by Alice Ward
I nodded. “Like you said, you’re Asher’s father. That makes you family. And where I come from, family sticks together.”
A flash of gratitude crossed William’s face and he gave me a soft smile. “Sounds like we’ve finally found something we agree on.”
***
Thirty hours later, our rented jet touched down on one of the Montgomery family’s private airstrips in upstate New York. Kennedy was waiting with a group of FBI agents to escort us to the local jail. I gave Asher one last kiss before stepping down the staircase and into federal custody. While I was being cuffed, I met Kennedy’s eyes for a split second. She immediately looked away from me, her jaw set.
Asher, William, and I were read our rights and separated into three different cars. I hoped Kennedy would ride with me, but she climbed behind the wheel of a black Land Rover and led the caravan to the highway.
I knew she’d be pissed. But I can’t believe she won’t even look at me.
I’d called Kennedy from our last fuel stop and briefly told her what was going on. She’d remained stone silent on the phone, save for her flat promise to meet us at the airport. I’d assumed she’d be meeting us as our lawyer. But after her non-greeting, I started to wonder if she was still willing to represent us.
We arrived at the police station within minutes, and the agents hauled us in for booking. I was relieved to see that the news stations hadn’t been tipped off yet. I’d already been photographed being led into a police station in handcuffs, and once was one time too many. I hoped we’d be as lucky when we arrived in California.
A female agent greeted us in the intake garage and helped me out of the car. She led me into the building and through a maze of hallways, depositing me in a small interrogation room.
“Your lawyer asked to speak with you first,” she explained, cuffing me to the table.
“Are these really necessary?” I asked, wiggling the chains.
The cop turned up her nose. “Asks the girl who’s been on the run with fugitives.” She gave me a final look of disgust and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
I guess I probably shouldn’t expect people to be friendly.
I waited on Kennedy for what seemed like hours. There were no clocks in the room, so I had no idea how much time had actually passed. I shifted uncomfortably on the hard plastic chair and cursed myself for not using the bathroom before I got off the jet. I’d given up hope that Kennedy was coming when the door opened and she stepped into the room.
She slammed her briefcase down on the table and sat down in the chair across from me. She still refused to meet my eyes. Instead, she unpacked a stack of paperwork and pulled out a pen.
“I need a detailed account of what happened from the moment you left your residence in San Jose to the moment you stepped off the jet,” she dictated the instructions without a hint of emotion. I couldn’t take her cold shoulder for another second.
“Kennedy, I know you’re pissed. I can explain. I—”
“I’m not pissed,” she interrupted, her voice harsh. “And I’m not your friend right now either. I’m your attorney. Your attorney who has a shit ton of work to do and apparently a new client I don’t remember agreeing to take on. You’re scheduled to be extradited to San Francisco in six hours and I need to talk to all three of you before we leave. So start talking. And you’d better tell me everything, Lauren. The truth, not the story you’ve concocted with Asher and William to absolve you of all of your sins. So help me, if I think you’re lying, I will walk out of this room and never look back.”
I took a deep breath and told her everything. She listened without interrupting, scribbling on her notepad and occasionally wrinkling her face with frustration.
“I told you I would do this,” I finished. “I told you I’d join Asher if he asked me, and that I’d do it without you knowing.”
“Yes, you warned me,” she agreed. “I’ll try to remember to bring you a gold star the next time I visit you in the slammer.”
“How much trouble am I in, Kennedy?”
“You’re in a shit ton of trouble, Lauren. This is the most irresponsible, selfish thing you’ve ever done. And that goes double for that genius husband of yours. Don’t even get me started on his father. Do you know how easy this would have been for me to take care of if they’d have just kept their asses in that jail cell? I’m Asher’s attorney. He could have called me from Atwater any time he wanted. One phone call, Lauren. That’s all the effort Asher and William would have had to put into this. If I had access to William’s information, we’d all be celebrating their freedom right now. Instead, you’re all looking at felony convictions.”
“There’s nothing you can do?” I asked, growing more nervous at her every word.
“I don’t know. But I doubt it. I’m good, Lauren. But I’m not a miracle worker. There’s definitely nothing I can do for all three of you. If William is really willing to take the fall for this, then I can’t be his lawyer.”
“Why not? Asher and I are both willing to waive any conflict.”
She rolled her eyes and folded her arms over her chest. “Do you think anything through, Lauren? William’s going to tell the court that he essentially kidnapped Asher. I can’t represent him and his victims. The best I can do is refer him to someone else. I know a handful of people who do pro bono work. I’ll make some calls and see if any of them are available.”
I was silent for a moment and then cleared my throat. “Would you consider representing William if Asher and I hired a separate attorney?”
“Now you don’t want me representing you?”
“Of course I do. But I hate that William is taking the fall for this. I want him to have the best attorney possible, and that’s you.”
“Even if I wanted to represent William, which I don’t, I can’t. I have oaths to uphold, Lauren. I can’t put someone on the stand knowing they intend to perjure themselves. I’ll make sure he has a good attorney. That’s all I can do.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, do you have any questions about the trip home? If not, I need to go speak with Asher.”
