Chapter 5
Fiona’s pov-
There was a deep silence throughout the courtroom when the judge said that. The world felt like it paused in that moment. I felt my breath get caught in my throat, my heart thumped violently in my chest, and for a moment I was sure I had misunderstood him.
“Impossible!” I screamed, my voice shaking, torn with desperation. My eyes shot back to the judge, looking for anything on his face that this was some cruel mistake, misinterpretation, even a joke. But the serious look on his face, the finality in his voice, sent a chilling realisation shooting through my veins.
Edward was dead.
It hit me in my chest. I felt lightness in my legs, and a violent tremor shook my body. Everything had gone well until this morning. We had hope. We had a plan. Yet now, it felt like in an instant, our witness, our savior, was gone.
How did this happen? How did everything turn so suddenly?
In a rapid speed, loads of questions rushed through my mind. Would this go on like this? Would I always be one step behind, watching it all I worked for slip away right in front of me?
The judge’s gavel fell hard, echoing in the room. “This case is adjourned until further notice.”
The mutterings in the courtroom resumed, all the people murmuring to one another. But I remained still, my fists clenched. My thoughts were filled with pain, frustration, and disbelief. Edward was gone. Gone. And so was our best shot at taking Desmond down.
This was interrupted when a gentle but firm hand touched my shoulder, the hand jolted me from my spiraling thoughts. I turned, my gaze locking with Killian’s. His expression was unreadable, but he looked at me in a way that was soothing, calm, and unwavering.
He leaned in and whispered, his voice certain. “He could be dead, I get it, but this isn’t finished. Calm down, okay?”
My throat tightened, my eyes burned, and for an instant, I felt a prick of tears threatening to fall. But I swallowed hard, drew in a deep breath and straightened my back. I would not let anybody see me break. Not now. Not here.
Killian nodded as if satisfied, his lips curling as if to say, “That’s the woman I married.”
Then his voice dropped again, just for me to hear. “I’ll find out how he died. He’s gone, but don’t forget–I promised to help you. And I will.”
There was something about his certainty that anchored me, calmed the terror stirring inside me. I knew Killian was not a man to make empty promises. If he said he would get to the bottom of it, he would.
As I was starting to get over my feelings, someone came up to us. I didn’t have to look back to see who it was. That familiar, nauseating air of arrogance was unmistakable.
Desmond.
And, of course, shadowing him like a mindless companion, was his new girlfriend. The one he had proudly paraded around all over the media immediately after our divorce. The one he believed was going to take my place.
“Congrats on your wedding.” His voice was smooth, maybe even a little amused. “I didn’t have the opportunity to congratulate you before.”
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Chapter 5
I turned to him, my lips stretching into a slow, purposeful smile. God, how I wished I could smack that smug smirk off his face. But before I could so much as open my mouth, Killian stepped forward, placing himself between us like an impenetrable shield.
His hand reached out to Desmond, a slack, cool smirk spreading into place on his face, “Ohhh,” he said as he wrapped Desmond’s hand in a vice of a shake. “I don’t let my woman touch dirty things”
Desmond’s smirk faltered.
1 watched as Killian, the ever dramatic man, pulled a fresh white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his hands clean, and then, displaying a forced casualness, threw it to the ground at Desmond’s feet.
Desmond’s expression soured, his jaw tightening, the nostrils in his bearded face flaring. He was angry. And I relished in it.
He balled his fists and said nothing, standing perfectly still, and boiling over.
Killian stepped back satisfied, warm, and solid beside me. I didn’t need to see him to know he was loving the show much as I was loving it.
Just when I thought the encounter had reached its climax, Desmond’s girlfriend scoffed and flicked her perfectly coiffed hair over her shoulder. She tilted her head at me and sneered at me with contempt.
“Oh, now you’re finally satisfied after you‘ ve taken our money?”
Desmond’s girlfriend gave a smirk, the corner of her head cocked just so as she spoke. “Are you satisfied now that you have someone to back you up?”
She crossed her arms and stepped in closer, mockery dripping from her voice. “Just days ago, you were like a street rat, picking money from the ground. And now? Now you’re all standing here acting all proud just ‘cause you have him?”
My lips curled in a slow graceful laugh. This was not forced; it was deep, rich and mocking. I knew what this was about, and I tilted my head, taking in a moment for the pretext of humor to sink before my gaze locked with hers without question.
“Oh, honey,” I said. “He did this to me after I helped him grow. Come on, do you really think you’re going to be left out?”
Her self righteous smile faltered a little, and I jumped at the chance. I moved in a little closer and dropped my voice to just above a whisper, so I could make her uneasy.
“Just wait for your turn.”
Desmond fidgeted beside her, his jaw clenching. He knew exactly what I meant. He should, after all.
I turned and let my amusement slip into something much darker.
“And as for you, Desmond – this isn’t over. We are not done yet.” My voice had that sharp edge, that quiet promise wrapped around it.
He feigned ignorance, hoping to hide his anxiety, but I didn’t miss the flash of uncertainty in his expression. I took a breath, anchoring myself as everything crashed down over me.
Then I unknowingly clutched Killian’s hand tightly and turned and walked out of the courtroom. His hand felt warm and steady where as it rested on my shoulder, calming my aching heart.
As soon as we got to his car, Killian jerked his hand out of mine only long enough to seize it again this time, with a strong grip. He turned me toward him, his eyes glazed with something I wasn’t sure how to translate.
“There’s no need for you to ever have any conversation with them again,” he replied, his voice low but resolute. His hand
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Chapter 5
squeezed mine. “I don’t want you talking to him anymore.”
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