Page 49 of A Trial of the Heart

“Fuck it.” I muttered, going to the message thread between me and him.

Me:I need to see to you

He was forbidden, but it seemed like everything I was dealing with was minuscule while with him.

My phone chimed. I knew Rashad would text back, but I wasn’t expecting his response to be as soon as it was.

757-345-2345:My place or yours?

An indistinctive smile curled the corner of my lips before I was full-blown blushing and smiling.

I bit my lip, debating on my response. I was like Eve and wanted the fruit I knew I couldn’t have. I just didn’t know where I wanted to eat it at.

Me:My place

I finally replied after giving it more thought.

757-345-2345:I’ll be there

We hadn’t decided on a time, but I was happy I’d get the stress reliever I needed, even if he was the root of the problem.

Chapter

Twenty-Four

Rashad:

“What’s it looking like?” I asked Barret, sitting across from him in his office.

I was going by Shiloh’s later, but I had to detour to Barret’s first. When Shiloh messaged earlier, I almost felt like she may have had a trick up her sleeve. The thought instantly left. She didn’t seem to move that way.

Barret exhaled deeply, leaning back in his chair before wiping his hands over his face. I knew he didn’t have good news.

“I don’t know how it was done, but these charges are looking real and hard to say otherwise. On one hand, there’s no evidence, but on the other, every charge you have seems like you’re guilty of.”

He was contradicting himself, and I wasn’t understanding. “Care to elaborate?”

“I can see on paper that you’ve paid your taxes, and any money you received wasn’t established under false pretenses, but it also seems like your establishments are cover ups for underground things. Whoever did this sure knows the law and how to make an innocent person appear guilty.”

“So, what now?”

Barret shrugged. “Best thing would be to take a plea with the DA’s office. You’d more than likely avoid jail time, have to do some crazy number of hours of community service, pay restitution, and…”

I already didn’t like what Barret was saying, but his off-putting expression put me on alert. “And what?”

He shook his head. “You’d lose most if not all of your businesses, and you’d for sure have to forfeit your rights at the youth center.”

“Hell no.” I spoke without hesitation.

I wasn’t guilty, and no matter what it showed on paper, I wouldn’t accept it no matter what was being offered. I loved everything that I did, but my youth center was pretty much my life, and there was no way I was giving up on my kids.

“I can’t do that shit… just not going to happen.”

“Kyan, if we take this to court, there is no guarantee that we’ll win.”

I chuckled. “I ain’t guilty, so I ain’t taking no plea and damn sure not at the expense that I may lose my center. Barret, you of all people know when it comes to that youth center, I’d give my last breath to make sure it stays standing.”

“You know I get shit done, bro, but as your lawyer with all the evidence in front of us, I don’t recommend you go up against the commonwealth attorneys. Ms. Monroe might have a cute face, nice body, and a smile to drop you to your knees, but don’t get it confused. She’s a hardcore lawyer that knows her shit.”