Helios Awakened (The Helios Chronicles #1)

by Tawa M. Witko

  Mr. Bennett held onto the railing with one hand and turned slightly. He first looked at Andrew, and then Liam, who was watching him intently. Elias turned back to face the jury. He gently tapped the railing of the juror’s box and took a deep breath.

  “When people we love are threatened, it is difficult to think straight,” he said looking up at the jury, his eyes were softer, gentler and the jury responded to him immediately. “As individuals, we see the line, it is very clear. Right...” He raised his right hand. “Or wrong.” He raised his left hand. “But in the midst of chaos and disorder, those lines become blurred. Even the gentlest man can become violent and the proudest can freeze.” He looked down and closed his eyes for a moment before looking at the jury again, his eyes pleading. “Who’s to say that any one of us in a similar situation would make the 'right' decision?” he said with air quotes. “When faced with danger to someone we care about, all notions of right and wrong evaporate as their safety becomes the only thing that matters. Would we stand there and watch someone we love being hurt or would we fight?”

  He eyed some of the jury and his eyes involuntarily became moist as he remembered what he experienced in Texas and not being able to protect Liam. It was something that still haunted him.

  “Could we forgive ourselves if we did nothing?” He took a deep breath and placed his hands in his pockets. “I know I couldn't.” His voice cracked slightly as he looked at the jury, some of the women already had tears in their eyes. “Could any of you?”

  Several of the jurors looked visibly distressed, moved by Mr. Bennett’s words and show of emotion.

  “What Mr. Harrison did was protect the person he loved and cared about. He tried to avoid a conflict. We have heard testimony that showed he backed away on several occasions. We have also heard testimony indicating that Mr. Bowers kept goading and pushing for a response from Mr. Harrison. The defendant’s girlfriend has also testified that she felt uncomfortable around Mr. Bowers and still feels he is a viable threat to her safety. Mr. De Luca wants you to see this as a simple case of assault, that Mr. Harrison showed no remorse and that he was indifferent.”

  Mr. Bennett shook his head and then brought his finger to his temple, tapping it there like he did in his opening statement.

  “I want you to 'see' more than that,” he stated, looking at them intently. “Mr. Harrison never wanted to fight Mr. Bowers, but Mr. Bowers left him with few options. By the time the fight occurred, Jimmy’s behavior had escalated to the point where force was necessary. Mr. Harrison avoided Mr. Bowers as best as he could until he no longer was able to and had to not only defend himself but Madison as well. It was the only viable option left. Ladies and gentleman, this case is anything but cut and dry.”

  He placed his hands firmly on the juror box. He scanned the jurors faces, all were staring at him intently.

  “Although Mr. Harrison and Mr. Bowers had an altercation, it was not done in malice, it was not done with reckless indifference to human life, and it certainly was not done by a man out of control. Because of this, we humbly ask you to come back with a not guilty verdict because that, my friends, is what he is,” he said, nodding at them. “Thank you.”

  Mr. Bennett walked over and sat down, giving Andrew a reassuring smile as the judge gave the instructions to the jury and then released them. Andrew immediately stepped over the railing and sat next to Madison, placing his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close to him, needing to feel her warmth and love.

  “How long do you think it will take, Mr. Bennett?” Olivia asked thoughtfully.

  Mr. Bennett was watching Liam, who had a hopeless and forlorn look on his face. They were both thinking the same thing and he was desperate to reach over and grab him to tell him he was sorry once again for what happened to them in Texas. When Mr. Bennett heard Mrs. Montgomery speaking, he broke his gaze from Liam and shook his head slightly before turning to her.

  “It’s hard to say, Mrs. Montgomery. You do not need to stay here though. They will call us when the jury is finished deliberating so if you want to get some coffee or fresh air, feel free to do so. Hopefully we will have a verdict before the end of the day.”

  “Do you want to go for a walk?” Andrew asked, kissing the top of Madison’s head.

  She nodded. “Yeah, let’s get outta here.”

