Mended - Anniversary Edition (Broken Trilogy Book 6)

by J. L. Drake

  “I want to speak to Lynn,” she says softly, cutting him off. Cole feels the hairs on his neck rise. “Alone.”

  Frank’s eyes jump to his. “Savannah, that’s not something I can—”

  “If you want me to testify,” she turns for the first time to look directly at Frank, “you’ll make it happen.”

  “Savannah…” Cole lowers his voice.

  “Cole,” she counters, and he realizes she’s in a feisty mood right now. He reluctantly bites his tongue, pressing his back into the cool leather seat. She is closing herself off from them, he knows. She’s most likely experiencing all the anger and hurt she has after so many years of loving this woman like a sister. He feels sick putting himself in her shoes. If Mark ever betrayed him like that, he’d be broken by it too. His hand finds its way to their baby, surprising hers, which is already there. He covers her hand, and she uses the other to wipe a tear. His body twitches to comfort her, but he knows she’s on the brink of losing it.

  Chapter Ten

  Savannah

  I feel like stone by the time I sit in an old chair with metal armrests across the table from four tired-looking lawyers. An older style clock ticks directly above the door, and my heart times its beat to its rhythm. Rain pelts at murky windows that look like they haven’t been replaced since the early sixties. My nose tries to push the musty smell away, but it doesn’t work, and it makes my stomach roll even more. My attention is pulled to one of the male lawyers. My gaze drops to a coffee stain on his tie, and I silently describe his appearance to try to help ground myself. He looks just like the man with the red stapler in the Office Space movie. I can tell he’s hungry, as he keeps eyeing his partner’s Snickers bar.

  “Miss Miller,” Morgan, the lead lawyer, says, pulling my attention to the present. She fusses with the paperwork in front of her. I remember this woman from the last time I was here. She’s a perfectionist, and I want to lean over and mess up her meticulously lined up files and her pen sitting parallel. “I need you to understand that we can’t have a repeat of what happened the last time you were in the court.” She peers disapprovingly over the ridge of her glasses. My tongue presses to the roof of my mouth, trying like hell not to lash out at her. I hear Cole shift his body. I’m so tuned in to him, I know he wants to say something, but he won’t…yet. “I understand it was hard for you, but—”

  “Don’t,” I hiss in a small voice, but it’s enough to shut her up for a moment.

  “Miss Miller, if you want this testimony to count, you need to keep yourself calm. The judge will not tolerate an outburst. All it shows to the jury is that you’re a loose cannon.”

  “Is that why he got a double life sentence with no chance of parole?” I ask, cocking my head to the side. “Seems to me my outburst and the evidence proved to the jury that Denton is a monster, and he got what he deserved, so let’s try this again, Miss Morgan.” Her thumb starts clicking the top of her expensive pen. “I want five minutes alone with Lynn before I testify against her tomorrow.”

  “That’s not possible,” she states.

  I stand and grab my bag. Cole jumps to his feet. I expect him to try to stop me, but he doesn’t.

  “Wait,” Morgan calls, rubbing her head, “just sit for a moment.”

  I see Cole’s mouth turn up, but when he turns around, he’s straight-faced again. God, he’s good.

  “It will take some time.” One of the other lawyers starts to argue, but she raises her bitchy hand, and he backs off.

  “Morgan,” the lawyer closest to Cole says, “they’ll never go for it.”

  “Humphrey, when I want your input, I’ll ask for it,” Morgan snaps, rubbing her head harder. Humphrey flushes up his neck. Poor guy.

  “Look,” she closes her eyes, “give me an hour, and I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Fine.” I start to turn but stop and lean back over the table, snatching the Snickers bar and placing it in front of her. “Just saying.”

  I see Humphrey cover his mouth, clearly getting my joke about the commercial. ‘You’re not yourself when you’re hungry.’ Cole reaches for my arm and nearly pulls me out of the room. Once the door is closed, he bursts out laughing.

  “I can’t believe you did that,” he croaks. “Oh, god, I wish Mark was here. He would have loved that.” I smile, wishing he was too. His comic relief would be welcome right now. “Come on, let’s get something to eat.”

