by Wilder, L.
My attention was drawn back to Mr. Yates, Navarro’s slime-ball attorney, when he said, “You stated that you are a journalist for the Memphis Metro. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir. That’s correct.”
“And you have been working there for how long?”
“Just under two years.”
He glanced down at his yellow notepad before asking, “Would you say that you are happy with your position at the paper?”
“Yes, sir. I am.”
“Are you hoping that at some point you will be able to broaden your career in the future?”
“I’m not sure what you mean?”
“Let me rephrase. Over the past year, you’ve written articles about local events such as weddings, pet shows, and new roundabouts. At some point, do you hope to write about more meaningful topics?”
“Well, sure, if the opportunity arises.”
“Is that why you were at Mr. Brazzle’s apartment on the morning of October 14?”
I glanced over at Myles as I answered, “I’ve already stated that I had gone to Jason’s apartment to follow up on an interview I’d had with him earlier in the week.”
“Yes, you did state that, but you didn’t clarify what the interview was about.”
“I don’t see why that’s relevant.”
“We need to establish purpose for why you were on the premises, Ms. Winters.”
“I had gone to follow up on some questions I had regarding Mr. Rodrigo Navarro’s presence at Jason’s apartment complex. I was hoping that he could follow up on a lead I had,” I answered with hostility.
“And why was Mr. Navarro’s whereabouts so important?”
“I needed to know for an article I was writing.”
He crossed his arms as he asked, “What was your article about, Ms. Winters?”
I hated the way he said my name in that self-righteous tone, like he was talking down to me, even though he was the one defending a murderous coward. My nerves were replaced with anger as I answered, “The cartel. I was writing about the influences of the Mexican cartel, and since Rodrigo Navarro, along with his brother, Josue, are cartel bosses, it only made sense to follow up on that lead.”
“Don’t you mean alleged cartel bosses, Ms. Winters? You do realize that all suspects are considered ‘innocent until proven guilty.’”
“Yes, Mr. Yates. I’m well aware of that, but it is my job to seek out the truth. I had a lead, and I was following up on it.”
“But isn’t it true that you weren’t just seeking the truth. You were hoping to further your career by finding some piece of evidence that connected Rodrigo or his brother, Josue, to the cartel, even if that meant setting them up?”
And there it was. I knew Yates was up to something, but I had no idea that he’d try to twist the events of that day to make it look like I had something to do with Jason’s death. The very thought of it infuriated me. My eyes drifted over to Alejandra. Like everyone sitting in that courtroom, she’d been affected by not only her father’s actions but her uncle’s as well. She’d not only lost her mother, she’d lost her best friend. Hell, she’d even lost her birth name and was now called Alex. She’d been through so much, and Josue and Rodrigo were the men behind it all. As I thought back to that day on the fire escape and the moment I watched Navarro pull the trigger, there was no doubt in my mind that he was a cold-blooded killer. Josue, and Josue alone, was responsible for Jason’s death, and the very idea that his attorney would try to imply something otherwise made me sick to my stomach. I looked back over to him and tried to swallow my rage as I replied, “There was no way I could set that up. Josue Navarro was the man holding that gun, and he himself pulled the trigger.”
“That’s what you’d like the jury to believe.”
“They should believe it, because it’s true!”
“I need you to take a moment to collect yourself, Ms. Winters.”
I leaned back in my chair with a huff. I knew I was letting Yates get the best of me, but I couldn’t help myself. Whenever I thought about the things Navarro had done, I simply couldn’t contain my emotions. There was too much pain and anger bottled up inside of me. As I sat there, my eyes slowly drifted over to Josue Navarro. Just the sight of him had me thinking back to that night at the cabin, the night Jackson had asked me to be his wife—the night he’d sent those hit men to kill me.
And just like that, I was back in that closet. I heard the sound of the bullets crashing through the windows, followed by the thud against the door when Jackson’s body was thrown against it. Even though I knew what was happening, I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to believe that the man I loved with all my heart and soul had been shot while trying to protect me, and there was nothing I could do about it. I felt so helpless, so utterly helpless as I remained locked away in that closet with Tate, listening as the footsteps grew closer. I was terrified that Tate and I would be found, but thankfully, Jackson didn’t let that happen. Instead, he put his own life ahead of ours, stopping the shooter dead in his tracks.
It was all I could do to keep myself from losing it as I thought about the moment I saw Jackson lying on that floor with blood-soaked clothes, fighting to keep consciousness. It was a sight that would haunt me for the rest of my life. He was fading so quickly, but even then, instead of worrying about himself, he was thinking of me and Tate. I couldn’t imagine loving him more as I watched the life drain from his body. The memory of that moment was simply too much to bear. My heart just couldn’t take it. I wiped the tears from my face and turned my attention back to Yates when he asked, “Are you ready to continue?”
“I am.”
“Okay, good.” He glanced down at his notepad again, then asked, “Camilla Fields is your aunt, correct?”
