“It pissed you off so badly that you killed her and your unborn child!” I pointed to him.
“I DIDN’T KILL HER!” he stood up and shouted. “HE DID!” Sam pointed to Wilson Garrett.
The jurors gasped and the mayhem in the courtroom escalated. Judge Kingsley pounded his gavel several times, demanding order.
“So you’re saying Mr. Garrett was the one who killed Gina Burroughs?” I spoke.
“Yes. He killed her. I’m sorry, Luca,” Sam spoke as he stared at him.
Wilson Garrett got up and attempted to leave the courtroom but was immediately stopped by the police officers inside.
“You were the one who wanted her dead!” he shouted. “It was all your idea!”
“And it was your idea to frame Luca!” Sam shouted.
I swallowed hard, closed my eyes, and let out a sigh of relief.
“Your Honor, I’m asking that all charges against my client be dismissed.”
“Miss Graham, what does the state say?”
“The state has no choice but to dismiss all charges against Mr. Russo.”
“Case dismissed. Mr. Russo, you’re free to go. This court sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience we may have caused you.”
“Thank you, your Honor,” Luca calmly spoke.
Walking back over to the table, I hugged him tight.
“Counsel, I want to see both of you in my chambers now!” Judge Kingsley commanded.
I didn’t want to let Luca go. I couldn’t let him go. It was over and all I wanted to do was cry.
“I love you so much,” he whispered in my ear.
“I love you too. I have to go talk to Judge Kingsley. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
“He may hold you in contempt. So be prepared,” he spoke.
“I don’t care. As long as you’re free; that’s all that matters.”
I let go of him and headed into the judge’s chambers, where Wendy Graham was already sitting.
“Your actions in my courtroom were inexcusable, Miss Williams.”
“I’m sorry, your Honor.”
“You knew exactly what you were doing, and I have a feeling that I’m going to be seeing a lot of you. So, I’m going to let you off with a warning. This is the one and only time it’s going to happen. If you ever cause that kind of chaos in my courtroom again, I will have you thrown in jail. Understand, young lady?”
“Yes, your Honor. I fully understand.”
He sat there and shook his head in dismay.
“It pleases me that you proved Mr. Russo wasn’t the one who murdered that woman. And, so help me God, if I ever see the two of you in my courtroom on opposing sides, I will remove myself from the case and you will be assigned another judge.”
I swallowed hard. “Yes, your Honor.”
“Miss Graham, you better go and get charges filed on those two who confessed to murdering Miss Burroughs.”
“We’re already working on it, your Honor.”
“Now get out of my chambers.” He sighed.
As Wendy and I were walking out of his chambers, she placed her hand on my arm.
“Good work in there, Ariana.” She smiled. “You won’t be defending Mr. Butler, will you?”
“No. In fact, I’ll give you everything you need to put him away for a long time. Luca will also be prosecuting him for embezzlement.”
“Ah. Embezzlement and murder. Nice.” She grinned. “Have a good day.” She walked away.
I couldn’t explain the feeling that resided inside me. It was excitement and relief all mixed together. I needed to compose myself because the tears were starting to form. I stepped into the lobby and saw Luca talking with his grandfather, Brad, and Sheila.
“Come here, young lady.” Franco smiled as he held out his arms. “Thank you for everything. You’re a damn good lawyer and this is only the start for you. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Franco.” I kissed his cheek.
“I’m sorry, Ariana,” Brad spoke as he walked over to me.
“For what?”
“For doubting you. I don’t think I could have pulled it off. I can see why Luca loves you so much.” He smiled.
“He doesn’t.”
“Come on. Yes he does. He just told me, but I already knew. I was just afraid his feelings for you would get in the way of this case. I didn’t mean to be such a dick.”
Placing my hand on his chest, I spoke, “You’re not a dick, Brad, and I understand why you felt I was the wrong person to defend him. If I were in your shoes, I would have thought the same thing.”
“Are you ready to go?” Luca asked as he put his arm around me.
“I am. Let’s go home.”
As soon as we stepped outside the courthouse doors, we were bombarded by reporters. Luca gave a statement first, then I followed. As we were walking to the Bentley, I heard someone call my name.
“Miss Williams?”
I turned around and saw Mr. York standing there.
“On your knees, Mr. York.” I smiled.
“Oh come on. Seriously?”
My smile grew wide as Luca stood there laughing.
“Fine. You don’t have to get down on your knees.”
“I’m sorry for what I said. Mr. Russo made the right decision. You’re a really good lawyer and I apologize.”
