by Alice Ward
The four of us rose to our feet and she continued.
“Mr. Reynolds, Ms. Matthews, to the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm, how do you plead?”
Kennedy cleared her throat. “If I may, Your Honor, the defense waives reading of the charges. At this time, I move that all charges be dismissed without prejudice until the court has had an opportunity to have Cynthia Goins evaluated by an independent team of mental health professionals.”
The judge shuffled through paperwork. “Cynthia Goins… the victim?”
The balding prosecutor sprung to his feet. “Objection. Your honor, Ms. Goins has been transported to Cedar Sinai and is currently undergoing facial reconstruction surgery. It will be days if not weeks before she’s in any condition to undergo any type of questioning. This is a blatant attempt by the defense to stall the case long enough for the defendants to disappear.”
“My clients have no intention of disappearing,” Kennedy insisted. “Their only desire is to clear their names and see that Ms. Goins gets the care and help she so desperately needs.”
Judge Steinbeck studied the paperwork for a few silent moments and then peered up at Kennedy over the top of her lenses.
“Motion denied, counselor. These medical reports describe Ms. Goins’ mental state during childhood. Decades old medical records are not ample grounds to delay this case. How do your clients plead?”
“Not guilty on all charges,” Asher replied, his voice firm.
The judge looked to him, then to me. Somehow, I managed to spit the words out of my dry mouth. “Not guilty.”
“By reason of self-defense, in regards to the murder charges,” Kennedy added. “I’d like to move that bail—”
“I object,” the prosecutor interrupted with a snort. “Your Honor, Mr. Reynolds is a proven flight risk. Ten years ago, when he was William Murphy, he killed Miguel Chavez and then fled the state. This morning, he killed another member of the Chavez family. Let’s not give him a chance to carry out the rest of his pattern.”
“Ten years ago, my client was a scared teenager who felt that disappearing was the only way to save his life,” Kennedy corrected him. “Today, he’s an established, respected member of society. And he has nothing to hide. Ms. Matthews has no criminal history. She was nothing more than an innocent bystander whose life was saved thanks to Mr. Reynolds’ actions. I’m confident that once the facts are presented, everyone in this room will agree with me.”
She threw a sideways glance to the annoyed prosecutor and then turned back to the bench.
“In the meantime, my clients are in danger. Mr. Reynolds has lived most of his life in fear of the Chavez family. Their actions justified that fear when he was a child and they justified it again this morning. I’m sure Your Honor is aware that the family is fond of revenge and has deep criminal ties within the prison system. Undercover operatives within the family have reported that there is now a price on Mr. Reynolds’ head. I move that bail be set at whatever Your Honor sees fit and my clients be released under condition of house arrest.”
“The State is more than capable of housing Mr. Reynolds and Ms. Matthews safely,” the prosecutor insisted.
“The State has failed my clients time and time again. If released, both would reside at Mr. Reynolds’ San Jose estate. They have ample resources to ensure their safety. Mr. Reynolds is also willing to allow the court real time access to his home security cameras, so there is never any question as to my clients’ whereabouts.”
The judge raised an eyebrow and turned to Asher. “That’s an unconventional offer.”
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep Ms. Matthews safe. And I have nothing to hide.”
Judge Steinbeck pulled off her glasses and laid them upside down on the desk. “This case is unique, to say the least. I don’t see the need to access your home security at this time. Quite frankly, I don’t feel the case warrants the mountain of paperwork legal access would require. Bail is set at one million dollars apiece. The defendants will be released on the conditions they surrender their passports and are outfitted with personal monitoring devices. While Ms. Goins’ childhood medical records were not grounds for dismissal, the court does recognize the need to have her mental state evaluated.”
“Your Honor,” the prosecutor interrupted.
The judge held up a hand to silence him. “Mr. Donaldson, she is the only witness in this case. And though her records are dated, they are concerning. Need I remind you that as a prosecutor, it’s in your best interest that your star witness be a sound one?”
