Page 128 of Devil's Azalea

Romero.

“Apparently, his client is just waiting for the approval of his release papers and has already sent one of his other lawyers to speak with Mr. Hart’s defense team as well. He gave us some valuable intel.”

“Tell me.” I wave an impatient hand.

“Violation of Miranda rights and insufficient evidence with no witnesses,” he says, and I can’t suppress my smile. Romero is a hotshot lawyer for a reason.

I noticed in the video I watched with Pierre that their Miranda rights weren’t read during the arrest. It’s shaky—probably not enough on its own to get them released—but when the evidence isn’t solid, it’s more than enough. The suspects are usually let go until a witness is found. That’s why Stacey lured me to that restaurant. She thought she could convince me to act as a witness for the prosecution. Too bad for her that plan exploded in her face.

“That’s exactly what I had in mind. Along with unlawful arrest, prosecutorial misconduct, and multiple violations of constitutional rights. I have video evidence to back every claim.” I extract one of the flash drives from my pants pocket and hold it up triumphantly.

The lead lawyer stares at me in awe for a moment. “Mrs. Moretti, you’re a star.”

I chuckle as I hand over the flash drive. But something draws my attention to the other side of the hallway—and my smile freezes, fading completely when I see who’s standing there watching us.Katie.

I rub a hand over my suddenly tight chest as I walk towards her. “Haven’t you already done enough? What do you want?” I snap, the rudeness covering up the dull ache she left in me.

“I’m sorry,” she blurts out. “For everything I’ve done to youwhen you treated me with so much sincerity, Em. I never felt right about it, but I didn’t have much of a choice.” She hesitates, frowning. “I’m not here to make excuses for my behavior. I want to make things right. I have information that will be very useful to you and answer the rest of your unanswered questions.”

Every instinct screams trap, but God, I want those answers. I want to believe that everything we had wasn’t a lie. But I scowl instead. “And how do I know this isn’t just another trap? Why would you suddenly want to help me now after stabbing me in the back all this time?”

“I–I guess you don’t.” She swallows. “Can you just trust me this one last time? I’ve always had your back, even when I was reporting to Stacey.Please, Emily.”

I glance at the lead lawyer, and he waves me off with confidence. “We’ve got this handled, Mrs. Moretti.”

I look at Katie—really look at her. The guilt is eating her alive, I can see it in every line of her body. And despite everything, part of me still wants to believe in the friendship we had.

Maybe she can give me the truth Stacey never would.

“Fine.” I take a deep breath and follow her down the hallway. “But if you’re lying to me again, Katie—if this is another game—I’ll make sure you regret it.”

She nods, tears threatening to spill. “I know. And I’ll deserve it.”

Yes. You will.

44

RAFAEL

I believed her.

I believed her even before Stefano, the man guarding and watching her, came to see me and told me where she was after she met with Romero. He watched her outside that restaurant, and her interaction with Stacey and Katie looked everything but friendly.

I believed her even before Marco, the head of my legal team, came to me about my wife working with him on my release.

Butshenever comes back to see me. Too busy in a meeting with Katie that has me more worried than suspicious.

I spend a restless night in the holding cell. Every minute crawls by while Emilia’s words replay in my head on an endless loop.

I love you.

She loves me?She loves me.

She said it. Actually said it. My heart thunders wildly, pounding in rhythm with those three words.

My wife—the woman I've been obsessed with, dreamedabout, craved for half my goddamn life—confessed she loved me.

And I couldn't even tell her I loved her back.