“Apology accepted. Now if you’ll excuse us, Mr. Russo and I have some celebrating to do.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Luca
Putting everything behind us was easy to do once we got out of New York and flew to Barbados for a much needed vacation. Before Ariana and I left, we stood on the other side of the glass of the interrogation room and listened to everything Wilson Garrett and Sam Butler confessed to. The call to the hotel that was made from my office to reserve a room was made by Wilson when he posed as one of the mail carriers at the firm one day when he knew I was in court. Sam was the one who slipped Rohypnol into my drink when I bent down to pick up Gina’s purse without her even knowing. After I passed out in the room, Wilson Garrett murdered her and took my hand, placing it around the knife, leaving imprints of my fingerprints all over it. Then he removed my shirt, stained it with her blood, and shoved me into a laundry bin and wheeled me a couple doors down to the other room. He needed to make sure I was out for several hours, so he poured a half of bottle of scotch down my throat and then dumped the rest of it out, making it look like I drank the whole thing. All because he wanted revenge for murdering his partner whom he looked up to as a father and for getting off the man who raped his sister.
Ariana’s theory was right. Sam did agree to pay Gina on a monthly basis to be his mistress. He convinced her to quit the escort agency and see no one else but him. He tried to control her, but her greed for money was stronger than the hold Sam had on her. She started her own private escort business and continued seeing the men she regularly saw from the escort agency where she previously worked. When Sam found out, he gave her the option to stop or else he would stop making monthly deposits into her account. Gina threatened to go to his wife and tell her everything, including how he was embezzling money from the firm and the baby.
It was no accident that Sam and Wilson met. Wilson had been keeping tabs on the firm, plotting his revenge on me. When he saw Sam walk into a bar one night after a fight with Gina, he followed him inside and took a seat next to him. After Sam had one too many drinks, he told Wilson everything that was going on. Wilson offered him a way out, although Sam had no idea who he really was. Being a desperate man with the risk of his wife finding out everything, he took Wilson up on his offer to kill Gina, but for a price: A hundred thousand dollars and agreeing to frame me. It was that night they began plotting her murder.
Wilson told him that he needed to make things right with Gina and tell her that he finally accepted the fact that she was going to keep her business. Sam had Gina get a room at the hotel that night since it was his birthday and I’d be there. He told her it would be a good idea to have me
come up to her room to talk about her business since I was her attorney because she’d want to be protected at all costs if something happened with one of her clients. He had her come down to the bar at ten thirty. That way, she could attend his party and no one would suspect a thing. He also told her to book a spa appointment for six a.m. the next morning and he’d meet her there for a massage and then they would go back to the room after and make love before he had to go to the office. Wilson Garrett had a female friend of his impersonate Gina and call the hotel to make sure they sent someone up at six a.m. to clean the room.
“Here’s to a beautiful vacation with a beautiful woman.” I smiled, holding up my glass of scotch as we were sitting in lounge chairs by the hotel pool.
“To us,” she spoke as she clanked her glass against mine.
“There’s something I want to talk to you about, Ariana.”
“Okay. This sounds serious.” She grinned.
“It is. Now that Sam no longer works for me and is going to be put away for a very long time, I’m going to have to change the name of the firm.”
“Yeah. I guess you would have to do that. Russo and Greggs still sounds good.”
“I was thinking about Russo, Greggs, & Williams.” I smirked.
“Are you serious, Luca? You’re offering me a partnership at the firm?”
“I am. You deserve it.”
“You’re not just doing this because I’m your girlfriend, are you?” She narrowed her eye.
“No. You’re a damn good lawyer and you cleared me of a murder charge. That right there is partnership worthy, don’t you think?” I winked.
She set down her drink and straddled me on the lounge chair, wrapping her arms around my neck. Instantly, my cock started to get hard.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes. Nobody turns down a partnership at one of the top law firms in New York City.”
“What about the other associates?”
“If they don’t like it, they can find jobs elsewhere. I don’t care. The only thing I care about is having you as a partner at my firm.” I brushed my lips against hers.
“Is that all?”
“No.” I smiled. “Actually, there is something else. When we get home, I would like you to move in with me.” I pushed her hair behind her ear. “I want to sleep next to you every night, and I want to wake up to you every morning. I want to shower with you, make coffee for you, and have breakfast together. I want to see you walking around in nothing but your panties.” I smirked. “And I want your clothes hanging on the other side of my closet so when you’re not home and I am, I know you will be soon. I love you, Ariana, and I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.”
“I love you too, Luca.” She placed her hand on my cheek as tears filled her eyes. “I accept your offer of partnership at the firm and I would love to move in with you.” She smiled.
I pulled her into an embrace.
“Thank you, baby. You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.”
“Yes I do because I feel the same way. My life was such a mess before I met you. Then suddenly, everything started to fall back into place.”
“I think we need to go back up to the room now.” I smiled as I kissed her lips.
****
One Month Later
After we returned from Barbados, I made Ariana a partner at the firm and moved her things from her apartment to mine. Since she was in a lease, I decided to buy her apartment from the owner, with an offer he couldn’t refuse, and rent the place out myself. Fully furnished, of course, since there was no way I was moving out all that furniture. Things at the firm returned to normal. The clients who left us after I had been arrested apologized and begged for me to take them on again. New clients were coming in and Ariana was in high demand. I had never been so proud of anyone in my life as I was of her. But the one thing that still remained a constant burden to her was the issue with her family. No matter how hard she tried to forget it, she couldn’t. It was a struggle she couldn’t overcome.