  Two hours later, Humphrey is sent to find us in the cafeteria. He tells me after pulling in many favors, the judge still will not allow it, as Lynn has been violent since she’s been in jail. I’m disappointed, but I get over it. I’ll see her tomorrow, and I’ll get to say my piece then, with or without the judge’s help.

  We head back up to that horrible room and spend the next several hours getting briefed. I must say Morgan is a little nicer this time around. Guess the Snickers bar worked.

  The briefing lasts until evening, and we go down to the restaurant.

  I stay lost in my thoughts throughout dinner. The guys try to engage me, but I am off in childhood memories with Lynn.

  “Merry Christmas, Lynnie.” I hold out a little white box and grin.

  She snatches it out of my hand, ripping the bow in two. “Aww.” She pulls out a chain with a half of a jagged heart dangling from the center. Lynn loves hearts.

  “See?” I pull the other half out from under my shirt. “Not just friends—”

  “But sisters too,” she finishes, admiring the necklace in the mirror. “Love you, Savi.”

  “Love you too, Lynnie.”

  I keep trying to pinpoint the spot when she turned on me. It’s a deep ache that burns in my stomach when I think about her. How can someone imprint so strongly on your life one moment, and the next hire someone to kill you? I feel like I’m in a movie. Did our time together mean nothing to her? Surely, there’s got to be a time when she loved me like the sister I felt she was, the way I did her.

  I can’t eat, and I don’t touch my water. I’m so lost I hardly feel Cole help me out of my chair and walk us upstairs to our hotel room. He lets me know he and Frank have some more to discuss, so he’ll be in the other room, and suggests I take a bath.

  “Then get some sleep, baby.” He leans in, kissing my lips and giving my belly a rub. I nod, sitting on the couch staring at a black screen that stares back at me.

  “Do you solemnly affirm that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” The clerk stares with piercing gray eyes, and a chill runs up my spine.

  “I do,” I say weakly, feeling my voice run like hell in the opposite direction. I felt more confident when I testified against Denton, but Lynn…I sit a little straighter and glance at the jury. Nine men, three women, one wearing a horrendous cat sweater she must have made herself because no one in their right mind would try to market it.

  Cole catches my eye and gives me a little wink, letting me know he’s only fifteen steps away. I nod, swallow hard, and try to keep myself together. Cole’s words repeat over and over in my head. “Just one more day, baby, then we can go home and put all this behind us.”

  A door opens, and a light roar of whispers erupts. I keep my eyes locked on Cole’s, suddenly terrified to look over and face my reality. He mouths, “I love you.” I barely nod and tune in to the judge, who is handing the floor over to Lynn’s lawyer.

  I’m shaking. I’m not ready. I’m so scared.

  I force my eyes over to face my once best friend, my sister, and now my enemy who might get life…if she’s lucky.

  Lynn’s face is paler than normal, and she’s dressed to play the part of the young, innocent woman. She’s wearing a cream-colored skirt that hits right above the knee, white blouse, and a baby pink sweater, something Lynn would never wear. Hell, even her hair is down and pinned straight, and she hates her hair that way. I don’t fall for it, of course. I know her, and I see it’s still her in there. I do recognize her body language, right down to how she shifts in that cotton blouse
. She hates cotton; Lynn always wears silk. Seeing her obvious attempt to hide her real self lights a small spark deep inside me. Though I do see her wrist is in a brace, and there’s some dark color around an eye. I guess she has been fighting.

  Her head lifts, and her eyes lock onto mine. A series of emotions runs through me, but suddenly, the strongest is pity. Not the kind of pity where I wish she weren’t sitting there waiting for her fate to be determined, but the kind where I know she’ll never have a life to call her own. Karma.

  I think she misreads my look and gives me a tiny smile and mouths, “Hi, honey.”

  I sink my teeth into my cheek to the point of pain, but I let go when the lawyer clears his throat.

  “Shall I repeat my question?”

  I nod and give him my attention. “How long have you and Lynn been friends?”

