Page 115 of Cryptic Curse

“And can you identify them?”Judge Matthews asks, her eyes kind yet stern.

“Yes.”My voice is barely audible now.The faces of those men, always lurking in the shadows of my past, come rushing forth.

“Do you have their names?”Vinnie asks.

“I remember some but not all.”Nausea sweeps over me as I recall the leering faces, the hateful eyes.Each name is like a knife lodged deep in my body.Diego Vega, Declan McAllister, Derek Wolfe, Marco Ramirez, Dietrich Klein, among others.

And the very first.

Hernando Reyes.

“That’s enough for now, Daniela,” the judge says gently.“We won’t force you to recount everything today.It is clear you have suffered greatly.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

Vinnie reaches out and squeezes my hand beneath the table.

Judge Matthews turns her attention back to Vinnie, her eyes hardening once more.“I trust you understand the gravity of these allegations.If these men can be identified and are indeed residing in the United States, they need to be brought to justice.”

Vinnie nods, his jaw set in grim determination.“I understand, Bernadette.These men are still in Colombia as far as we know.”

“Very well,” she says with a nod.“We will proceed with the annulment, and Daniela will remain in the country under a temporary protective status pending further investigation.Daniela, I advise finding a counselor or therapist you trust to help you navigate your trauma.As for you, Vinnie, I suggest you work closely with the authorities on this case.”

“That’s more than fair,” Vinnie says, his voice gruff.

Judge Matthews stands.“I will issue the order for the annulment immediately.”Then she sweeps out of her chambers in a flurry of black robes.

Vinnie and I are left alone in the chambers.My legs feel weak as I slowly stand.The reality of everything that just occurred begins to sink in.

I’m free.

Free of my past.

Free of my marriage.

Free to be with Hawk, if he’ll have me.

“You okay?”Vinnie asks me gently.

“More than okay.”I kiss him on the cheek.“Thank you for being such a great husband.”

He laughs.“Some great husband.I’ve spent our entire marriage sleeping with another woman.”

I smile and punch him playfully on the shoulder.“You know what I mean.You saved me from a horrible future, and I’ll never forget that.Then you brought me here, gave me a life I only dreamed of.I have you, Raven, and I have Belinda, who I adore.Not to mention culinary school.”

And Hawk…but Vinnie doesn’t know about him yet.

He squeezes my shoulder.“Let’s get you home.”

“You know what?”I crane my neck to meet his gaze.“I think I’ll stay in town for a bit and do some shopping.I’ll catch an Uber home.”

“Okay.”He checks his watch.“I have to get to work anyway.No school today?”

“Nope.Classes resume next week.”

“Great.I’ll see you at home then.”

I nod and smile.We leave the chambers and walk together out of the courthouse, where Vinnie leaves me to find his car.