“No, Your Honor,” he conceded.
“That settles it. Ms. Goins will be evaluated by each of your experts. I’m scheduling jury selection for October first. This court is adjourned.”
When Judge Steinbeck slammed her gavel against the bench, I didn’t know whether to hug Asher or Kennedy first.
CHAPTER 2
A security guard opened the front door and Kennedy, Asher, and I stepped into the house.
“Sit down,” Kennedy barked, gesturing to the sofa. She tossed her briefcase onto the coffee table and continued on to the kitchen. She pulled a single beer from the refrigerator and nudged the door shut with her heel as she returned to Asher and me.
In response, we sat rigid on the couch like two kids waiting to see the principal. She’d kept her cool during the long car ride home, but I’d expected her to lose it the moment we were alone.
Kennedy took a long sip of her beer, sat it on a coaster, and then turned to us with her hands on her hips. When her voice came out calm and collected, I knew we were in real trouble.
“I don’t know what the fuck the two of you were thinking. But what’s done is done. I am going to speak slowly and I expect you both to pay attention. From this point forward, I am in charge. You will do what I say, when I say it, without question. You’ve dug yourselves into one hell of a hole. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ll be able to dig you out of it, Asher. You can’t afford to do anything even a fraction as stupid as the shit you pulled this morning.”
“Understood,” he agreed. “At this point, I don’t even care what happens to me. My only concern is for Lauren.”
“I’m happy to hear you say that. If you really mean it, you’ll allow Parker and me to file a motion to have your cases separated. One of us will defend you, one will handle Lauren’s case. If the time comes, you’ll have separate trials and juries,” she explained.
“I told you I didn’t want to do that,” I reminded her, trying to hide the frustration in my voice.
“File the motion,” Asher insisted. I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off.
“This isn’t up for discussion,” he told me, running both hands through his hair. “Please, Lauren. I put you in this mess and for that, I’ll never forgive myself. Kennedy’s right, I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking. When I realized where Rachel was probably hiding, I lost sight of everything else.”
“That seems to be a habit for you,” Kennedy pointed out, narrowing her eyes. “And Lauren is always the one who suffers from it.”
Part of me felt very satisfied knowing that Kennedy wasn’t going to forgive Asher anytime soon. But another, desperate part of me filled with panic. I respected Parker, but I trusted Kennedy with my life. I trusted her with Asher’s. I knew my best friend was his best shot at avoiding a prison sentence and I was terrified she’d insist on representing me instead.
“I know,” Asher agreed, pulling at his curls. He rose to his feet and started pacing the room.
“Once the cases are separated, do you think you’ll be able to get the charges against Lauren thrown out?” he asked.
“At this point that’s highly unlikely,” Kennedy warned. “But if the judge grants the separation, I will certainly try.”
“No,” I practically shouted, finally finding my voice. They both looked at me with a blend of shock and confusion.
“What do you mean ‘no’?” Kennedy asked with a raised eyebrow. “Yo
u want to go to trial?”
“Of course not. But if I have to, I’ll go with Parker. I want you to represent Asher. I need you to, Kennedy.”
Many seconds ticked by as she stared at me, then she looked at the ceiling and blew out a breath. “I appreciate your faith in me, but I’m afraid it’s misplaced.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Well, my boss agrees with me and not you,” she said with a sigh. She sank down onto the couch beside me and took another sip of her beer.
“What are you talking about?” Asher pressed, his voice choked with nerves.
“I got a call from one of the senior partners in the LA office. Your case is getting international attention. Which means the firm is getting international attention. It doesn’t look good to have a junior associate as the lead attorney.”
“They’re replacing you?” I asked, panic fluttering in my chest.
She shook her head and swallowed the last drop of her beer. “Not exactly. But one of the senior partners is now listed as the lead defense attorney. Another will be assigned to work with Parker if the judge separates the charges.”