  Madison walked out with Andrew but before she did, she turned to look at the friends and family who had gathered to support him. She saw Aaron comforting Olivia and Callie comforting Jayden. Liam was leaning towards Elias, gripping his hands on the railing and whispering intently to him while Elias had a pained look on his face. Madison sincerely hoped that look wasn’t about the trial and Andrew’s chances. Madison then turned and beheld Andrew, who tried to offer her an uplifting smile but it seemed forced to her. Once they were outside the courthouse, Andrew directed her to a bench near the pathway.

  “I really don’t think I helped you yesterday,” Madison said nuzzling against his chest.

  He pulled her onto his lap. “It doesn’t matter, Madison.”

  “Yes, it does,” Madison practically screeched. “If they send you away because of me, that definitely matters.”

  “Like I told you last night, if they send me away, it will be because of me, not you,” Andrew said, kissing her softly. “Baby, let’s not talk about what might happen, okay?” He kissed her again. “Let’s just pretend that everything will be fine.”

  Madison nodded and entwined her hand in his hair, bringing his lips back to hers. Andrew knew that the possibility of him being sent back to prison loomed in the background but he refused to go there. Mr. De Luca’s argument was very convincing but he had also seen the jury respond to Mr. Bennett. They liked him and he had made them feel that what Andrew had done was what any normal person would do. Of course Andrew had heard the sharp intake of breath Liam had made as Mr. Bennett spoke of doing nothing. Andrew knew what Mr. Bennett was referring to and that he obviously still harbored a great deal of guilt about what had happened to them in Texas. Andrew couldn’t imagine how difficult that must have been, to stand by and see that happen to someone you cared about. Andrew knew with certainty that he would rather die than witness something equally horrific happen to Madison. But was Mr. Bennett’s plea for mercy and understanding enough? Had he been able to sway the jury to a not guilty verdict? Andrew didn’t know.

  “Andrew, Madison,” Callie said in her sing song voice.

  Both Andrew and Madison had been so lost with one another that neither had heard Callie approach. Madison sighed against him and then turned to her friend.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you both but Elias said the jury has a verdict and that Andrew needs to come back inside.”

  “That soon?” Madison asked in shock. It had only been a few hours.

  Callie shrugged. “They asked to hear Jimmy’s testimony again and then thirty minutes later they informed the judge they had reached a decision.”

  Madison and Andrew got up and started walking alongside her. Neither knew what that meant, whether that was good or bad that they had the verdict so soon.

  “They didn’t want to hear my testimony again as well?” Madison asked worriedly.

  Callie touched the hand that wasn’t gripping onto Andrew. “Elias said it’s because they believed you but had doubts about Jimmy.”

  Madison nodded as they made their way to the courthouse again. Andrew was now concerned. The first jury he had did not deliberate very long either and that had not gone well for him. Andrew helped Madison into the pew and then came around to sit next to Mr. Bennett. Mr. Bennett turned and smiled at him and Andrew noticed that he seemed happier. He placed his hand on Andrew's shoulder.

  “I have already told your aunt and uncle this but now I will tell you, if this turns out to be a guilty verdict, then you need to know that I will immediately file for an appeal. This won’t be over if they convict you. I promise you that.”

  Andrew took a deep breath, nodded, and looked up as the jury
stepped back inside. The bailiff took a piece of paper and handed it to the judge, who opened it and gave no clue as to what the result was. He handed it back to the bailiff who passed it over to the foreman.

  “Andrew Thomas Harrison, please rise,” the judge said.

  Both Andrew and Mr. Bennett rose to their feet. The judge looked at the foreman, who stood up and opened the paper.

  “Have you reached a verdict?”

  “Yes, we have, Your Honor. On the sole count of aggravated assault, we the jury, find the defendant, Andrew Thomas Harrison, not guilty.”

  Andrew stared in disbelief and turned to Mr. Bennett, hugging him tightly. He heard crying behind him and let go of Mr. Bennett only to grab both Madison and Olivia at the same time, pulling them close to him. Pretty soon everyone was hugging him. He glanced up, wiping his eyes of the tears he didn’t realizing he was shedding, only to see Jimmy glaring back at him. Jimmy turned and pushed through the door, followed by his father. Andrew would worry about what that look might mean later, right now though he wanted to feel Madison in his arms. He heard the judge talking but he didn’t hear what he was saying, only something about how he was free to go.