“Yes.”
“She was married to Josue’s brother, Rodrigo Navarro, correct?”
“Yes. They were married.”
I wanted to lash out and tell everyone in the room how he’d had a hand in her death, but I knew that’s what Yates wanted. He wanted me to lose control and use it against me, but I wasn’t going to let that happen. Yates slipped his hand in his pocket and tried to look casual as he asked, “Is it true that you believe that Rodrigo had something to do with her death?”
“The charges against him were dropped.”
“I’m aware of that, Ms. Winters, but that didn’t answer my question. Do you or do you not believe that Rodrigo was involved in Camilla’s murder?”
“What I think is not important, but I’ll admit. I had my suspicions.”
“Yet another reason for your vendetta against the Navarro brothers.”
With that, Ms. Roswell stood up, and I was relieved when she announced, “I object. This line of questioning is getting us nowhere. Mr. Yates is fishing. None of this has anything to do with whether or not Josue Navarro killed Jason Brazzle on the morning of October 14.”
The judge looked over to Mr. Yates as he said, “I have to agree with Ms. Roswell. It’s time to move on from this line of questioning.”
“I disagree. It’s essential that we—”
“Either move on, or dismiss Ms. Winters from the stand, Mr. Yates,” the judge ordered.
“That is all. Witness is dismissed,” Yates answered with a huff.
I got up and walked back over to my spot next to my parents. As soon as I sat down, Mom reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze as she whispered, “You did really good, sweetheart.”
“You think so?”
“I certainly do.”
I turned back to the front of the courtroom, where Roswell and Yates were giving their closing arguments. Once they were done, the judge released the jury to deliberate. Before he went back into his chambers, he warned the people in the courtroom that it could be hours or weeks before the jury returned with a verdict and suggested that we remain patient. With that, we were dismissed and everyone started to leave the room. Once we were out in the hall, Myles came over to me and asked, “How ya holdin
g up?”
“Good, but I’ll be better when this is finally over.”
“I know right now isn’t the best time to ask, but have you thought any more about finishing your article?”
“I really haven’t had the time to think about it, Myles.”
He nodded as he said, “I know you’ve been through a lot, but I really think you should consider finishing it. Your story deserves to be heard.”
“I’ll think about it.”
After a quick hug, he looked down at me and said, “I’m here if you need me.”
“I appreciate that. I’ll let you know what I decide.”
“I hope that you will.”
Just as Myles started to walk away, Gus came over to me and said, “You were really something up there today. Jackson would’ve been proud.”
Tears filled my eyes as I replied, “Thanks, Gus. It means a lot for you to say that.”
“There’s no way they’re gonna let Navarro off. Not after that.”
“I really hope you’re right, yet I can’t help but worry.”
“Think of it this way … worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
Mom came up behind me and said, “He’s right, sweetheart.”
“I know, but it’s hard. I want him to pay for what he’s done.”
“We all do,” Gus assured me.
It had been a long morning, almost an hour since the judge had dismissed us, and we were all still chatting amongst ourselves. I knew my folks were tired of hanging around the courthouse, especially when they were surrounded by so many people they didn’t know. I figured they’d be ready to go home, so I was surprised when my mother said, “Honey, you need a break. It’s going to be a while before we hear anything, so why don’t we all go grab a bite to eat?”
“I think that sounds like a great idea,” Gus answered. “Corky’s is just down the street. How does that sound?”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea. Don’t you think so, Reece.”
“Sure, Mom. That sounds perfect.”
We all headed out to the parking lot, and I was just about to get into my parents’ car, when my cell phone rang. I looked down at the screen and was surprised to see that Ms. Roswell was calling. “Hello?”
“Hi, Reece. It’s Angela Roswell. I was calling to let you know that the jury has already returned with a verdict.”
“You’re kidding me! It’s been barely an hour.”
“I know. Let’s hope that it’s a good sign.”
We all rushed back into the courtroom and waited for the judge to take his seat. He started to speak, but I couldn’t make out a word he was saying. I was too busy studying the jury, searching their expressions for any sign of what was to come, but none of them revealed any clues. I would have to wait for the head juror to announce their decision. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long. After several minutes of rambling on, the judge finally turned to them and asked, “Does the jury have a verdict?”
An older man in a business suit quickly stood and answered, “Yes, sir. We do.”
The judge looked over to Josue and said, “The defendant will stand and listen to the verdict of the court.”
Once Navarro was standing, the judge looked back over to the jury and ordered, “Please announce the verdict to the courtroom.”