One night, while we were lying in bed with my arm wrapped securely around her and her head on my chest, I decided it was time to have a talk with her.
“I think it’s time you talk to your family,” I spoke.
“What?” She lifted her head and looked at me. “Why would you say that?”
“Because, Ariana, you will never have peace in your life if you don’t.”
“I have peace in my life, Luca. I have a wonderful job I love, a beautiful home, friends, and you.” She smiled.
“The lie still haunts you.”
“No it doesn’t. What my family did is unforgivable. My God, why are you taking their side?” she snapped as she climbed out of bed and slipped on her panties and nightshirt.
“I’m not taking anyone’s side. You’re restless at night and sometimes you call out your mother’s name.”
“I do not!” she spoke with a raised voice.
“Yes you do, sweetheart. I think it’s time to put all this to rest and speak to them.”
“Well, I don’t care what you think.” She stormed out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.
Jumping out of bed, I followed her. I could sense a huge fight coming on, but I didn’t care.
“You do care what I think. All I’m saying is that you need to sit down and talk with them and settle things. I’m not saying you have to talk every day after or even visit if you don’t want to. But this can’t go on. You deserve to be happy and content.”
“I am happy and content,” she spoke as she rested her hands on the kitchen counter.
“A part of you is happy and the other is sad and lost. I can’t even count the number of times you just zone out, and I know it’s because what they did to you is heavily weighing on your mind. More so now that the trial is over.”
“That’s not true.” She looked down.
Walking over to her, I placed my hand on her shoulder and she shook her head and walked away from me.
“Don’t, Luca. Things are so good. Don’t ruin it. Just let me handle things my own way. What I need from you is to respect the decisions I make regarding my family.”
I let out a long sigh. We could be at this all night and nothing would change her mind.
“Okay, baby. I’m sorry I brought it up.” I wrapped my arms around her from behind and kissed the side of her head. “You do what you have to do. I won’t mention it again. The only reason I did is because I hate seeing you in so much pain. Your happiness is all that matters to me.”
She turned around in my arms and laid her head on my chest.
“I am happy, Luca. You make me incredibly happy. Happier than I’ve ever been in my life. All I want to do is build a life with you and only you. I don’t care about anyone else. I have a career and a man I love and that’s all I need.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Two Weeks Later
Ariana
I was sitting at my desk, staring at the beautiful roses Luca gave me, when he stepped into my office.
“Hey, I was just thinking about you.” I smiled.
“I just received a call from Julia. She asked me to get hold of you since she couldn’t. Your father, or should I say grandfather, had a massive heart attack,” he spoke with sadness.
My heart started pounding out of my chest as tears formed in my eyes.
“What? Is he—”
“He’s in CCU at Boston General. I have Jeffery waiting downstairs to take us home to pack a bag and I have a plane on standby. Just say the word.”
I slowly pushed myself up from my chair and swallowed hard.
“Will you come with me?” I softly spoke.
“I already planned on it.”
Swallowing the hard lump that formed in my throat, I walked over to Luca and took hold of his arm. After Jeffery drove us home and we packed a bag, we headed to the airport where Luca had a plane ready and waiting to take us to Boston. I was quiet on the plane, thinking about the man who raised m
e as his own, and I prayed to God that he was going to be okay.
Luca had arranged for a car service to pick us up from the airport and take us straight to Boston General. The thought of seeing my family terrified me and Luca knew it. He held me on the plane and in the car, making me feel safe.
“Thank you for coming with me,” I spoke as my head lay on his shoulder.
“You don’t have to thank me. I was coming whether you wanted me to or not. I know how difficult this is going to be for you. But,” he kissed my head, “it doesn’t have to be.”
“You just don’t understand,” I spoke.
“I do understand. More than you think. But this is a time when all family needs to come together, regardless of what anyone did. A man’s life is on the line, sweetheart. A man who you’re so mad at but still love with all your heart.”
Tears fell from my eyes. Luca was right. I did love him, and if anything were to happen to him, I didn’t think I would ever be able to forgive myself. Luca reached over, grabbed a tissue, and handed it to me.
“Dry your eyes. I’m here for you every step of the way, sweetheart. You don’t have to do this alone.”
I dabbed my eyes with the tissue, lifted my head, and kissed his cheek.
“I love you,” I softly spoke.
“I love you too.”
We arrived at the hospital and Luca helped me from the car, refusing to let go of my hand. When we took the elevator up to the CCU, I asked the nurse behind the desk which room John Williams was in.
“Are you family?” she asked.
I looked at Luca for a moment and then back at the nurse.
“I’m his daughter, Ariana Williams.”
“He’s in room 410, but I think your mother is in there with him now. He’s only allowed two visitors, so your friend will have to wait in the waiting room.”
Luca clasped my shoulders and kissed my forehead.
“You can do this. I’ll be in the waiting room if you need me.”
****
Luca
I walked into the waiting room and saw Julia sitting there next to someone I presumed was her husband and Ariana’s father.