  “Not guilty!” Madison whimpered against him. She looked up with tears in her eyes. “I love you.”

  Andrew smiled. “I love you too.”

  He grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her with the passion only a free man could give. He was not being sent back to prison. He would get to go home, he would get to make love to Madison, and they would be together forever. With the heaviness of the trial dispersed, he felt as if he was floating, as if the smile on his face would never fade. They could hear chattering going on around them but both of them ignored it, their continued need for one another ever present.

  “Let's go to Mac’s tonight,” Jayden said, grabbing Andrew’s shoulder and breaking his and Madison’s connection. “So we can celebrate.”

  Andrew smiled at him and then looked at Madison. “Will you be able to come?”

  “Umm, I want to but I shouldn’t leave my Gra...”

  “Bring her, Madison,” Callie said with an energy that should be bottled.

  “Nine people, Terry,” Liam said smiling. “We’re celebrating.” There was silence for a minute and then Liam started laughing and shaking his head, “No, it’s nothing like that. God, I wish,” he said as he handed the phone to Elias.

  “Hey Terry,” Elias said with a confused expression and then he chuckled and grinned widely glancing at Jayden. “No, Terry, Jayden and Callie did not run off and elope.”

  Jayden rolled his eyes at his parents. “Very funny.”

  Liam pulled him into a hug. “One day soon, I hope,” he said, looking at him intensely and then smirked. “I want to be young enough to actually enjoy being a grandpa.”

  “Oh for crying out loud, Dad, honestly,” Jayden said, throwing his hands up.

  “Lighten up, Jayden,” Elias joked, as he began messing up Jayden’s hair before winking at Callie, who was blushing profusely.

  Madison and Andrew were laughing at the interaction Jayden was having with his parents, who suddenly looked so carefree. Elias had none of the bad ass persona he displayed in court but was simply a father teasing his son, and the forlorn look that had been on Liam’s face earlier was suddenly replaced with a beaming smile and a carefree spirit. Andrew glanced at Aaron and Olivia as well and saw that they were both smiling, relief clearly evident on their joyful faces. After several minutes, the bailiff came over and ushered them all out of the courthouse, each party going their separate ways so that they could meet in a few hours for dinner. They definitely had something to celebrate tonight.

  31 CELEBRATION

  Madison pulled out her grandmother’s wheel chair from her trunk, setting it up and helping her grandmother out of the car. Her grandmother was not excited about going to the restaurant, feeling she would be a fifth wheel and that Andrew and Madison would probably want to be alone. She had told her granddaughter that she was comfortable in her home where she didn’t need to dress up, but Madison had been insistent. Madison had finally convinced her only when she had informed her that Aaron and Olivia would also be there.

  “Come on, Grans. I want you to meet my friends,” Madison said, stroking her grandmother's long gray hair.

  As Madison reached down to unlock the wheels to the chair, she sensed his presence and looked up, smiling as Andrew gleamed at her and then her grandmother.

  “Hi Grans,” Andrew said, as he kissed her forehead. “You look really nice.”

  Madison’s grandmother smiled and blushed slightly. “Thank you, Andrew. I hear congratulations are in order.”

  Andrew nodded. “They are. I’m glad you could join us.”

  “I’m not sure I had much choice in the matter. My granddaughter can be quite stubborn,” she said, glancing at Madison, who grinned.

  “I wonder who I got that from,” Madison replied, standing up and kissing her on the cheek.

  Andrew let his eyes roam up and down Madison, who was in a flower print sundress that tied around her neck and came to her thighs. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail and she was wearing a pair of wedge heels. He came around and kissed her lightly on the forehead and then her lips.

  “You are so beautiful, Madison,” he said huskily.

  He gently ran his fingers along her long and sensuous neck and then placed them on her shoulders, letting them slowly make their way to her lower back. He ran his tongue over her lips, making Madison want him desperately.

  “Let me help you.”