I shook my head. “I have questions, but not about the trip.”
She shoved her paperwork back into her briefcase and let out a long sigh.
“Your parents were devastated when we realized you’d run. Your mother alternated between sitting on the couch half comatose and cleaning like a possessed woman. Your father checks his phone every thirty seconds or so, hoping for a message or a call. Claire moved back to the townhouse and stopped calling to ask for news three days ago.”
“Kennedy, I’m so—”
“The company is in complete shambles,” she continued, raising her voice. “Three board members have been indicted and half of the staff is being investigated for insider trading. Turns out, the stock price shot up after you were honored by that magazine. But when the employees started to smell trouble, a lot of them sold their shares. The SEC and FBI have both closed their investigations. But no one’s tried to report for work. Not that you should worry about any of this,” she added sarcastically. “You certainly weren’t concerned about it when you split town.”
“Kennedy, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what else to do. He’s my husband.”
She stood, slung the strap of her purse over one arm, and pulled her briefcase off the table.
“I get it, Lauren. He’s your husband. To hell with everyone else who loves you and wants the best for you, right?”
“You know—”
She spun on me and narrowed her eyes. “I’ll tell you what I know. I’ve spent months neglecting my husband while attempting to keep yours out of prison. I’ve lived without my things, without my bed, without my family, all because I love you. I worked myself into the ground to the point that I forgot about my responsibilities.”
“I’m so sorry. You don’t have to represent any of us, Kennedy. You don’t even have to find us other lawyers. You’re ri
ght. You’ve worked too hard already and I didn’t deserve it. Go home and take care of yourself.”
To my complete shock, she burst into tears and collapsed back onto the chair.
“It’s too late,” she explained through her sobs.
“What do you mean it’s too late?”
“I mean, what’s done is done. With everything that was going on, I forgot to take my birth control. I’m pregnant, Lauren. About five weeks.”
I was speechless for a moment. Kennedy and Jackson had always agreed that they wanted a family. But they’d also agreed to wait until they were older and Kennedy was more settled in her career.
“Are you… are you going to ha—”
“Of course I’m having it,” she answered before I finished the question. “This is my child. I already love it. But I have no idea how I’m going to balance everything. I don’t want to be one of those people who pawns their kid off on a nanny. But I also can’t imagine stepping back from work. This is the time I’m supposed to be building my career, not taking a break from it.”
Her overwhelmingly hostile attitude toward me suddenly made even more sense. “When did you find out?”
“The morning after the feds realized you’d skipped the country,” she replied, wiping her tears with the sleeve of her blazer.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you. You’ve helped me through so much.”
“It’s okay,” she replied, continuing to wipe at her eyes. “I’m sorry I was such a bitch. But I am still pissed at you.”
“That’s fine. I deserve it. But is it okay if while you’re pissed at me, I tell you that you’re going to be a fantastic mother?”
“You really think so?” she asked, her voice dripping with doubt.
“I know so. And I’ll be there every step of the way, if you’ll have me.”
She pushed her shoulders back and smoothed her strawberry blonde hair. “That sounds like a plan. But first, let’s see if I can keep you out of prison.”
CHAPTER 6
Three days after returning to the states, I sat in a federal courtroom in San Jose as a free woman. Initially, I was charged with aiding and abetting, as well as three counts of interfering with a federal investigation. Asher and William gave their statements and stuck to the story we’d created during our flight home.
William insisted that he forced Asher to leave Atwater in an effort to protect him from the Chavez family. They both told the prosecutor that I’d tracked them down on my own and flown out to persuade them to return home and face the music. The prosecutor seemed as exhausted with the case as we were and agreed to let me plead guilty to lesser charges. I was sentenced to one thousand hours of community service, but no jail time.
I sat behind the defense table, hoping Asher would be so lucky. The court in San Luis Obispo had already dropped the murder charges and ruled Luis Chavez’s death an act of self-defense. We just needed the federal judge to drop the charges stemming from Rachel’s lies and Asher’s subsequent jail break. Kennedy thought our chances were good, but I was afraid to hope.
“All rise.”
I stood at the bailiff’s words with my parents on either side of me. Asher looked over his shoulder and gave me a quick wink before facing the bench. A wrinkled, cantankerous looking man in black robes shuffled into the courtroom.
“You may be seated,” he announced, settling into his black leather chair. “This court is called to order. We’re here today in regards to the United States versus Asher Reynolds. Defense counsel has filed a motion requesting all charges against Mr. Reynolds be dropped. The court has reviewed the new evidence in the case and is ready to hear arguments. Mr. Stevens, you have the floor.”
The prosecutor closed the file in front of him and rose to his feet.
“Your Honor, while the government is willing to negotiate a plea in this case, I feel that complete dismissal of the charges is unwarranted. Mr. Reynolds has a long history of taking matters into his own hands instead of relying on the proper authorities. I feel it would be a grave mistake to reinforce this behavior by letting him off scot-free. The government is willing to let Mr. Reynolds plead to three counts of interfering with a federal investigation and recommends that he be sentenced to community service and time served.”