“I don’t like this,” Asher said. “We’re the clients. I’m the one paying the bill. Don’t I have a say about who represents me in court?”
“When you signed the contract, you hired the firm, not me specifically,” she reminded him. “If you want to fire the firm, that’s your prerogative. And if you don’t click with Clark, we can ask that someone else be assigned. But for the time being, not much is going to change. Parker and I will handle things on a day-to-day basis and send Clark regular updates. We’ll see him in court and he may show up for some of the depositions and the more important meetings with the prosecutor. For what it’s worth, I looked into him and he has a fantastic record. He’s tried thirty-seven homicide cases and only six of his clients were convicted. I think you should give him a chance.”
“But you’re not going anywhere?” I asked. Her phone chimed and she read the screen before responding.
“Yes, I am,” she replied. “My driver is here. But I’m not going far. Jackson rented a suite down in the valley. He’s waiting with room service and a bubble bath, both of which I need after today.”
She stood up, grabbed her briefcase, and set off for the door. Asher and I followed. She stopped in the entryway and turned back to us.
“You understand that those monitors on your ankles track your every movement. There’s a very good chance that the cops have other surveillance in place as well. If you step one inch off of this property, your bail will be revoked. Which means if any more revelations come to you while you’re sleeping, you need to pick up the phone and call someone instead of taking matters into your own hands.”
“Understood,” Asher promised her again.
She gave me a tense hug and then opened the door. A plain black town car waited in the driveway. Kennedy paused again halfway to the car and glanced at us over her shoulder.
“You need to think about how you want to handle the press,” she warned. “The story is snowballing and most of the facts are being distorted in the headlines. I hate to say it, but you may want to watch the news so you understand what we’re up against. I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”
Asher nodded and lifted a hand. “Good night, Kennedy.”
She didn’t respond. We watched her slide into the back seat of the car and then turned back to the house. I took Asher’s arm and he pulled me close as we made our way back to the sofa. It was the first time we’d been alone since we’d left his Explorer that morning. Asher leaned back on the sofa and I fell into his arms. His heart beat against my ear as I rose up and down with his breaths.
“I’m so sorry,” he said after a few silent minutes. “I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking. I suspected Rachel had been working with the Chavez family all along. But I never expected Luis to be with her. If I’d known he wasn’t in LA…”
“You mean if the cops had realized they were following the wrong damn person?” I corrected him.
“Yes… though I can’t really say that I blame them. Luis and his cousin look an awful lot alike. From a distance, it would be really hard to tell them apart.” He kissed my hair and hugged me tighter. “I appreciate the way you always try to take the blame off of me. But you need to just let me own it this time. I fucked up. We’re both in deep shit and it’s all my fault. And worse yet, I could have gotten you killed.”
I sat up, shuddering slightly as scenes from the cabin flashed through my mind. “You did scare me a little,” I confessed. “Not just at the cabin, but on the way there. It was like you were possessed. And the way you talked to Luis… it was like you were a different person.”
Asher blushed and looked at the coffee table. “To be honest, I felt possessed. I could just picture Rachel hiding out at the cabin, watching from a close distance and laughing her ass off while we raced around the country trying to find her. I thought of everything she’d put me through, all of the lies she’d told, and confronting her was all I could think about. As for the way I talked to Luis, it was all I could do not to vomit when I called him Uncle. I was trying to keep us safe, to keep him pacified until the cops got there. It almost worked.” He rested his elbows on his legs and lowered his head to his hands. I gave him a gentle rub on the back and sighed.
“How are you holding up?” I asked, lowering my voice. “I know your feelings for Luis were complicated. You must feel very conflicted right now.”
Asher lifted his head, his jaw firm. “I don’t feel conflicted at all. In some ways, Luis was good to me. He gave me somewhere to belong and pushed me to be my best. But he didn’t do it for me, he did it for himself. And he was going to kill you. I haven’t felt a moment of regret or remorse for sending him to Hell where he belongs.”