  “Since…” I cough, begging my voice to return. “Since we were tiny.”

  “Would you say she’s like a sister?” My lawyer interrupts, but the judge waves him off.

  “Yes.”

  “You two did everything together?”

  “Yes.”

  “Family trips?”

  “Yes.” I shrug.

  “Family dinners—”

  His voice trails off into nothing when my mind recalls one particular family dinner. I’m sucked into a flashback, and the courtroom fades…

  …to my father’s penthouse, where I’m showing up early because traffic was light, as so many people are out of the city for Thanksgiving. I open the door to see the place looks empty, but the smell of turkey makes my stomach jump to attention. Chucking my purse down next to another one, at the time I don’t notice, but now I see it’s hers. The cook is busy in the kitchen, so I leave him be.

  “Dad?” I call, removing my shoes from my aching feet. “You here yet?”

  I scramble up the twisty stairs to the second floor and come face to face with my flushed father. “Hey, Dad.” I grin, but it fades when I see the panicked look on his face. “Everything all right?”

  He pulls my arm and pushes me in front of him, hurrying me down the stairs toward the front door. “Can we re-schedule, dear? Something has come up. I’m sorry, but it can’t be helped.”

  “What?” I pull my arm free, only to have him snatch it up again. “But it’s Thanksgiving. What about dinner?”

  “Savannah, you’re twenty-two years old. Don’t you think it’s about time you find someone else to spend it with?”

  My head snaps back. “Wow! You know, some fathers would kill to have their daughter spend special occasions with them.”

  He opens the door and shoves my purse in my hands. “I’ll call you later.” And with that, the door is slammed in my face.

  “What the hell was that?” I curse, pulling out my phone as I hurry to the elevator. Once I’m outside, I call Lynn, planning to warn her not to head to Dad’s, since he’s being an ass again. It goes straight to voicemail. I try again, knowing she’ll pick up if I call right after.

  “Hello?” Lynn’s muffled voice comes over the line.

  “Hey, Lynn. Shit, Dad’s in another damn mood, so I’d suggest—” “Shhh, it’s Savi,” I hear her whisper to someone.

  I grin. “Lynn, you’re not alone? Where are you?”

  “I-I’m at home. I-I was just about to leave, so I’m glad you called.” I plug one ear as a firetruck goes by.

  “Shit, Savi, ahh…my landlady is here again, so you know what that means.”

  “Yeah, have fun with that.”

  The vision fades away, and I’m back in the courtroom. The lawyer is prattling on about something, but I ignore him. I look back over at Lynn. The room feels as if the air is slowly being sucked out through a straw, causing my lungs to shrivel and turn to dust. I realize what an idiot I was not noticing her purse, and now realizing I could hear that firetruck through her phone in the distance.

  “You bitch,” I snarl at her. She tilts her head, trying to understand where I’m coming from.

  “What was that, Miss Miller?” her lawyer asks, raising a thick eyebrow at me.

  “Yes, Lynn attended almost all family events, even some she and my father made up together.” I watch her face fall and the color drain from it.

  “How close would you say she was with your father?”

  I shake my head while staring at her. She looks panicky, and I realize this is something that hasn’t come out yet. “Is sleeping with my father at twenty-two close enough?” The courtroom suddenly grows loud, and the judge bangs his gavel repeatedly. Once the room settles, the lawyer starts in on me again but never touches on that topic.

  I’ve been on the witness stand for an hour and a half, and I’m growing tired. I know I’m stressed because I think I’m getting small Braxton Hicks contractions. Dr. Brown warned me this could happen, so I’m not too concerned. Our lawyer has asked for a recess, seeing my discomfort, but I refused. I just want this to be finished. When I walk out those doors, I’m not coming back in.

  Cole is watching me like a hawk. I can see he’s worried; he keeps rubbing his face and twitching. I try to nod and let him know I’m fine, but I’m growing more and more finished with rehashing my life to complete strangers who are judging my every word.

  “Miss Miller,” the lawyer mutters, heading back to his table and making a dramatic effect as he thinks, “do you love your father?” I start to answer, but he cuts me off.

