closer, longing to catch every word. When she was in the front, just off to the side, she pressed her hand over her mouth.
Several reporters had raised their hands; others were shouting out questions.
“Wait just a minute. I’m happy to answer a couple of additional questions, but I have a statement to make,” Craze said as he winked at the man standing off to the side.
She caught every expression, every nuance.
“I’ve been threatened over the years. I’ve come to believe this is simply part of my job, however, I don’t stand by while lies are being told. First of all, I want you to know that I’m not perfect.” Craze placed his hand over his heart. “I’ve done things I’m not proud of, but I’ve never done anything to abuse the system I’m so thankful for being a part of. To that end, I anticipate some information has been leaked regarding a relationship I had with Anastasia Wainwright.”
Joelle held her breath as members of the audience clamored to get closer. This was going to be a major scoop.
“Yes, Anastasia is the Governor’s wife, but no, we were not having an affair, at least in the traditional sense. She has been a good friend and allowed me to explore what some would consider kinky opportunities. While our relationship has ended, I don’t want her name sullied. She and her husband, Governor Wainwright have been estranged. Only during this time did she and I become involved. Yes, this isn’t right and I shouldn’t have indulged in what are my greatest fantasies, but she and I are adults. We made a decision and thankfully, are both moving on. Before you ask, Governor Wainwright is aware of the connection and is backing my campaign.” Craze took a breath and looked across the group, his eyes settling on Joelle.
She smiled and nodded, her heart racing. In his eyes she saw reserve, concern and something she’d never expected to see. Love.
“No, I didn’t love her in the traditional sense. Love is special, reserved for someone you know you can give your heart and soul to. I finally found that woman, a special and beautiful being who allowed me the greatest gift of all. She gave me her trust, something I broke because of my job. That stops here. I learned so many things from this amazing woman, including how to forgive myself. I can’t erase the past, but I can pledge that I will work for the people because of the people. I will do my best to regain your trust as well as your respect. I want to be a good man.”
Tears streamed down her face. She took another step forward then another. She no longer cared if anyone, including the reporters, figured out who she was and what she and Craze shared. She wanted nothing more than to offer him her complete trust as well as her love.
Craze smiled at her, mouthing words of love then turned back toward the reporters.
She was shocked, but no longer lost. As reporters converged on her, taking her picture and plying her with questions, she realized she’d never been happier. This was her destiny.
Twenty minutes later Joelle managed to find a way back into the courthouse without being noticed. She paced the hallway, perspiration beading across her upper lip. This was insane. This was terrifying. This was amazing. She was sweating all over. She must look like a wreck. Chuckling, she slid into the bathroom to freshen up. She had a feeling this was going to be an interesting evening.
After blotting her face, she washed her hands and smoothed down her skirt. Then she fiddled with her hair. To her, she was a mess. Still, she smiled. She was ready to face the man, her sir, the very sexy hunk who was going to own her. She strutted toward the door and flung it open. Two hands grabbed her wrists, pushing her back inside.
“Oh!”
“Hello, sunshine.”
“Craze, I mean Judge Mitchell, I…” Flustered, she inhaled his scent and her pussy clenched Today he was all male. The look on his face was carnal, his eyes full of dangerous hunger.
“I have to have you here. Now. I own you. You will obey me.” Lowering his head, he crushed his mouth over hers as he pushed her against the wall. He yanked her arms up over her head, grasping both wrists in one hand.
As her back hit the wall she grunted, every nerve ending on fire. Moaning into the kiss, she closed her eyes as his hand moved down, the tips of his fingers brushing the side of her breast, her waist and thigh. She was tingling all over, the anticipation of his indulgent yearning, his increasing needs a powerful aphrodisiac. You can’t do this. What if you’re caught? What if… This was dangerous. Exciting. Obey. You will obey him. What if anyone caught them? The dirty little secret was now out in the open for all to see.
Craze kicked her legs apart and shoved his hand under her skirt, jerking the edge of her panties aside.
Joelle wiggled as he thrust his fingers into her aching cunt, pumping hard and fast. His nails dug into her skin, his hand keeping her secured, yet she slumped, would have fallen to the floor had he not been holding her. Her nipples scraped against the thin lace of her bra, creating a blissful sting.
Flexing his fingers open, Craze plunged into her pussy with all four fingers as he swirled his thumb around her clit. He broke the kiss but kept his lips brushing against hers, his hot breath cascading across her skin. “There will never be a moment I can’t have you. There will never be a time you won’t pay heed to my domination, my rules. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Yes, sir.” Her lower lip quivered as he licked around her mouth.
“You’re wet. Have you hungered for your Master?”
“God, yes.”
“You need a whipping, a hard fucking like the good whore you are.”
His voice was raspy, guttural and she was unable to focus. “I’m your whore, your slut.”