I inhaled a deep breath, and with my parents and Satan’s Fury by my side, I listened to the man say, “We, the jury, find the defendant, Josue Navarro, guilty of first-degree murder of Jason Brazzle. We, the jury, find the defendant, Josue Navarro, guilty …”
Everything else they said was just a blur. After the words “guilty of first-degree murder,” nothing else mattered. While it didn’t come close to erasing all the pain he’d caused, I felt a sense of satisfaction as I watched the smile fade from Navarro’s face. He knew what was in store. If he managed to survive that long, he’d spend the next forty to sixty years behind bars, and I was proud that the MC and I had some small part in making that happen. I looked over to Jackson’s brothers and couldn’t help but smile knowing how much I cared for each and every one of them. In such a short time, they’d all become such an important part of Tate’s and my life, and I had no doubt that they would continue to be for years to come. They were my family, now and forever.
Epilogue
Reece
Twenty years later
While I was washing dishes at the kitchen sink, a noise drew my attention over to the window. I looked outside and saw Tate wearing his Satan’s Fury cut and old, worn-out Levi’s. I couldn’t get over how much he reminded me of his father as he worked on Jackson’s old Harley. It wasn’t that he looked just like him with his dark, shaggy hair and beautiful green eyes. No, it was much more than that. He had Jackson’s walk, confident and proud, and his same smile, so charming it could melt the coldest of hearts. As I stood there watching him, I found myself thinking back on that first weekend I’d spent with Jackson. Even back then, there wasn’t any doubt I was falling for him, but little did I know that he would become the love of my life, that he would be the only man to ever truly own my heart. That revelation didn’t hit me until that night at the cabin—the night he’d put his life on the line to protect me from Navarro’s men.
I’d always heard that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, but I never really understood how poignant those words were until I saw the light fade from Jackson’s eyes. I’d learned long ago that I had no control over fate’s hand. She was the one who held all the power, and she alone would decide my future with Jackson. Even after all these years, the image of him fighting for his life still haunted me, especially since I was the one who brought those men to our door. It was me. All me. I should’ve known not to use that damn iPad, but I wasn’t thinking and it nearly cost us everything. The guilt I’d felt over my stupidity still overwhelmed me. Hell, I couldn’t even think about it without crying. I was lost in my world of thoughts when I heard the door close behind me. As I wiped the tears from my eyes, a set of arms wrapped around my waist and warmth brushed across my neck. “Good morning, beautiful.”
I smiled as I turned to face him and replied, “Good morning, handsome.”
While he’d aged a bit over the years, and now had a headful of salt and pepper hair and tiny crow’s feet around his eyes, Jackson Reed was still just as handsome as he was when I first fell in love with him. His brow furrowed with concern as he asked, “You okay?”
“Yeah. I was just thinking about Jed.”
“Oh, really.” He pulled me closer as he asked, “What about him?”
“I was thinking how different my life would be right now if he hadn’t been there that night,” I added as I wound my arms around his neck.
“Different good or different bad?”
“Like you don’t know the answer to that.”
“I don’t know. You could’ve been fooling me all these years.”
“You know me better than that, but in case you don’t … I couldn’t be happier.”
“Now, that’s what I wanted to hear.”
He leaned towards me, and just as he pressed his lips against mine, I heard Jase, our youngest, say, “Oh, man. Can’t you guys do that somewhere else?”
Jackson kissed me a moment longer, then turned to Jase and shrugged. “It’s not my fault your mom is so damn irresistible.”
Ignoring them both, I asked, “Where’s Kaylee? We were supposed to go shopping this morning.”
“She’s still in the bathroom.” Jase opened the refrigerator, and as he took out a soda, he complained, “She’s been in there for over an hour.”
“Well, that’s just part of being a sixteen-year-old girl, son, so you might as well get used to it.”
“I just don’t understand what she’s doing in there,” Jase fussed. “She’s looks exactly the same when she comes out as she did when she went in.”
He’d barely gotten the words out of his mouth when Kaylee
walked into the kitchen, and it was clear from the expression on her face that she’d heard every word he said. “I’ll have you know, I was doing my hair.”
“It’s in a ponytail, Lee,” he replied sarcastically. “How the hell does it take you an hour to do that?”
“Watch the language, Jase,” Jackson warned, “and lay off your sister.”
“Yes, sir, but can you please do something about her hogging the bathroom?”
“We’ll talk about it later. Tate and I are going to head on over to the clubhouse and help the guys get ready for tonight. We’ll see you over there later, okay?”
“All right,” he huffed and started towards his room. “At least the clubhouse has more than two bathrooms.”
When the door slammed shut, Kaylee turned to me and pouted. “Mom, can we please just go?”
“Yep, we can, but I need a minute to finish getting ready and grab my purse.”
As I started for the bedroom, Kaylee’s tone turned buttery sweet as she asked, “Can I drive?”
“Sure. The keys are on the counter.”
Seconds later, I heard the sound of jangling keys as she started towards the door and shouted, “I’ll be in the car!”
Just before the door closed, Jackson shouted, “Both hands on the wheel at all times, and don’t speed!”
“Yes, sir!” she called as the door slammed shut.
When I got back to the kitchen, Jackson was there waiting for me. As I grabbed my list off the counter, I told him, “I guess I better get going. You know how ‘Princess Pea’ can be if you make her wait too long.”