Page 1 of Sleeping with the Dark (The Righteous 3)
Taking on Renee’s brother’s case was risky. He was not one known for charity work, and to take Cody on had to seem like this was business as usual and not a favor. He’d been reluctant, but there wasn’t anything he could deny Arek. It had been that way since childhood. There was also the fact Cody, the former Ice Man, had held true to his word and helped Arek. There was honor in that—Trev respected family ties and honor above all else.
In comparison to some of his trials, this one had moved along at light speed. He was happy a verdict was back, confident that he’d poked enough holes in the prosecution’s case to get Cody off, but it was a little bittersweet. Surprisingly, he had found himself enjoying his time with Cody. So, questions that could have waited to be asked, he had been making a special trip to the jail to ask, just to have a few moments alone with him. From the sweet smiles that always made his dimples show to the tantalizing conversation, Trev couldn’t get enough.
Trevor walked up the courtroom steps, briefcase in hand, and met Arek and Renee at the top.
“Are you ready for whatever happens in there today?” He laid a hand on Renee’s shoulder. Her eyes stared down at her belly, still flat despite entering her second trimester. She laid her hand protectively over her stomach before she slowly met his eyes.
“I’d love for Cody to be an Uncle, to get back the life he gave up to protect me, but….” she lowered her voice to a whisper. “He also did a lot of bad things.”
She sighed as Arek laid both his hands on her shoulders.
She continued, “Whatever happens, you did your best. You were brilliant in there. I know what Cody has done, and you nearly convinced me that I’d been mistaken.”
Trevor smiled wide at the compliment.
“I was pretty incredible, but it’s up to the jury now.” He glanced at the Rolex on his wrist. “Better not be late.” Trev led the way and held the door open for his soon-to-be-sister-in-law and brother. As his brother went to pass he stopped him and whispered in his ear. “You should wait out in the hall.”
“We already discussed this.”
“Fine.” Trev shook his head, giving up. It was hard to imagine his brother tied down to one woman for the rest of his life, but he’d also never seen Arek happier.
With his usual air of confidence, he marched to the front of the courtroom, and the corner of his mouth pulled up as Cody stood to greet him. He looked particularly stylish with the steel grey suit and tie that matched his eyes. Trevor’s cheeks warmed as he took in the broad shoulders that were the definition of as wide as a mountain. He could remember all too well the feel of that muscular chest from when he and Renee had rushed him to the hospital. A few inches to the left and the bullets he suffered at Tyson’s hands would have left Cody dead.
“You nervous?” Trev gave him a small comforting smile.
Cody turned to stare out of the high windows, the light catching his masculine jaw and casting shadows across his face. The thin scar that traveled from his temple to the corner of his lip was more pronounced.
“I don’t want to go to jail. I—It doesn’t matter what I want. My choices were my choices. I would do them all over again if it meant keeping my sister safe.” Those silver eyes locked with his, and he’d never wanted a verdict to go his way so badly in his life. He glanced over his shoulder to where Renee sat, she was putting on a good face but worry was etched in her features.
“All rise.”
The meager group assembled stood for the judge, and the jury filed into the jury box.
“You may be seated,” the judge said and immediately turned his attention to the jury. “Have you come to a verdict?”
“Yes, we have your honor.” The foreperson rose and handed the verdict to the court officer, who handed it to the judge. Trevor watched the piece of paper like a cat as it went from one set of hands to the other and eventually back to the foreperson.
“The defendant may rise.”
Trevor and Cody stood in unison, and he stopped himself from looking over at the man beside him. They needed this win. He stared at the foreperson as if the weight of his gaze alone could influence what was written on that piece of paper.
“In the case of the State vs. Mr. Walters in regards to the charge of five counts of opioid possession, we find the defendant guilty.”
Trevor swore in his head as the foreperson continued, “In regards to the charge of drug trafficking, we find the defendant not guilty. In regards to the charge of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, we find the defendant not guilty. In regards to the charge of obstruction of justice, we find the defendant not guilty.” Trevor wanted to cheer as the foreperson sat down. Trev’s attention turned to the judge.
“Based on the court’s ruling, I find the punishment to be time served, but let me be clear young man, getting involved with drugs of any quantity is a dangerous and serious endeavor. I never want to see you in my court again. Court is adjourned.”
Trevor smiled as the judge walked out. He had barely turned his head before Cody gripped him in a bear hug. His body shuddered with the sudden contact. He caught the scent of ocean and musk body wash, and Trev breathed the fresh, clean scent deep into his lungs. He immediately envisioned laying out on the sand by the lapping waves with this man and had to step away to stop the vivid images.
“Thank you. I don’t know how to repay you for this.” Cody smiled at him and then turned to Renee, who was smiling and crying as she opened her arms for her brother, who stepped right into the hug.
“You did good, brother,” Arek whispered.
“Was there ever any doubt?.” Trev raised an eyebrow at his twin and then looked around to make sure no one was paying them any attention.
“Stop worrying. I’ve stayed away until now, you know why I came in.” Arek jutted his chin toward Renee as she chatted animatedly with Cody.
“Yes, I understand. At least this was a low-profile case, no cameras.” Trevor straightened his suit, clicked his briefcase closed. “I will be on my way, see you at home.”