  “Remember, you are under oath.”

  I think about my words to be sure they’re the right ones. “Yes, I love my father, but when he got into politics…”

  “So, now you don’t?” he snaps quickly

  “Would you?” I snap back, hurt.

  “I’m not on the witness stand.” I swear he smirks momentarily.

  “My father doesn’t want me, and I don’t want him. It’s simple, and I’ve come to terms with it.” I rub my aching tummy.

  He nods, pacing in front of me. “So, you get ‘rescued,’ stay in a safe house, fall in love, get pregnant, all in a very short time? No offense, Miss Miller, but that doesn’t make you look like you’re a grieving victim.” I lock my jaw, but my tongue is battling to be let loose. “What I see,” he turns to address the jurors, “is a rich, bored little girl who hatched this plan and didn’t care who she took down. Should we be looking into the colonel to see if he was involved too?” I know he’s trying to get me to break and let fly at him. I won’t lie, I’m frigging close. I grab my stomach and blink wildly. “Just tell me why. Why hatch such a lie to take down everyone in your family, and especially this woman who was like a sister to you?” I run my sweaty hand over my mouth. “What has she ever done to you?”

  I need to get out of here.

  “Please,” I whisper, but he keeps talking. “Please.” I heave forward.

  “Stop!” Lynn calls, and the whole room stops. “Savi?”

  I think I’m going to be sick because she’s trying to show concern for me. I shake my head at her. “Don’t you dare!” I’m nearly in tears now. “You sat across from me in a room while I was being held hostage and didn’t shed a tear for me when I begged you to let me go.” I point my finger at her face. “You sat across the table from me while my father shot my friend in the face! Don’t you dare try to pretend you care now!”

  “The jury will disregard that last comment,” the judge orders. Every member of that jury is staring at me with concern and interest.

  “You screwed your way up the political ladder,” I continue firmly but loudly, “and for what, Lynn? A cell block, a roommate, and shitty food?” The judge is yelling, but I don’t care, raising my voice louder. “You may have taken my life from me, but I found a hell of a lot better one. You’re pathetic. I feel nothing but pity for you!”

  “Order! Recess!” The judge bangs his gavel loudly. The clerk helps me up, and I hold the bottom of my stomach. Cole rushes to my side, wrapping a protective arm around my waist and yelling at Morgan that I’m done, no more. They got what they nee
ded from me.

  Once we round the corner and are away from the rush of people, Cole turns to check me over. His hands are everywhere. “Are you all right? What can I do? Should I call the doctor?” His words are frantic until he sees my face. “Why are you smiling?”

  “Just call me a good actor.” I shrug.

  “You’re not hurting?” He looks a little pissed.

  “No, I am, but I knew we’d have to break soon, and there’s no way I’m going back into that room, so I did what I had to do to make sure I got to tell Lynn what I wanted to say.”

  “Which was?”

  “Which is no matter what, I’m still coming out of this on top.” I pull him into me, resting my head on his shoulder. “I didn’t mean to scare you, but I needed this to be over.”

  His hand wraps around my hair and tugs my head backward to look at him. “I couldn’t handle sitting there for too much longer, anyway.” He kisses my lips and takes my hand. “Come on. Let’s see if we can get an early flight back home.”

  Frank shakes his head at me and smiles. “I guess it could have been worse.” He holds the car door open for me. “Thanks for not getting held in contempt this time.”

  “No problem,” I joke, settling into my seat and feeling a mixture of things. I know it will take some time to work things out, but now this chapter can be closed, at least for me.

  Cole settles in next to me, placing his warm hand on my leg. Suddenly, my hormones kick in full throttle. I casually slip my hand on his thigh, dipping low and feeling him immediately spring to attention. He shakes his head, laughing under his breath.

  “You’re killing me, baby.” He leans down and gives me a quick kiss, pulling back slightly with his mouth hovering near my lips. “Oh, the things I’d do to you if we were alone.”

  My body hums with excitement. “Oh, the things I’d let you do to me if we were alone.” I bite my bottom lip playfully.