“Asher, I can tell you’re upset and I know there’s more to it than what you’re saying,” I argued. “Please just talk to me. Let me help you.”
He curled a strand of my hair around his finger, all the way to the roots. Then he blew out a breath as he let it go. “I’m not sure if this makes sense… but I feel guilty for not feeling guilty. I killed a man today, Lauren. For the second time in my life, I’ve taken someone else’s. And I’m not sorry for either. I’d kill them both again in a heartbeat. What kind of person does that make me? What if I’m a monster?”
I took both his hands in mine and looked him square in the eyes. “Monsters don’t worry about whether or not they’re monsters. You’re a good man, Asher. You’re impulsive, you get terrible tunnel vision, and if I think about it long enough, I’m sure I could come up with a laundry list of other things you could stand to work on. But the last thing I’d ever call you is a monster.”
Asher squeezed my hands as a single tear rolled down his cheek. “I’m so grateful for the faith you have in me. But I can’t for the life of me figure out where it comes from.”
I smiled and wiggled back into his arms. “I’d be happy to explain, if you’re interested.”
He didn’t say a word, but another tear slid down his face and he swallowed hard, holding me tighter. Knowing he wouldn’t ask and also knowing he needed to hear the words, I began…
“I know you’re a good man because I’ve been with my share of bad ones. No one I’d call a monster, exactly, but no one who cared about me and loved me the way you do. You support me and celebrate me instead of acting threatened when I succeed. I have faith in you because of all of those things and so many more. But mostly, I have faith in us. And when I’m here, in your arms, I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
“What if—?”
I put a finger to his lips to silence him. “Don’t,” I insisted. “We have plenty of time to worry about the future. I don’t want to think about the what ifs, not tonight. And I don’t want to watch the news either.”
“I agree with you on that one.”
We hadn’t so much as turned on a radio since we were released on bail. Ken
nedy had filled us in on the basics: the news organizations knew snippets of Asher’s past, including his original name and his childhood involvement in the Chavez organization. They also knew about Luis Chavez’s death and our arrests. Kennedy warned it was only a matter of time before Rachel released a statement and made everything infinitely worse.
I nuzzled into Asher’s neck, moving my lips inches from his ear.
“I have a challenge for you,” I whispered. I felt his cock twitch against my leg and a rush of adrenaline raced through my body.
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
I leaned away from him, stretching my back and shoulders. “My back is wrecked from sleeping on the air mattress. I smell like a blend of outside and that God awful stale jail cell. I think you should take me to the shower, help me wash this day away, and then make me forget that it even happened.”
“That’s a tall order,” he replied with a sigh.
“Give it your best try,” I dared with a grin.
For the first time all day, a slight smile broke across Asher’s face. He slid me onto the couch and stood, his eyes dancing with a dare of their own. He loosened his tie without breaking eye contact with me.
“I’ll race you to the bathroom.”
“You’re on,” I agreed, jumping from the couch. I darted through the kitchen and down the hallway with Asher at my heels. I threw off my jacket and blouse, kicking off my slacks as we reached the bedroom. I stumbled over one leg as the other got hung up on my ankle monitor. Asher raced up behind me, lifting me into his arms.
“No fair,” I argued with a laugh. “I was winning.”
“And now we tie,” he countered, stumbling into the bathroom. He pulled my pant leg over the monitor and tossed my slacks to the floor. He stepped into the walk-in shower and sat me on my feet. I leaned against the tile wall and pulled his body to mine. He’d stripped out of his shirt during our race to the shower, but his slacks were still belted on.
I fumbled with Asher’s belt buckle and he dropped his lips to my neck. I finally got his pants unfastened and pushed him onto the bench seat. He kicked off his shoes and I slid his slacks down his legs, revealing his firm, rigid cock. I dove for his lap, taking him into my mouth.