  Andrew took over for Madison, who seemed to be in a trance, and pushed Grandma Downing’s wheelchair inside the restaurant. Madison grinned and shook her head, trying to get out of her Andrew induced stupor and watched as he parked her grandmother next to Olivia, who immediately hugged and kissed her. Andrew knelt down to lock the wheels and then pulled out the chair for Madison as he had seen Aaron and Jayden do earlier. Madison chewed on her bottom lip and looked down, unable to contain her smile.

  “Grans, I’d like to introduce you my friends Callie and Jayden.”

  Callie immediately jumped up and offered her a hug and a peck on the cheek. Jayden stood as well and shook her hand, bowing his head just slightly.

  “Ma’am, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Jayden said politely. He motioned towards Elias and Liam. “These are my parents, Elias and Liam Bennett.”

  They both smiled warmly at her and walked over. Each man kissed her hand and then went back to their seats. Madison was beaming. It was clear to her where Jayden got his country charm. As they walked back to their seats, Madison turned to her grandmother.

  “And of course you know Aaron and Olivia,” Madison said, grinning.

  “It’s nice to finally meet all of you. My Maddie speaks highly of each of you.” She then glanced at Aaron’s smiling face and motioned her head in his direction. “Now, don’t let his sweet demeanor fool you, Aaron cheats at cards,” Grandmother Downing said, much to the delight of everyone at the table.

  “I do not,” Aaron replied with a hearty laugh and looked at everyone across from him. “Really, I would never cheat,” he said, batting his eyes innocently.

  Everyone erupted in laughter when Olivia mouthed, 'he does' and Aaron nudged her shoulder playfully. Andrew was sitting next to Madison and casually took her hand into his, stroking her fingers tenderly. He still couldn’t believe that he was actually acquitted. That he wasn’t going back to prison. He had been sure that he would and was still floored with the way Mr. Bennett worked the jury and wondered if his fate would have been different eight years ago had he known Mr. Bennett then. Andrew glanced across the table when the waitress walked over to visit with Liam and Elias, who were deciding on what wine to order. It was clear by their interactions that they came here often. Jayden leaned close to Andrew.

  “My dads love this place. They know the owner so we come here often, but I swear, it takes them an hour to order wine,” h
e said, shaking his head.

  Andrew grinned and watched as Liam pointed out something on the wine menu and glanced at Elias, who shook his head and scrunched his eyebrows together. He said something to Liam as he pointed to something else. This went on for several more minutes until Jayden raised his hand to draw the waitress’ attention away from the dialogue happening with his parents.

  “Can I have a Guinness?” he asked and then looked at his parents. “Why don’t you order a white and a red, that way it will go with whatever people want to order?”

  “That’s a wonderful idea, Jayden,” Elias said, smiling at his son. “Babe, you pick the red, I’ll pick the white.”

  Liam nodded with a spirited smirk on his face. As they were selecting the best wines for any possible meal, Jayden laughed and shook his head at them, thinking that this decision would probably take another ten minutes. He grinned and looked at his friends.

  “When I turned 21, we went to Napa for a wine tasting tour. I swear to God, they drove the employees crazy.” Jayden winked at his parents when they both looked up from the wine menu.

  “We did not, you’re exaggerating,” Liam said, rolling his eyes.

  Jayden started laughing. “Really?” Jayden turned back to Aaron’s side of the table. “The dude leading the tour got so flustered he made a snarky remark that my dads should lead the tour, since they knew so much and, ya know, they totally took him up on that.”

  Everyone glanced at the two of them, who looked at each other and shrugged.

  “He wasn’t very good at his job,” Elias said, taking a sip of his water.

  “No, he wasn’t,” Liam agreed and grinned at Elias. “He showed absolutely no enthusiasm for the task.”

  Elias quirked the corner of his lips into a sexy smile as his eyes bore into Liam’s. Heat flushed his body as he remembered that particular excursion and the fun they had during the tour and afterwards.

  “Afterwards, the owner of the winery actually visited with my parents,” Jayden interrupted before they got to the mushy part of the story that occurred after that.