Page 56 of Her Wicked Husband (The Huxleys #2)
Bryce
When I come out of Fiona’s room, Sherry is nowhere to be seen. My family must’ve driven her away. Good thing, even though part of me hungers for someone to vent my fury on. I don’t know what I’d do if she were here. Probably throttle her.
I recall her unannounced visit to my office. That bitch must’ve known something—and that Aaron was involved. No way she didn’t know.
My family comes over, taking in my teary face and growing worried.
Grandma reaches out with a shaky hand and holds my shoulder, digging her fingers in. “What happened to her? Is she…”
“Physically, she’s as well as she can be, I guess,” I croak. “She just woke up.”
“Then why were you crying?” Aunt Jeremiah asks, probably peeved she had to show her emotional side.
“Tears of joy…?” Akiko suggests with an uncertain smile, which crumbles too fast.
I just nod. The family goes in to fuss over Fiona, but Ares and Josh stay back.
“You okay?” Ares peers at me. “You look like you just lost the most important case of your life. ”
“I just…” I rub my face, then lean against the wall as all the strength drains from my limbs. I rest the back of my head against the concrete and crank my neck. “Fiona told me everything about what happened ten years ago, and I want to kick my own ass.”
“What did happen?” Josh asks.
“I can’t tell you. It’s too private. And don’t ask her about it, either.”
“Is that why you were crying?” Josh asks quietly.
“The things she told me are just heartbreaking. But she spoke without any expectation of sympathy. It’s like everything happened so long ago and she had to figure out how to stand on her own again…
” My voice cracks. “If I’d known back then what I know now, I would’ve gone to prison for two first-degree murders. ”
“Jesus. Who are they?” Ares demands.
“Jude.” My voice is laced with stark hatred and poison. “And Aaron.”
Josh’s expression darkens. “Fuckers. They’re under arrest, but they’re going to try posting bail. Want to try to keep them in jail? Maybe we can find a way.”
Having Jude and Aaron caged would be satisfying, but I don’t want them sitting in jail. They’d be protected there, and I promised justice to my wife. But I realize that isn’t all I want.
I want my pound of flesh—and blood—for what they’ve done.
The justice system can’t ever make Fiona whole for what she suffered when she was nineteen—or even now.
Insufficient evidence. He said, she said.
She asked for it. I know all the ways defense attorneys try to spin something like this to their clients off.
“No. Let the system do its thing. I’m sure they’ll pay the price. ”
My twin brother clenches his hands. “Why not make things harder for them?”
“We’re lawyers, Josh,” I say calmly. “We should trust the system and let it carry out justice.”
Ares frowns. “Didn’t you just say you would’ve been charged for a double murder?”
“Yeah, but that was for nineteen-year-old Bryce. I’m older now. Seeing the bigger picture,” I say with a cool composure I don’t feel.
“It’s still justice to keep them in jail,” Josh argues.
“No. We’re not going to interfere with this case. And that’s final.”