The prosecutor sat back down and the judge turned to Kennedy.
“Mrs. Montgomery, is your client agreeable to the government’s suggestion?”
She turned to Asher and he gave her a slight nod.
“Yes, Your Honor. The defense has no objections.”
“Then Mr. Reynolds, please stand.”
Asher and Kennedy returned to their feet.
“Asher Reynolds, how do you plead to the charges against you?”
“Guilty, Your Honor.”
“So noted. Mr. Reynolds, there are a few things I’d like to say before I deliver your sentence. As the prosecutor noted, you have a long and disturbing history of taking the law into your own hands. And while you may be innocent of malicious intent, you must learn that the laws of this country are concrete. No one, regardless of their means or abilities, is allowed to bend the law to their favor. The court is willing to grant a certain amount of leniency, considering the unique circumstances of this case. But if I see you in my court again, you won’t be so lucky.”
“Yes, Your Honor,” Asher agreed.
“Asher Reynolds, you are hereby sentenced to two thousand hours of community service and time served. Court is dismissed.”
He slammed the gavel on the bench and Asher turned to me with a grin. He raced around the divider that separated court members from spectators and lifted me into his arms.
“It’s over, baby. It’s finally over,” he whispered into my ear.
It’s finally over. We’re free.
“Congratulations, baby,” I whispered back.
Asher sat me back on the floor and turned to Kennedy. He wrapped her in a hug and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek.
“Kennedy, you are both a genius and a lifesaver. And if I recall correctly, I owe you all one hell of a vacation.”
“You don’t have to tell us twice,” Dad teased, extending his hand. Asher accepted it and Dad pulled him into a hug.
“I’m glad this is over, son. Now you and Lauren can start your lives. Ellen and I couldn’t be happier.”
“You have no idea how much your support has meant to me,” Asher told him, a single tear in his eye.
“We love you like you’re our own,” Mom assured him. “And we’re so happy you’re finally safe.”
The two men who’d tracked us to the island had been arrested the day before when they attempted to reenter the country with forged passports. The underlings had scattered. William predicted that some would find work with other gangs, some would revert back to petty theft and other street crimes. Only two members of the organization were unaccounted for. William’s theory for their current location involved international waters and cement. We were, in fact, finally safe.
Asher wrapped one arm around my shoulders and the other around Kennedy’s. He practically floated as he led us out of the courtroom.
“So the vacation. Where would you all like to go?”
Mom let out a soft laugh. “As pathetic as this sounds, right now I just want to go home.”
“I second that, actually,” Kennedy agreed. “All I want to do right now is spend a week moving back and forth from my bed to my bathtub.”
“Some quite time at home does sound awfully good,” I told Asher. “We can go back to being newlyweds,” I added, my voice barely a whisper.
He flashed me an infectious grin and kissed my forehead. “Your wish is my command, Mrs. Reynolds.”
***
I woke up with a hot, wet desire burning between my legs. I stirred into consciousness and instinctively reached down. My hand fell on Asher’s soft curls and he increased the intensity of his tongue. After a series of long, hard lashes, he pulled away and moved his lips to my bare stomach.
“Good morning, wife,” he purred, sliding his tongue from my abs to my breasts. He licked a trail back and forth between my nipples, biting at them with each pass. I squirmed beneath him in delight.
“Good morning, husband. Did you sleep well?”
He licked his way up my neck and gave my earlobe the same lashing he’d just given my clit.
“I slept amazing. You wore me out last night,” he teased, pressing his stiff, throbbing cock against my hip.
I turned my face to Asher’s and bit hungrily at his lips, weaving my fingers through his curls.
“You’ve been wearing me out all week. I’m going to need a vacation to recover from our staycation,” I countered.
“Mmm. I could be convinced to go on a vacation. Do you want to make love at a resort on the beach, or a resort in the mountains?”
“Yes,” I answered with a laugh. “But we’ll have to settle for the house until further notice. We have to go back to the real world next week, remember?”
We had three days left until our honeymoon was over. The following Monday, Asher and I would tackle the seemingly impossible task of rebuilding EnvisionTech Media.
“All the more reason to take advantage of the time we have left,” he replied. He took my left breast between his teeth and gave it a light tug. I rolled onto my side, instinctively pressing my hips into his. Asher moved his lips back to mine and slipped one hand between my legs. He pushed two fingers inside me and gently rolled his thumb over my clit. When I tried to cry out, he kissed me harder, mimicking the movement of his fingers with his tongue. I let out an instinctive, guttural moan and pushed myself down on his hand. He added a third finger and I gushed with satisfaction.
“Oh, baby,” he gasped, pulling his lips away from me. “I think that may be a new record.”
“You have the magic touch,” I replied through heavy breaths.
Asher brought his hand to his lips and licked up my juices. I grabbed the back of his head and kissed him again, moving my tongue around every inch of his mouth. Asher’s cock twitched against my thigh when he realized what I was doing.
