Page 56 of Demon On Deck

The judge is flipping through documents, pulling out a pair of glasses to look more closely. “I speak law, not numbers. Give me the cliffs notes, and I’ll stop you if I have questions.”

“Yes, your honor,” Demmir says as Neeve hands him a file. He opens it and lays it down in front of him, thumbing through several pages before stopping. “If you’ll turn to page 10, there is a summary of my findings regarding the personal finances of Ms. Brooks. From the date of their marriage up until the divorce was finalized, Ms. Brooks shared joint banking with Mr. Voss. He had access to all of her personal accounts until documents for divorce were filed with the court. No funds were withheld prior to Mr. Voss’s removal from said account to the present. There has been no unusual or suspicious financial activity.”

The judge nods. “And in regard to the business? I’m seeing that Mr. Voss is calling into question several business contracts?”

Demmir flips several more pages before addressing the judge once more, “If you’ll turn to page 23, you’ll find the business summary. The contracts in question were established in July of this year, well after the divorce was finalized. Therefore, these funds can not be considered for resettlement calculations, as they are post-divorce. Additionally, there are no fraudulent or unusual financial transactions in Ms. Brooks business accounts.”

“Bullshit. Lying bitch is hiding money from me!” Matt shrieks as he jumps to his feet. His lawyer tries to settle him, but Matt is hell-bent on making a scene.

“Order! Control your client, Mr. Lobe,” the judge commands as Matt continues to yell.

“Mr. Voss! If you do not calm down, I will hold you in contempt, and you can spend the night in jail and think about your behavior.”

At the threat of jail, Matt throws himself back into his chair like a petulant child. Mr. Lobe resumes his own seat, whispering fervently at Matt, who is growing angrier by the second.

“Thank you, Mr. Kade. You may be seated.”

The judge resumes perusing the paperwork in front of him, and the court remains quiet for several long minutes. My palms are sweating, and my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. Time seems to drip like a slow-leaking faucet. And if that isn’t bad enough, I can feel Evren’s eyes on me the entire time.

“Please rise,” The judge finally says.

“It is my opinion that Ms. Brooks did not hide any funds, either personal or professional, that would have impacted the sum awarded to Mr. Voss during his divorce settlement. Furthermore, I see a secondary petition for a lien against Ms. Brooks' business, Bloomhaus. There are no legal grounds to justify the filing of this petition. Therefore, I am ruling in favor of Ms. Brooks. Mr. Voss, do not weaponize this courtroom again. Case dismissed.”

Chapter 19

Confessions & Claimings

KALLIE

“Case dismissed,” the judge declares, the crack of the gavel echoing through the courtroom.

The sound hits like a wrecking ball, smashing through the last few weeks of dread, anxiety, panic, and pain. The tension rope that’s held me hostage since Matt’s appearance in Bloomhaus, since this whole nightmare began, finally snaps.

My body sags with relief as this horrible weight I’ve been carrying is lifted. I turn to Neeve and Demmir, tears filling my eyes.

“Thank you so much,” I choke out.

Neeve wraps me in a tight hug. “You are more than welcome. I enjoyed wiping that dickless mealworm’s ass across the floor for a second time.”

I can’t help but laugh as a few stray tears escape my eyes. When I release Neeve, I turn to Demmir. My emotions threaten to overwhelm me as a lump lodges itself squarely in my throat.

“I can’t,” I have to stop to choke back the tears. “I don’t know how to thank you.” I manage to get the words out before the tears start free-flowing.

Demmir smiles softly, placing a large crimson hand so like his son’s on my shoulder. “No thanks necessary, I know what you mean to my son. You’re family.”

Family. How can he see me as family after what I’ve put Evren through?

Words fail me as more tears fall. The court officer calling the next case pulls me out of my impending spiral. Neeve and Demmir gather their files and briefcases and file out of the seating area. I’m right behind them when a strong grip on my bicep pulls me to a stop.

Matt is several shades of red and seething.

“Cute little stunt you pulled there, Kallie. You might have fooled that idiot judge, but I see through your bullshit,” he hisses as he squeezes my arm hard enough I’m sure it’ll bruise.

“Let go of me, Matt,” I hiss back through clenched teeth.

His grip tightens further, sending a pulse of pain radiating down my arm. “This isn’t over, Kallie. This is just the⁠—”

The hand gripping my arm is peeled back by a flash of crimson-and-black claws. One minute Matt is standing in front, spitting threats in my face, the next he’s dangling in the air by his shirt. Evren grips the front of Matt’s shirt, his knuckles pressing into Matt’s throat while the other hand still has Matt’s fingers peeled backward at a very uncomfortable-looking angle.