Page 58 of Desire Becomes Surrender
Avalyne
“You really know how to pick them, huh?” Lilac raises her eyebrow, her arms crossed, watching me getting ready for the court.
Today is the day. The trial against Damien will take place in two hours. And I’m not supposed to be there, but I will. Damien doesn’t want me there because he knows I shouldn’t go because of my father. My father, in turn, doesn’t want me there, well, for obvious reasons. But they don’t get to tell me what to do. I’m going. And there’s no way in hell either of them will stop me.
“He’s worth it, Lilac,” I reply, applying mascara to my left eye.
“I believe you, but I didn’t think you would have to watch his hearing in court.” She says, concerned, and it’s not like her. “Does your father know you’re going to be there?”
“Of course not.”
She scoffs, “Of course.”
“Lilac, don’t worry,” I give my friend a reassuring smile. “It’s going to be packed. I’ll sit in the back.”
“Well, let’s get you looking like Elle Woods.”Thisis the Lilac I know.
“Will I be expecting more Legally Blonde references?” I joke.
“What about this!” Lilac screams as she holds up a pantsuit.
I look at it up and down, grimacing, “I object!” And we laugh.
Time passes quicker than I’d like it, and my nerves rise to my throat.
Lilac drops me at the courthouse and I sneak into the back of the courtroom. I am trying like hell to avoid the sights of my dad. I stare at my fidgeting hands while I impatiently wait for the trial to begin.Damien.It’s like he senses my presence because I look up towards him as he turns to me as if he can sense exactly where I’m seated, winks, and faces forward.
“All rise. The judge is entering.” A deep male voice announces, and everyone rises as the beautiful black woman in her forties enters the courtroom.
“Before we proceed, we reviewed the video you had turned in for evidence, and we found it inadmissible.” The judge says coldly, looking in Damien’s direction.What video? “The end of the video is an elderly gentleman walking down the road with a cane. Was it some kind of a joke, Mr. Alarie?” The judge says, and I’m not sure if she’s more sarcastic or offended.
Damien clears his throat, fighting back a sly smirk, “I apologize for the inconvenience, Your Honor.”
“All right,” the judge takes a breath, “Let’s begin.”
Moments go by, and I watch the guy I’ve fallen for on the stand getting questioned by my father. Seeing my father in action makes me both proud and worried as hell. I’m proud he rose from the ashes after my mother’s death, raised me all alone, and continues to fight for justice. But knowing how damn well he is at what he’s doing, I’m scared Damien doesn’t stand a chance.
“Your Honor, I’d like to call to the stand Penelope Reed.” Damien’s Defense Attorney states firmly after my father stops questioning Damien, burning his chances to get away with this to the ground.
What does Penelope have to do with this, though?
I watch Penelope walking over to the stand, and after giving her oath, the Defense Attorney continues.
“Miss Reed, can you tell us what you were doing during the night of the 15th of August 2021?”
I switch my gaze to Penelope, who looks at Damien for a short while, contemplating what she’s going to say before she looks back at the Defense Attorney and says, elated, “I was at home. Sleeping.”
What? Why would Penelope be called to the stand if she claims she was sleeping? Something is off here. I quickly look at Damien, who’s clenching his palm into fists, and his gaze drops to the ground.
“Is there…,” The poor man who’s supposed to help Damien out of this mess is clearly taken off guard, and now I’m sure it’s not what Penelope was supposed to say. “Is there anyone who can confirm that, Miss Reed?”
“Yes, my parents.” She says, unfazed but refusing to look at Damien.
“Miss Reed, was Damien Alarie with you that night?” Defense Attorney asks.
“No,” she says with her chin up. “I was alone.”
The Defense Attorney looks like he’s about to choke, gulping a glass of water before turning back to Penelope.
